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Chapter Seventy
Last Updated:
2025-04-17 17:44:37
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A Second Chance Chapter Seventy One
Two weeks after the baby shower and just days before Rafael’s second trial, Caesar pulled into the circular driveway of his house and turned off the engine.“We’re here,” he said, glancing at Amaliah with a soft smile.She gave him a curious look. “Okay… but why the secrecy?”“You’ll see. Come on.”He helped her out of the car and led her inside, one hand gently supporting the small of her back. They walked through the quiet halls and up the grand staircase.“Caesar…” she started, but he just shook his head with a teasing grin.“No peeking,” he said, stopping in front of a closed white door. He turned the handle slowly and pushed it open.Amaliah’s breath caught in her throat.The room was bathed in soft, natural light from the large windows. The walls were painted a calming shade of sky blue with tiny golden stars scattered across the ceiling. Two white cribs stood side by side against one wall, each draped with a sheer canopy. Above them, wooden name signs read Noah and Nathaniel.
Last Updated : 2025-04-18A Second Chance Chapter Seventy Two
It was late afternoon when the door to Amaliah’s hospital room creaked open once more. Caesar turned from his chair beside her bed, where he’d been quietly watching her and the twins sleep. Standing in the doorway was his mother, Charlotte Masterson, her eyes already misty before she even stepped inside.“Oh, my stars,” she whispered, placing a gloved hand over her chest. “Are those my grandsons?”Amaliah stirred at the sound of her voice, smiling sleepily. “Hi, Charlotte.”After the heartfelt conversation Caesar had with his mother not long ago, he’d introduced her to Amaliah. Surprisingly, the two women had clicked instantly—a connection that filled Caesar with joy. Since then, Amaliah, Carlotta, and Charlotte had become regulars on long three-way phone calls, their bond growing stronger by the day.Charlotte stepped forward, making no attempt to hide the tears now slipping freely down her cheeks. “You two… you’ve done something extraordinary.”The twins lay nestled in their bassin
Last Updated : 2025-04-20A Second Chance Chapter Seventy Three
The courtroom was quiet, too quiet. It wasn’t the silence of peace—it was the silence of something long-awaited. Heavy. Sharp-edged.Rafael Rivers stood at the defendant’s table, clad in a neatly pressed gray suit that hung a little looser than it used to. He’d lost weight. His face, once charming and confident, had hardened into something unrecognizable.Beside him, his attorney murmured something low under his breath, but Rafael didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed straight ahead—on the bench, on Judge Danetta Myles, the woman who held his fate in her hands.She shuffled a few papers, adjusted her glasses, and looked up with that same piercing calm she’d maintained throughout the trial. “This court is now in session.”The murmur in the gallery faded instantly. Cameras weren’t allowed, but that didn’t stop the press from flooding the hallways outside. The name Rafael Rivers had gone from business columns to crime headlines. Today, that name would be sealed in court records—attached to
Last Updated : 2025-04-22A Second Chance Chapter Seventy Four
The night bloomed like a dream—soft music floated in the air, and laughter danced through the garden blending with the soft music in the background. The long table was adorned with Caesar’s favorite dishes: grilled lamb skewers, fragrant saffron rice, creamy sweet corn soufflé, and decadent chocolate mousse waiting for dessert to end the evening. The girls played freely on the lawn, their giggles mixing with the sound of glasses clinking, while the adults relaxed beneath strings of glowing fairy lights.But Caesar’s mind wasn’t on the food, or the lights, or the laughter. His eyes kept drifting to her.“I actually have a surprise too,” he said suddenly, turning to Amaliah.Amaliah turned toward him, curiosity lighting up her features. “You do?”He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yes.”“What is it?” she asked, scanning the garden for a hint.As the music slowed and the stars shimmered brighter overhead, Caesar stood up. The chatter faded. Gently, he took Amaliah’s hand, pr
Last Updated : 2025-04-23A Second Chance Chapter Seventy Five
Five months laterThe garden courtyard behind the church had been transformed into a dream suspended in early spring. Wisteria vines curled lazily around the old stone arches, and fresh blossoms peeked out from the hedges as if drawn to the soft notes of the piano drifting through the air. Above, strings of fairy lights hung like stars waiting for dusk, and the scent of roses lingered with every breeze.At the entrance to the garden, a welcome table had been set — rustic wood topped with vintage frames holding photographs of Amaliah and Caesar through the years. A hand-painted sign rested beside them, reading “Welcome to the beginning of forever,” in soft cursive. A nearby chair had been decorated with florals — a quiet tribute to someone dear, watching from heaven.Rows of wooden chairs, draped in ivory fabric and tied with sage ribbons, faced a grand floral arch that stood proudly at the far end of the courtyard. It was built from natural wood and wrapped in cascading arrangements
Last Updated : 2025-04-24A Second Chance Prologue
"For dust we are, and unto dust, we shall return. May the soul of our dearly departed brother, son, father and friend rest in peace.” The priest’s voice reverberated in the otherwise quiet cemetery. Amaliah’s gray eyes were glazed over; raw, dull and full of grief. She was in shock, and she would’ve collapsed on the floor and rolled into the freshly dug grave if it was not for her mother’s firm grip on her arm and her friend's support on her other side. She reached up and ran her hands through her loose ponytail, raking her fingers over her scalp. She didn't care if she bled, all she wanted was the pain and relief that came with doing that. The scrunchie she had put in place to hold her hair came off, and her lush brown hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her limbs were stiff and her legs threatened to give way under her. A dizzying feeling washed over her and bile rose in her throat. The coffin was lowered into the open grave, and Amaliah started to tremble. The priest grabbed a
Last Updated : 2022-11-30A Second Chance Chapter One
Amaliah's friend, Sheila Brown was perched on the kitchen counter eating from a bag of chips and chatting with Amaliah when the latter's phone rang. “Hello, am I onto Amaliah Rivers?” a gruff voice spoke up on the other end the instant Amaliah picked up the phone. “Yes, this is Amaliah Rivers speaking. Who is asking?” She placed her cellphone between her ear and her shoulder and continued to chop carrots for the salad she was making. “This is Ted Williams. I'll go straight to the point ma'am. I work for a loan shark, and we deal with loans and investments. Your now-deceased husband, Rafael Rivers took up a loan of $350,000 with an interest of $150,000 to be paid back after five months. All attempts to get across to him have been futile, and after making our findings, we heard that he was buried three months ago. Fortunately, I was able to get your contact information from a source. So I'm calling now to know how and when you intend to make the payment." The knife clattered to th
Last Updated : 2022-11-30A Second Chance Chapter Two
Whenever they were asked, Rafael would say it was love at first sight. It was for him, but his wife didn’t quite agree that it was so on her part. For Amaliah, it was an intense attraction at first sight, but it wasn’t love, she was sure about it. They met on a Thursday afternoon at the beginning of the summer, after Amaliah’s shift at the coffee shop downtown. He had first caught sight of her a few days before then, but she had no idea. She had been standing in front of the coffee shop, consoling a lady whose shoulders were heaving with sobs. From their body language, he guessed they were friends, and he watched in admiration as Amaliah finally succeeded in making the crying friend smile and wipe her tears. It was a beautiful view, and he felt good watching them. Not many people could make someone smile after they just cried their eyes out. He came to the coffee shop for a few days after that, watching her until he was able to take note of when she usually got off work. On that Th
Last Updated : 2022-11-30
Latest chapter
A Second Chance Chapter Seventy Five
Five months laterThe garden courtyard behind the church had been transformed into a dream suspended in early spring. Wisteria vines curled lazily around the old stone arches, and fresh blossoms peeked out from the hedges as if drawn to the soft notes of the piano drifting through the air. Above, strings of fairy lights hung like stars waiting for dusk, and the scent of roses lingered with every breeze.At the entrance to the garden, a welcome table had been set — rustic wood topped with vintage frames holding photographs of Amaliah and Caesar through the years. A hand-painted sign rested beside them, reading “Welcome to the beginning of forever,” in soft cursive. A nearby chair had been decorated with florals — a quiet tribute to someone dear, watching from heaven.Rows of wooden chairs, draped in ivory fabric and tied with sage ribbons, faced a grand floral arch that stood proudly at the far end of the courtyard. It was built from natural wood and wrapped in cascading arrangements
A Second Chance Chapter Seventy Four
The night bloomed like a dream—soft music floated in the air, and laughter danced through the garden blending with the soft music in the background. The long table was adorned with Caesar’s favorite dishes: grilled lamb skewers, fragrant saffron rice, creamy sweet corn soufflé, and decadent chocolate mousse waiting for dessert to end the evening. The girls played freely on the lawn, their giggles mixing with the sound of glasses clinking, while the adults relaxed beneath strings of glowing fairy lights.But Caesar’s mind wasn’t on the food, or the lights, or the laughter. His eyes kept drifting to her.“I actually have a surprise too,” he said suddenly, turning to Amaliah.Amaliah turned toward him, curiosity lighting up her features. “You do?”He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yes.”“What is it?” she asked, scanning the garden for a hint.As the music slowed and the stars shimmered brighter overhead, Caesar stood up. The chatter faded. Gently, he took Amaliah’s hand, pr
A Second Chance Chapter Seventy Three
The courtroom was quiet, too quiet. It wasn’t the silence of peace—it was the silence of something long-awaited. Heavy. Sharp-edged.Rafael Rivers stood at the defendant’s table, clad in a neatly pressed gray suit that hung a little looser than it used to. He’d lost weight. His face, once charming and confident, had hardened into something unrecognizable.Beside him, his attorney murmured something low under his breath, but Rafael didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed straight ahead—on the bench, on Judge Danetta Myles, the woman who held his fate in her hands.She shuffled a few papers, adjusted her glasses, and looked up with that same piercing calm she’d maintained throughout the trial. “This court is now in session.”The murmur in the gallery faded instantly. Cameras weren’t allowed, but that didn’t stop the press from flooding the hallways outside. The name Rafael Rivers had gone from business columns to crime headlines. Today, that name would be sealed in court records—attached to
A Second Chance Chapter Seventy Two
It was late afternoon when the door to Amaliah’s hospital room creaked open once more. Caesar turned from his chair beside her bed, where he’d been quietly watching her and the twins sleep. Standing in the doorway was his mother, Charlotte Masterson, her eyes already misty before she even stepped inside.“Oh, my stars,” she whispered, placing a gloved hand over her chest. “Are those my grandsons?”Amaliah stirred at the sound of her voice, smiling sleepily. “Hi, Charlotte.”After the heartfelt conversation Caesar had with his mother not long ago, he’d introduced her to Amaliah. Surprisingly, the two women had clicked instantly—a connection that filled Caesar with joy. Since then, Amaliah, Carlotta, and Charlotte had become regulars on long three-way phone calls, their bond growing stronger by the day.Charlotte stepped forward, making no attempt to hide the tears now slipping freely down her cheeks. “You two… you’ve done something extraordinary.”The twins lay nestled in their bassin
A Second Chance Chapter Seventy One
Two weeks after the baby shower and just days before Rafael’s second trial, Caesar pulled into the circular driveway of his house and turned off the engine.“We’re here,” he said, glancing at Amaliah with a soft smile.She gave him a curious look. “Okay… but why the secrecy?”“You’ll see. Come on.”He helped her out of the car and led her inside, one hand gently supporting the small of her back. They walked through the quiet halls and up the grand staircase.“Caesar…” she started, but he just shook his head with a teasing grin.“No peeking,” he said, stopping in front of a closed white door. He turned the handle slowly and pushed it open.Amaliah’s breath caught in her throat.The room was bathed in soft, natural light from the large windows. The walls were painted a calming shade of sky blue with tiny golden stars scattered across the ceiling. Two white cribs stood side by side against one wall, each draped with a sheer canopy. Above them, wooden name signs read Noah and Nathaniel.
A Second Chance Chapter Seventy
A few weeks later At Caesar’s gentle insistence, Amaliah began her maternity leave. She’d tied up the final details of her project, sent the report to his office, and quietly stepped away from work — a pause she hadn't realized she needed until now. As always, the temporary driver Caesar had arranged was waiting to take her home, punctual and discreet, a small part of the care he wrapped around her like a second skin.Today felt different — brighter, softer, like something beautiful was waiting just around the corner. Sheila had planned a surprise baby shower for her, carefully stitching joy and love into every detail. What Sheila didn’t know was that Amaliah had already found out… and she was quietly, deeply moved.Her hand rested on the swell of her belly, feeling the gentle rhythm of the two little lives growing inside her. They were her miracles — unexpected, overwhelming, and loved more than words could hold. And Caesar… he had been there through every moment, steady and unwav
A Second Chance Chapter Sixty Nine
Caesar had just climbed out of the pool, water still dripping from his frame, when one of the maids approached to announce his mother's arrival. Surprised—but genuinely delighted—he grabbed a towel, dried off quickly, and darted into the house.Taking the stairs two at a time, he changed clothes in record time and was racing downstairs like an excited child. Barely five minutes had passed when he burst into the living room.His mother was just setting her teacup down on its saucer when he entered. Her face lit up with a warm smile as she rose gracefully to her feet, opening her arms. He didn’t hesitate—he pulled her into a tight embrace."How are you doing, darling?" she asked, pressing soft kisses to his cheeks."I'm good, Mom. This is a pleasant surprise," he replied, settling beside her on the sofa. "But I’m happy to see you.""Well, it’s been a while since you left the hospital," Charlotte said. "We’ve only talked over the phone. I happened to be in the area and thought I’d drop b
A Second Chance Chapter Sixty Eight
Amaliah sat stiffly behind the glass, her fingers curled tightly around the pendant Caesar had given her, clutching it like a talisman. Two weeks had passed since the first trial, and Rafael had been requesting to see her ever since. Both Caesar and Sheila had warned her against it, urging her not to go. But her mother’s voice echoed in her head—“Just see him one last time.”Caesar had postponed an important meeting just to drive her to the correctional facility. He was waiting outside, unwilling to let her face this alone. Knowing he was nearby gave her the strength to remain seated as the door buzzed open and Rafael was led in, handcuffed and flanked by an officer.He sat across from her, the cold metal chair screeching as he pulled it out. For a moment, he simply stared at her before reaching for the phone mounted beside the glass. Amaliah hesitated, then mirrored his action, pressing the receiver to her ear."I'm here. What could you possibly have to say that hasn’t already been
A Second Chance Chapter Sixty Seven
The first witness, Detective Briggs, was called to the stand.“I was the lead officer on the kidnapping case. We obtained CCTV footage showing one of the defendants—Rafael Rivers—leaving the school premises with the children. The girls were reported missing hours later. The cabin they were kept in was rented under a false name—Anastasia Knight’s cousin.”“Was there any indication the children were harmed?” the prosecutor asked.“They weren’t physically harmed, but they were confused, disoriented, and crying for their mother. Upon their arrest, Mr. Rivers grabbed an officer’s gun and shot Mr. Masterson, who had been comforting the girls at the time.”Amaliah’s breath caught in her throat, and Caesar’s grip on her hand tightened.The next witness, a child psychologist, took the stand, having interviewed the girls.“They were confused and terrified. They were told they were going on a ‘surprise vacation.’ But as days passed without contact with their mother, the older twin began crying e
