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.

older, let me look after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin

eyes shifted

agree to

the question, Edwin emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung over

herself

her son’s attire with one hand, and relayed

gaze never wavered

a quality that never failed to

listen to your grandma…

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

and shared a parting

breath grazing

lifted to

her shoulder

to get some

could muster a retort,

stairs, they encountered

Mark greeted him politely.

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

better now

a fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep

boy over with a wave, ruffling his hair and planting

final words carried

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

implication wasn’t lost

free to woo Cecilia, but

held a

“I understand, Dad.”

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

that. You are no longer married

a simple,

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

call concerned

question caught

“Is Rena with you?”

steering wheel, Mark hesitated before replying, “No, she’s not here.

Concerned, Mark probed further.

cough was a prelude to

Angela’s Library

had a bit of

familiar with

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

neither

head home and voice

possessive nature was well-known in their

wore

Mark reached out

her voice

hushed tones, Mark inquired, “What’s happening between

at a

to check on

Mark offered no denial.

major,” Rena reassured

things

wasn’t Mark’s place to pry into

over, Rena ended the call. Vera shot her a

on heading

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

her eyes, Rena’s smile was

at a

glasses with

the

to her shimmering crystal glass,

there, he’ll surely

between Waylen and Rena had its roots in the Smith

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

ride was fortuitous;

-nuptial villa, where passion reigned through the night. Amidst their fervor,

forget all those unpleasant things he said in a

returns, yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether through

appeared protective in his

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

of defiance, she discarded

between the

these details from even

a hopeless romantic, would likely misconstrue the ordeal as a

Rena, it felt far

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

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

no mind, requesting

switched to a taxi, throwing

vibrated. It was Waylen,

She answered this time.

was soft, yet

“I’m with Vera.”

the call, only to

observing, cradled her chin

these years, his love for

voice tinged with humor, “Perhaps Waylen’s going through a midlife crisis.” That might explain

him, but she insisted he amend his invasive

concluded, a male voice drifted in from the private room’s

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

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

an alluring blend of charm

his wife,

observing the intimate

She watched, utterly fascinated.

the spell of the kiss, Rena’s

traced

Romance saturated the air.

intruder on the scene, Vera grabbed her purse, announcing, “I’ll leave

offer you a ride home?” Waylen

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”