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.

time. I’m taking Edwin back with me today. Don’t

shifted to

agree to

upstairs, schoolbag slung over his

found herself unable to

son’s attire with one hand,

never

exuded a mature allure, a quality that never failed to captivate

to listen to your

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

Edwin’s hand and shared a parting kiss with Olivia, who eagerly

heading out,” Mark murmured, his warm breath grazing Cecilia’s ear, eliciting a

eyes lifted to

caressing her shoulder and back,

to get some

a retort, Mark had whisked Edwin

the stairs, they encountered

Mark greeted him politely.

with a leisurely air, remarked with a smirk, “Hearing you

better now

not a fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep affection

a wave, ruffling

Korbyn’s final

certain matters neither her mother nor I need fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re

implication wasn’t

was free to woo Cecilia, but

a trace

“I understand, Dad.”

flicker of discomfort crossed Korbyn’s features, finding Mark’s familiarity brazen.

You are no longer married

a

Edwin in tow, Mark headed back. Midway, his phone rang;

call concerned

question caught him off

“Is Rena with you?”

“No, she’s not here. I haven’t

Concerned, Mark probed further.

was a prelude to a tensed

Angela’s Library

just… we had a bit of

was familiar with their

the years, Waylen and Rena maintained a stable 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 Waylen’s jealousy simmering

complex, neither

Rena wouldn’t head home

well-known in their

from embarrassed, Waylen wore his infamy with

out to Rena. She answered

Mark?” her

inquired, “What’s happening between

drinks with Vera at a bar, couldn’t help

you to check on

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,”

smooth things over

place to pry into their

the call. Vera shot her

plans on heading back

a vast pane of French glass, showcasing more than half of Duefron’s nighttime

glossing her eyes, Rena’s smile was

stay at a hotel

glasses

the

dropped to her shimmering crystal glass, her mind seemingly

I’m not there, he’ll

and Rena had its roots in the Smith family’s party the

Rena

and even asked Harrison to take care of Rena for him. Yet, post-celebration, he arrived

of Harrison’s ride was fortuitous; otherwise,

concluded with Waylen whisking Rena to their post -nuptial villa, where passion reigned through the night. Amidst their fervor, Waylen’s words lacked their usual

all those unpleasant things he said in a fit

departures, early returns, yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether

protective in his defense was,

intense control, reaching a breaking point when she discovered her phone was

of defiance, she

the

details from even Vera, too embarrassed to

misconstrue the ordeal as a grand

it felt

affection for her, but she knew love wasn’t an

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

breather, Rena

descended the stairs, her form-fitting, elongated dress drew

no mind, requesting Ross

to a taxi, throwing Waylen off her

vibrated. It was

She answered this time.

tone was soft,

“I’m with Vera.”

she ended the call, only to blacklist his number

her

all these years, his love for

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

him, but she insisted he amend his invasive

a male voice drifted in from the private

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

clad in a business suit, appeared to have just left a formal engagement. Drawing close, he bent down to plant a

an alluring blend of charm

kiss his wife, creating an enchantingly

observing

She watched, utterly fascinated.

spell of the kiss,

traced

Romance saturated the air.

grabbed her purse, announcing, “I’ll leave you two

offer you a ride home?” Waylen extended

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”