A Second Chance With My Billionaire Love

For a moment, Cecilia just watched them in silence. Then, notifying Mark of her intention, she ascended the stairs.

Mark’s attention remained fixed on Olivia.

Edwin observed Mark, a thought brewing in his mind.

After a moment, he ventured, “Mom’s not with Mr. Smith anymore. Dad… does that make you happy?”

Mark hesitated.

The complexities of adult relationships weren’t something easily distilled into simple words.

Yet, Mark understood the crux of what Edwin sought.

Turning to him, Mark responded gently, “Your mom’s having a tough time. Try to be there more for her and help look after your sister, okay?”

Edwin nestled up to Mark, pressing his lips together in thought.

The question hanging in the air was whether Edwin would like to spend a few more days with him. Though the boy yearned to stay with his father, he couldn’t bear the thought of parting from his sister, his goodnight kiss to her a cherished ritual.

After wrestling with the idea, Edwin inquired, “Can I bring Olivia along?”

Mark shared the wish to have Olivia over, but her tender age made it impractical. She needed her mother’s presence.

Edwin’s desire to remain with his father was palpable.

Sitting close, he ran his fingers through his sister’s brown locks, his tone mature beyond his years.

“Olivia, I’ll be away for a week.

I’ll come back next week, I promise.”

Bottle in hand, Olivia paused to gaze at her brother with her bright, black eyes.

Overcome with affection, Edwin leaned in for a kiss.

He whispered, “So adorable.”

After Olivia’s feeding, Mark spent some time playing with her before ascending the stairs to hand her over to Cecilia.

Cecilia was propped against the sofa, script in hand.

Beside her stood a treadmill. Mark set Olivia down, allowing her some space to play.

“What’s up?” Cecilia lifted her gaze to inquire.

Taking a seat opposite her, Mark studied Cecilia’s eyes, noticing the slight redness.

He couldn’t tell if it was from lack of sleep or the melancholy of parting ways with Thomas. Although he yearned to know, it wasn’t his place to ask. After a pause, he ventured, “You and he…”

“Wie broke up,” interjected Cecilia, her tone casual.

She then strolled over to the window, reaching for her coffee cup.

Mark’s eyes followed her, noting a touch of solitude in her posture.

She was still in her early 30s, he thought, surely she yearned for companionship. He’d encountered Thomas a few times, and the man seemed to mesh well with Cecilia. Love aside, Mark believed they could have had a fulfilling life post-marriage.

His emotions were a tangle.

It was a blend of relief and self-reproach.

Olivia, in her playful zest, scampered toward Mark, intending to Leap into his embrace, but the treadmill stood in her path.

She stamped her little feet, craning her neck to look up at him.

In response, Mark scooped her up.

Olivia’s arms found their way around Mark’s neck. Admiring how handsome her father was, she planted kisses on his face, leaving a trail of drool on his chin.

Mark didn’t mind.

He ambled slowly behind Cecilia, Olivia secure in his hold.

After what felt like an eternity, he managed to ask, “Did you care for him?”

Eyes downcast, Cecilia offered a smile.

“If I admit I did, would you cease to appear before me, or stop visiting my house?”

A pang of pain shot through Mark’s heart.

They were both acutely aware of her split with Thomas.

Yet, Mark couldn’t make that promise.

He accepted his own selfishness, understanding that when someone craves something deeply, they might just do anything to obtain it.

Cecilia’s demeanor remained even.

“Mark, there’s no hidden message here. I’m simply stating that Edwin and Olivia hold more space in my heart than anyone else… It’s not about you.”

Her words, stark and grounded in reality, stung.

But they were Mark’s to bear.

He grasped her intent. She was signaling her rejection, not just of his advances but of any romantic entanglement.

Though she’d ended things with Thomas, she still didn’t envision a future with Mark.

Mark nodded in acquiescence.

“I understand.”

“What do you understand?”

Cecilia spun around, tears brimming in her eyes, a hint of anger in her voice.

Yet, there Mark stood, Olivia in his arms, the little one busily smearing her saliva on his chin with a look of innocent delight.

Beneath it all, Mark’s gaze held a profound depth.

And in that moment, his allure remained undiminished, even amidst the domestic chaos.

Cecilia held back her rising irritation.

Mark, ever perceptive, sensed it. He playfully tapped Olivia’s backside, remarking, “Your cute little devil.”

Oblivious, Olivia merely wrapped her arms around Mark’s neck and planted a kiss on him.

Mark didn’t beat around the bush.

He handed Olivia to Cecilia, his hand lingering on the child’s soft cheek for a moment.

for some time. I’m taking Edwin back with me today. Don’t fret,

eyes shifted to

Edwin agree to

posed the question, Edwin emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung over

found herself

smoothing out her son’s attire with one hand,

gaze never

a quality that never

sure to listen

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

a parting kiss

warm breath grazing Cecilia’s ear,

lifted

hand, gently caressing her shoulder

to get some

could muster a retort, Mark had

the stairs,

Mark greeted him politely.

tea with a leisurely air, remarked with a smirk, “Hearing you this humble feels

better now

fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep

a wave, ruffling his hair and planting a

Mark departed, Korbyn’s final words carried

nor I need fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re here, no one’s going to take advantage of her and get

implication wasn’t lost

to woo Cecilia, but

held a

“I understand, Dad.”

crossed Korbyn’s features, finding

are no

was a simple, amiable

back. Midway,

call concerned

first question caught

“Is Rena with you?”

before replying, “No, she’s not here. I haven’t heard

Concerned, Mark probed further.

cough was a prelude to a

Angela’s Library

we had a bit

familiar

relationship, marred only by Waylen’s bouts of possessiveness. Despite Rena scaling back her social interactions, any hint of her mingling with the opposite sex would set

complex, neither

home

was well-known in their circle, often fueling

Waylen wore his infamy with

the call, Mark reached out to

her

“What’s happening between you and

Vera at a

you to check on me,

Mark offered no denial.

major,” Rena reassured

a hiccup. We’ll smooth things over in a day or

to pry into

ended the call. Vera

on heading back

French glass, showcasing more than half of Duefron’s nighttime skyline. Central to the view was Exceed Group’s illuminated

glossing her eyes, Rena’s smile

I’ll stay at a hotel

clinked glasses

the

shimmering crystal

he’ll surely head

had its roots

night, Rena

acted like the bigger man and even asked Harrison to take care of Rena for him. Yet, post-celebration, he arrived uncharacteristically

ride was fortuitous;

concluded with Waylen whisking Rena to their post -nuptial villa, where passion reigned through the

unpleasant things he said in a fit of angry

lingered. Waylen’s routine altered –late departures, early returns, yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether through personal tracking or via

in his defense was, in truth,

thin under Waylen’s intense control, reaching a breaking point when she discovered

fit of defiance,

the couple

details from even Vera, too embarrassed

a hopeless romantic, would likely misconstrue the ordeal

for Rena, it

the depth of his affection for her, but she knew love wasn’t an excuse for treating her like a

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena decided to step

she descended the stairs, her form-fitting, elongated

him no mind, requesting Ross to

to a taxi, throwing Waylen

vibrated. It

She answered this time.

tone was soft,

“I’m with Vera.”

ended the call, only to blacklist his number when he tried

observing, cradled her chin

after all these years, his love for you hasn’t

“Perhaps Waylen’s going through a midlife crisis.” That might explain his fixation on Harrison and the unconscious need

side of him, but she

drifted in from

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

a kiss on her lips, murmuring, “Mrs. Fowler, it seems you value me less now that you have me, is that

an alluring blend of

leaned in to kiss his wife, creating

couldn’t resist observing

She watched, utterly fascinated.

the

traced her

Romance saturated the air.

purse, announcing, “I’ll leave you two to it, then. Have a good

I offer you a ride home?” Waylen

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”