Home / Romance / A Second Chance / Chapter Nine

Share

Chapter Nine

Author: Love Egbejale
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
Amaliah still pined for her husband. It had been wonderful to be on good terms with her family again, but there was still that immense hole that everyone talked about, the one that could never be filled by anything else.

Her heart ached from the memories, and she frequently wished she could see him one last time, if only for closure. At least she knew better now, and she could go on with her life without fear of forgetting Rafael.

She had returned home and had sobbed when she discovered that her friends had cleaned up and packed her refrigerator with non-perishable groceries. They had enough to eat and she was so thankful. The twins were back home as well and they were happy.

Her parents and Sheila had offered to stay with her in turns until she was strong enough. Although she would have preferred that they didn't because she didn't like feeling like a burden but she wasn't willing to hurt their feelings the second time around so she agreed to it.

Sheila had sent an email to the
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Ten

    “I want to marry you, Amaliah, and I will,” Rafael said to her one day. Her shift had just ended, and she was heading for the bus stop. As it had become his tradition for the past week, Rafael was walking her to the bus stop. He sauntered beside her, back walked and even skipped. She laughed at his child-like enthusiasm and realized that it was one of the things that had drawn him to her the very first day they had met. He had a kind of inner joy, one that seemed to be unquenchable and she envied him that joy. She loved people who could be happy, no matter the situation they found themselves in. She was not one of such people; she could not keep her joy when she was hurt, disappointed or in any form of pain. She was an emotional person, and could not mask her emotions no matter how hard she tried. “You just like saying a lot of nonsense, don’t you? ” she glared at him playfully. Even as she did, she knew he was right. She would probably marry him and the realization both scared

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Eleven

    Amaliah wiped her clammy hands on her black skirt countless times before she got to the company. Her stomach was quivering and she wished she hadn't eaten anything that morning. Not that she hadn't tried to evade the food, but Sheila would have none of it. As she got down from the car, her throat suddenly felt very dry. She grabbed a bottle of water beside Sheila and gulped it."You good?" Sheila looked concerned. She had happily volunteered to bring Amaliah to work on her first day, more for moral support than for anything else.The family had been elated when the company had sent Amaliah an offer letter via email. Carlotta had cried and Sheila made a small feast with lots of food.However, Amaliah wasn't too thrilled. She was happy she got the job, but she was fervently hoping that she wouldn't have to see Caesar after the initial briefing of new employees. She had been offered the role of a digital marketer in the marketing team and she still needed to be briefed by the head of dep

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Twelve

    Anastasia Knight strutted to her boyfriend’s office with a sweet smile on her face even though she was burning with anger. Caesar was fast eluding her and she didn't like it one bit. She wanted to tie him to marriage before he ended things permanently. She had to marry Caesar, she just had to.As usual, she made heads turn in admiration as she walked by. She was dressed in a red power suit trimmed in navy and nothing underneath. Her long black hair was twisted up in a French roll. She usually reveled in the attention but there were heavier things on her mind that morning. She walked straight into the office and was even more angry that Caesar wasn't there. Anastasia required constant admiration and attention. She resented anything, including his business or commitment to helping others, that took his attention away from her. She sat down on the sofa and waited. The office was very wide and tastefully furnished with simple but elegant furniture and artwork. A few seconds later, Caesa

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Thirteen

    "Ahem." Bryan cleared his throat. Caesar still had his eyes fixed on Amaliah's face even when she'd casually snatched her hand from his when it looked like he had been holding it too long. Mark looked like he would burst as he shifted from foot to foot, half with the excitement of meeting the boss one on one on his first day at work and half with the realization that there seemed to be some kind of history between his colleague and the boss. "You know each other?" Mark asked, his eyes darting from Caesar back to Amaliah in quick succession. He didn't want to miss any expression that might give something away. "No, we don't. We met once some years back, for the briefest of moments through a mutual acquaintance." Amaliah cut in just as Caesar opened his mouth to talk. Bryan sensed something there. Mark's face fell in disappointment, although he brightened up a moment later. His colleague had still known the boss — the great Caesar Masterson — outside work. It was something. "What

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Fourteen

    Amaliah didn't encounter Caesar for the rest of the week and she was happy. She was even happier because Mark was a lot more subdued. He brought her bottles of water from his lunch break because she never went out for lunch. He didn't bring up unnecessary conversations and he was efficient at work which made her a lot nicer to him. She had held off from asking for another partner and she hoped things would continue like that. When his mouth was shut, he actually seemed like a likable person. Amaliah worked for the whole of the first week and she would do so for the next two weeks. Miranda wanted her to get used to the workings of the company and how they were all interconnected before she started coming in thrice in a week. During the weekend, she received a dreaded call from Ted Williams. She was in the kitchen spreading avocado on toast for herself and the twins while Sheila cooked lunch and filled her in on the happenings at her workplace. It was almost noon on Saturday and she

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Fifteen

    It was Thursday and Amaliah's second week at Skyline Corp and she decided to step out for a breath of fresh air during lunch break. Mark had looked surprised when she told him she was going out for lunch. He was used to her sitting at her desk all day, only getting up for occasional bathroom breaks and coffee."Relax." She chuckled. "I'm just experimenting." He offered to go with her but she declined. Her usual routine was work, then straight home. She hadn't explored the restaurants near the company. Also, she was craving spicy food and she didn't want Mark asking questions she wasn't ready to answer. So far, only the HR team knew she was pregnant and she wanted to keep it that way until she couldn't anymore.She wasn't showing yet, her stomach was still as flat as when she wasn't pregnant and if she hadn't seen the baby in an ultrasound, she wouldn't have believed she was pregnant. Her Ob/Gyn had told her she needed to move her food intake a notch higher.She nodded at a few peop

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Sixteen

    Anastasia strutted into the conference room on the fourth floor, ignoring Sarah, who was trying to restrain her. The secretary was mad as a hatter and was glaring at her with obvious contempt. "Hey darling, you need to fire your secretary. She's insolent, arrogant, and has never liked me." She eyed Sarah, who turned on her heel to leave the room, having failed to stop Anastasia from barging into the office. Caesar was in a meeting with Bryan and the other heads of departments when Anastasia walked in. They all looked up at the sound of her voice, and Caesar swore under his breath. She ignored the people seated in front of Caesar and went around the table to drop a kiss on his lips. He scowled at her and stood up. She was dressed in a short red silk dress that showed lots of cleavage and left little to the imagination. She paired it with high heels that made her long legs seem even longer. "Please excuse me." He said to the others, held Anastasia firmly by her arm and pulled her o

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Seventeen

    Mark waited until the elevator doors slid shut before he started to talk excitedly. “Girl! Did you see the boss and his girlfriend in the throes of passion? She’s so damn sexy, I'm not surprised that he can’t resist taking her on the corridor, right outside the conference room! ” Mark bobbed up and down like a monkey. Amaliah merely smiled and said nothing. She was famished and had forgotten the lunch box that Sheila had packed for her. If it weren’t for that singular reason, she wouldn’t be going out for lunch with Mark, and she wouldn’t have seen that embarrassing scene between Caesar and his girlfriend. No doubt, Anastasia Knight was a goddess. She looked even better in person and her skin looked flawless. Amaliah had never encountered her in person, but she supposed it was going to be a normal thing to come across celebrities while she worked at Skyline Corp. “Come on! This is juicy news. Those product ladies will be so interested. I must give them the details during lunch. Th

Latest chapter

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Forty Two

    Amaliah stood at the lectern, double-checking her slides on her laptop one last time before starting her presentation. Nerves churned inside her, but she trusted herself enough not to let them get the best of her. Caesar had even reassured her, confident she'd do well, and she was determined not to let him down.Her heart pounded as the double doors to the conference room opened, and the board members filed in with expressions that gave nothing away. These were the same people who had watched her stumble through her previous presentation’s opening minutes, and she could almost feel their silent doubts, wondering if today would be a repeat—and if Caesar might consider giving her presentation to someone else.But she had other plans. That wasn’t going to happen; she was set on making sure everyone left this room impressed. Caesar and Francine entered last, and as the doors closed behind them, she watched them take their seats before she took a steadying breath and dimmed the lights with

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Forty One

    As they tidied up the apartment after the party, Sheila glanced at Amaliah with a knowing smile. "So, am I allowed to assume you've finally decided to give Caesar Masterson a chance to woo you?" she asked.Caesar had left just five minutes earlier after Sheila playfully pushed him out the door. It was late, and he’d mentioned having a breakfast meeting with his father's friends the next morning. Though he’d wanted to stay and help clean up, Sheila insisted he go, even threatening to ban him from any future birthday parties if he didn’t. He finally relented, giving each of them a hug. Before he left, he reminded Amaliah of her promise to let him accompany her to her next hospital appointment.Amaliah chuckled, glancing over her shoulder. "Woo me? What are you talking about?"Sheila huffed. "Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I watched you two all night. You were practically glued to each other, talking and laughing. I think I saw you laugh more tonight than you have all year

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Forty

    As the car pulled up to the curb across the road, Caesar gazed up at the apartment building and sighed. The building had aged gracefully, showing signs of wear but still retaining the charm of being one of the oldest structures in New Ashford—a city roughly an hour's drive from HavenHill Central."Pick me up in a few hours, Ashton," Caesar instructed the chauffeur, grabbing his bags from the floor and opening the door. "I'll give you a call.""Alright, sir. Enjoy your visit," Ashton replied with a nod.Caesar returned the nod with a smile, stepped out, and closed the door. As Ashton drove off, Caesar ran a hand through his hair, exhaled deeply, and crossed the street. He caught his reflection in the building's glass doors, hoping he hadn’t overdone it for the party. Black jeans, a black shirt, and a brown bomber jacket paired with black shoes gave him a relaxed yet polished look. His only accessory was his father’s Rolex, adding a subtle touch of sophistication.He pushed open the do

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty Nine

    Caesar applied the brakes, bringing the car to a stop in front of Amaliah's house before turning off the ignition. He stepped out when she did, quickly moving to open the back door to retrieve her bag and laptop before she had a chance. Shutting the door, he walked around the car to meet her."Thanks for the ride," she said, accepting the bags from him."I'm sorry again…for everything," he replied."It's okay." She gave him a warm smile, waved, and headed up the steps to the front door."Take care of yourself," he called after her as she unlocked the door."You too," she replied. "Drive carefully.""I'm always careful," he grinned.With that, Amaliah stepped inside, shutting and locking the door behind her. She set her things on the hallway table, then cautiously walked to the window. Pulling the curtains back just a little, she watched as Caesar climbed back into his car, started it up, and drove away.Sighing, she collected her bags from the table, made her way to the living room, a

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty Eight

    Caesar felt like a complete failure as he watched Amaliah sleep. It was his fault she was lying there, and the weight of guilt pressed heavily on him. He doubted he could ever forgive himself for hurting her so deeply. He had to admit, she had been right all along. He had convinced himself that he could handle her rejection, but the reality had hit him far harder than he expected. Even Anastasia's indifference, the way she treated him like he wasn’t worth her time, hadn’t stung as much as this.He reminded himself that Amaliah still belonged to someone else—her late husband. Despite the man being gone, her love for him lingered, and Caesar knew he could never force her to feel the same way about him. She was carrying her husband’s babies, a constant reminder that Caesar had no place in her heart or her future.He paced the room, his eyes never leaving her face as he anxiously waited for the doctor. The pain etched on her face when he’d first brought her in had disappeared, replaced b

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty Seven

    As they walked back to their office, Mark stated, "I don't know if it is just me, but I think the boss didn't like your presentation, Amaliah. Did something happen between the two of you?"Feigning ignorance, Amaliah replied, "Something like what?""Did you have a falling out of sorts?" Mark inquired with a frown."We were never..." Amaliah paused, catching herself just in time as she wondered why she had been about to explain whatever had happened in the conference room. "It wasn't just me. He was clearly in a bad mood." She responded."Uh huh," Mark nodded, looking unconvinced."Ms. Rivers?" Francine Rodriguez, their boss, called from behind them.Mark and Amaliah both turned around to look at her. Francine had an indescribable expression on her face that didn't bode well for Amaliah. Whatever had happened in the conference room wasn't Amaliah's fault but Caesar's. He had interrupted her halfway through her presentation and called on Mark to continue with it. The presentation she h

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty Six

    Amaliah clenched her hands, her fingers digging into her palms as the elevator ascended rather slowly to the rooftop. She was content with the slow pace, as it gave her time to think. She didn't want whatever was happening with Caesar to turn into something more than friendship. She knew that Rafael would be sorely disappointed with her for even talking to Caesar, let alone considering becoming his friend. However, even if Rafael were still alive and she had learned of his infidelity as she now knew, he wouldn't have been in a position to dictate whom she could befriend.She couldn't tell him about it either, as that would be like admitting she'd been thinking about it a lot, and he would definitely tease her. Before she could change her mind and press another button, the elevator arrived at the rooftop. The doors swished open, forcing her to step out, and then they closed behind her. Caesar stood there with his hands in his pockets, staring at the vast sky. He must have sensed her

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty Five

    Amaliah's opportunity for a discussion with Caesar was thwarted when Mark Robles, the office gossip, informed her of Caesar's one-week trip to Belize. She hadn't asked him, but he had willingly offered the information when she accidentally mentioned going up to the executive floor to see Caesar.If she were someone else, she knew he would have bombarded her with questions until he was satisfied."Why do you want to see Mr. Masterson?" Mark questioned, his raised eyebrow nearly vanishing into his hairline. "You two are seeing each other, aren't you?"Despite knowing his tactlessness and lack of a filter between his brain and mouth, she still felt offended by his assumption. She was starting to show, and office rumors were circulating about the real identity of the biological father of her baby. She knew the entire situation originated with Mark as the source, yet she hadn't bothered confronting him as she deemed it a waste of time. After all, he would only twist her words when recount

  • A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty Four

    Two weeks laterHe missed her and it felt as though a part of him had been severed, causing him pain. The irony lay in the fact that they weren't even friends; he had regarded her as such, but she had merely tolerated him to avoid appearing distant. No longer visiting the rooftop, he strived to conceal his emotions from Bryan, believing he had succeeded. However, Bryan barged into his office with a determined expression on his face.He realized that his illusion of control had shattered, as Bryan, the perceptive genius, had sensed his distress. Had he inadvertently revealed himself during the morning meeting with the department heads? His preoccupation had caused him to miss his own name being called until Bryan intervened with a tap. Yes, undoubtedly, it stemmed from the events of that morning."That's enough," Bryan declared, his patience worn thin. "I've given you ample time to brood. I refuse to leave until you spill the beans. It's not like you're going through a midlife crisis

DMCA.com Protection Status