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.

me look after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin back with me

eyes shifted

agree to

question, Edwin emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung

herself

with one hand, and relayed instructions

never wavered

a quality that never

to listen to your

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

hand and shared a parting kiss with

breath grazing Cecilia’s ear,

eyes lifted to meet

raised a hand, gently caressing her shoulder and back, his voice a

get some

a retort, Mark

stairs, they

Mark greeted him politely.

with a smirk, “Hearing you this humble feels odd. But after your near-daily

now

not a fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep affection

wave, ruffling his hair and planting a kiss

departed, Korbyn’s final

are certain matters neither her mother nor I need fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re here, no one’s going to

wasn’t lost on

free to woo Cecilia, but

smile held a trace of

“I understand, Dad.”

features, finding Mark’s familiarity

that. You are no longer married to

was a simple,

in tow, Mark headed back. Midway,

concerned Cecilia,

question caught him

“Is Rena with you?”

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

Concerned, Mark probed further.

cough was a prelude

Angela’s Library

had a

familiar with

a stable relationship, marred only by Waylen’s bouts of possessiveness. Despite Rena scaling back her social interactions, any

situation was complex, neither entirely

Rena wouldn’t head home and voice her

in their circle, often fueling

embarrassed, Waylen wore his

Mark reached out to Rena. She answered

her

“What’s happening between you

at a bar, couldn’t

check on

Mark offered no denial.

major,” Rena

things over in a

place to

ended the call. Vera

on heading back

glass, showcasing more than half of Duefron’s

her eyes, Rena’s smile

stay at a hotel

glasses

the kids?”

to her shimmering crystal glass, her mind

he’ll surely head

Rena had its roots in the Smith family’s

Rena encountered

man and even asked Harrison to take care of Rena for him. Yet, post-celebration, he arrived uncharacteristically early to fetch Rena, almost like he suspected there was something going on between Rena and

refusal of Harrison’s ride was fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s

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

those unpleasant things

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

his

under Waylen’s intense control, reaching a breaking

a fit of defiance, she discarded the

between the couple

these details from even Vera, too embarrassed to

hopeless romantic, would likely misconstrue the ordeal as a grand love gesture,

it

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

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

breather, Rena decided

descended the stairs, her form-fitting, elongated dress drew an extra glance

mind,

a taxi, throwing Waylen off her

phone vibrated. It

She answered this time.

tone was

“I’m with Vera.”

she ended the call, only to blacklist

her

love

“Perhaps Waylen’s going through a midlife crisis.” That might

of him, but she insisted he

a male voice drifted in from the private room’s

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

to have just left a formal engagement. Drawing close, he bent down to plant a kiss on her lips, murmuring, “Mrs. Fowler, it seems you value me less now that you have me, is

Waylen exuded an alluring blend of charm and

in to kiss his wife, creating an enchantingly beautiful

observing the

She watched, utterly fascinated.

spell of the kiss, Rena’s lips

fingers traced her

Romance saturated the air.

on the scene, Vera grabbed her purse, announcing, “I’ll leave you two to it, then. Have

a ride

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”