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.

a bit older, let me look after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin back with me today. Don’t fret, I’ll ensure he’s well taken

shifted

agree to

as she posed the question, Edwin emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung over his shoulders, looking spruce

herself unable to

her son’s attire with

gaze never wavered from

mature allure, a quality

sure to listen to your grandma…

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

hand and shared a parting

Mark murmured, his warm breath grazing Cecilia’s ear, eliciting

eyes lifted to meet

caressing her shoulder and back,

get

muster a retort, Mark

stairs, they

Mark greeted him politely.

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

now

a fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep affection for

beckoned the boy over with a wave, ruffling his hair and planting a kiss

Korbyn’s final words

are certain matters neither her mother nor I need fret over. But just remember, as

implication wasn’t

Cecilia, but

smile held a trace of

“I understand, Dad.”

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

call me that. You are no longer married

a simple, amiable

tow, Mark headed back.

the call concerned Cecilia, Mark

question caught him off

“Is Rena with you?”

the steering wheel, Mark hesitated before replying, “No, she’s not here. I haven’t heard from her

Concerned, Mark probed further.

cough was a prelude to a tensed

Angela’s Library

had a bit

familiar

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

was complex, neither

wouldn’t head home and voice her

well-known in their

embarrassed, Waylen wore

the call, Mark reached out

Mark?” her

Mark inquired, “What’s happening between

at a bar, couldn’t help

sent you to check on me, didn’t

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,”

We’ll smooth things over

place to pry into their

call. Vera shot her

plans on

than half of Duefron’s nighttime skyline. Central to the view was Exceed Group’s illuminated

glossing her eyes, Rena’s smile was

stay at

clinked glasses with

the kids?” she

to her shimmering crystal glass, her mind seemingly

not there, he’ll surely head home

rift between Waylen and Rena had its roots

night, Rena encountered

of Rena for him. Yet, post-celebration, he

ride was fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s reaction could

where passion reigned through the

she could forget all those unpleasant things he said in

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

in his defense

a breaking point when she discovered her phone

defiance, she discarded the

between the

held back these details from

ordeal as a

for Rena, it

of the depth of his affection for her, but

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena

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

paid him no mind,

to a taxi, throwing Waylen

vibrated. It

She answered this time.

tone was soft, yet

“I’m with Vera.”

the call, only to blacklist

observing, cradled her

years, his love for you hasn’t waned,” she

a midlife crisis.” That might explain his fixation on Harrison

of him, but she

voice drifted in

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

a formal engagement. Drawing close, he bent down to plant a kiss on her lips, murmuring, “Mrs. Fowler, it seems you

an alluring blend

kiss his wife, creating an enchantingly

couldn’t resist observing the intimate

She watched, utterly fascinated.

the kiss, Rena’s lips parted,

traced

Romance saturated the air.

announcing, “I’ll leave you two to it,

a ride home?” Waylen extended the

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”