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Chapter Twenty Eight
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2023-01-22 00:34:27
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A Second Chance   Author's note
Hi guys! I want to apologize for the delay in updating my book A Second Chance. Something came up with it and I won't be able to update it for a while. I'm very sorry for this inconvenience but I promise to let you all know when I'll start updating it regularly again. Thanks for your understanding and please no hate comments. Thanks.P.S: This has never happened before and it is rather unfortunate that it had to happen. If you have not read my other stories, please check them out and don't forget to vote and comment. Love you guys!
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2023-02-01A Second Chance   Chapter Twenty Nine
Amaliah grappled with shock, disbelief, and anger as she stared, nonplussed, at the woman before her. The stress weighed on her, making her wonder if she had misunderstood Courtney. It must be a joke, she hoped, unable to summon the courage to ask. Sheila intervened, demanding, "What the hell are you talking about? My best friend is Rafael's legal wife, his one and only wife." "You're not wrong," Courtney conceded. "But I'm also his wife. I have proof if you want to see." Amaliah's voice sounded strange to her ears as she uttered, "When could he have... how could he..." Her voice trailed off, perplexed by the news of Rafael's betrayal. Despite not knowing Courtney Norman, she could tell from the woman's expression that it wasn't a prank; Courtney seemed too sophisticated for such antics. Amaliah realized there were countless things she didn't know about her husband until his passing, including inquiries about his childhood he had ignored. On their wedding day, his side of the fa
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-04-07A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty
Caesar stepped out of the elevator as its doors swished open, breathing in the air and feeling better than he had five minutes ago. He had taken the elevator to the rooftop to escape from everything, and now, he really didn't want to go back.Inhaling deeply, he slowly exhaled while loosening his tie. He'd been bombarded with calls from Anastasia's mother, pleading for him to take her daughter back, and making ridiculous promises about Stassie changing her attitude. Today, she went a step further by paying him a visit, leaving him very uncomfortable with her tears and pleas.It had been the same old story, and he'd had no choice but to flat out tell her that he wasn't ever getting back with her daughter because he no longer had any feelings for her. Just like her daughter, she transformed into a totally different person, lashing out at him and calling him names, but he politely let her rant until she was done, and then she stormed out of his office."Women," he muttered, shaking his h
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-04-08A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty One
Amaliah's brows furrowed as she caught Sheila staring intently at her, head cocked to the side. "What?" She asked. "I've been trying to ignore your eyes boring holes in the side of my face, but I can't do it anymore. What is it?" "You tell me," Sheila replied with a smile. "I have nothing to say," Amaliah shrugged. "Are you sure?" Sheila arched a skeptical brow. "Forgive me for bringing this up, but it's been a week since Courtney Norman showed up to ruin what I thought was Rafael's perfect image, and you look like you couldn't care less that he'd cheated on you," She stated. Amaliah sighed. It wasn't that she didn't care that Rafael had been unfaithful to her; she just wasn't ready to face it yet. Maybe next year or five years from now. "Liah?" Sheila probed. "I do care that he cheated on me. I just... I'm not ready to put a name to whatever it is I'm feeling." Amaliah replied. "Out of sight, out of mind." "Are you sure?" Sheila looked concerned. "It's okay to talk about it, y
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-04-13A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty Two
Driving up with speed and rounding the water fountain, Caesar narrowly missed hitting the red car parked haphazardly in the driveway. Swerving at the right moment and applying the brakes, he stared at the car in shock, breathing heavily as he tried to compose himself, wondering who was stupid enough to park their car that way.Parked in the spot was an Audi R8, and there was only one person he knew who couldn't care less about how things were done, only about her own feelings: Anastasia Knight. She gracefully alighted from the driver's seat, waved at him, and shut the door. Caesar unfastened his seatbelt, opened his door, and stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut before stalking over to her, eyes blazing with barely controlled fury."I must not have made myself clear before, Anastasia," He growled. "I told you never to show up here again.""Oh please," She snorted. "I know you're still angry, but it's been almost two weeks, and I've let you be. I want to come back."Caesar s
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-04-20A Second Chance   Chapter Thirty Three
"Where the hell is she?" Caesar wondered as he stared at the elevator doors for the umpteenth time, clutching a bottle of greek yogurt in his hand. Granted, the last time he spoke to Amaliah had been a coincidence and that had been two weeks ago. They'd not made any arrangements to meet here on the rooftop but he'd been hoping that a miracle would bring her back up here again. He had nothing to share with her, but the idea of simply sitting together, gazing at HavenHill Central's skyline, crossed his mind. He wondered when she might trust him enough to let her guard down. "Maybe never," A voice chimed in his head. "Rafael's lies could be deeply ingrained in her mind about you. Forget it." "You," An unamused female voice interrupted him from behind. Caesar turned, surprised and relieved to see Amaliah. She was here! He masked his excitement and cleared his throat. "Hi," He greeted. "This isn't a coincidence," She stated, suspicion narrowing her eyes. Amaliah was adorned in a m
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-05-01A 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
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-05-02A 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
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-05-06
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A Second Chance   Chapter Fifty Nine
The midday sun bathed the rooftop garden in a golden glow, transforming it into a serene retreat above the hum of the tech company below. At a sleek glass table, Amaliah sat across from Caesar, the remnants of their lunch scattered between them. A gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh flowers, lifting strands of her hair, and for the first time in a long while, she feltâĶ at peace.Returning to work had been refreshing, yet a part of her still longed for Tuscany. She wondered, almost absentmindedly, if Caesar would ever take her back. After their return, he had hired a landscaper to fill the once-barren rooftop with flowersâsimply because she had mentioned, in passing, that it would make the space more beautiful. But he hadn't stopped there. A gazebo had been built, complete with a glass table and two chairs. When he had shown it to her, she had been speechless, overwhelmed by the thoughtful gesture.Her fingers instinctively found the pendant resting against her skin. She had neve
A Second Chance   Chapter Fifty Eight
Amaliahâs unease deepened as the car wound its way through the increasingly narrow and secluded roads. Something felt off. Too isolated. Too far from the resort. Theyâd been driving for hours, and there was still no sign of the helipad Marco had claimed they were heading toward.âMarco?â she called out, her voice tight, laced with suspicion. âWhere exactly is this helipad?âSilence.Her heart kicked up a notch. She glanced at the girls beside herâboth lightly dozingâand reached for her phone again.No signal. Still nothing.âMarco, stop the car,â she said, this time with more urgency. âRight now.âHe didnât respond.She leaned forward, gently nudging the girls awake, her instincts screaming.Then she caught itâhis eyes in the rearview mirror. Cold. Distant. Unfamiliar.âStop the damn car!â she snapped, panic lacing her voice.When he still didnât, she unbuckled her seatbelt, lunged forward, and yanked the gear out of drive.The vehicle jolted violently, skidding to a halt.âOutâget ou
A Second Chance   Chapter Fifty Seven
Caesar lay stretched out on the living room couch, cradling a sleepy Amaliah against his chest as soft jazz filled the quiet space. The girls had already gone to bed after giggling their way through a movie, leaving the night to wind down in a rare, peaceful stillness.âYou look tense,â Amaliah murmured, sensing the weight in his silence.He hesitated for a moment before responding. âI ran into Anastasia earlier. She seemedâĶ unsettled. But someone like her doesnât back down easily.âAmaliah sat up slightly, concern flickering in her eyes as her brows drew together. âDo you think sheâll try something?ââI donât know,â he admitted, his voice low. âBut Iâm not taking any chances. When we leave tomorrow, I want you and the girls with meâin the same car. No splitting up.âShe nodded, resting her hand gently over his. âOkay. I trust you.âHis voice was low, steady. âIâll keep you safe, Amaliah. No matter what.âLater that night, when the house had gone still and the world outside lay quiet
A Second Chance   Chapter Fifty Six
âAre you okay?â Bryan murmured softly beside her.âNo,â she said on a soft breath, a faint laugh escaping her lips. âBut it felt damn good.âFrom the stage, Caesarâs eyes never wavered from Amaliah. His smile shiftedâno longer playful, but reverent, awestruck. He looked at her like a man who had just been handed the moon.As he stepped down and began walking toward her table, the crowd instinctively made way. He moved with purpose, never hesitating. When he reached her, he leaned in, took her hand gently, and pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles.âI didnât know you had that in you,â he said, voice low, just for her ears.âNeither did I,â she whispered back. âBut there was no way I was letting her win.âTheir eyes locked. Then, without warning, he pulled her into a kissâbrief but breath-stealing, bold and unapologetic in front of everyone.âIâll pay you back,â he teased, his smile wicked and warm.âYou better,â she replied with a smirk.Across the room, Anastasia stood frozen, her
A Second Chance   Chapter Fifty Five
âGirls, look!â Amaliah pointed out the window as their car wound through the rolling hills of Tuscany. The late afternoon sun bathed the landscape in hues of gold and green, with vineyards stretching endlessly across the countryside.âWow,â Amaliah breathed, her eyes wide as a picturesque resort came into view, its vines sprawling across the distant hills.Madisyn and Micaela pressed their faces to the windows, captivated.âMommy, it looks like a castle!â Madisyn gasped. âIs this where weâre staying?ââWith princess gardens! Itâs like a fairy tale,â Micaela added in awe.Caesar glanced at them through the rearview mirror, a smile tugging at his lips. âThatâs right. This is where youâll be pretending to be royalty for the next few days.âMicaela giggled. âCan we have pizza for dinner?ââOnly if you ask in Italian,â Caesar teased, casting a playful glance at Amaliah, who sat beside him, her hand gently resting on her slightly rounded belly.She chuckled softly. âYouâre enjoying this, ar
A Second Chance   Chapter Fifty Four
Caesar stood by the office window, the phone pressed tightly to his ear. His jaw tensed with each unanswered ring. This was the fifth call. Heâd already tried four times, but Sofia hadnât picked up once. Sheâd made it painfully clear she was upsetâstill, he couldnât stop trying.âCome on, Sofia,â he muttered under his breath. âJust pick up.âFinally, the call connected.âSofia,â he breathed, relief softening his voice.There was a long pause before her cold response cut through the line. âWhat do you want, Caesar?ââIâve been trying to reach you. Can we talk? Please.ââWhatâs there to talk about?â Her voice was sharp. âAre you still seeing Amaliah?âThe directness of her question knocked the wind out of him. He hesitated, but only for a second. âYesâĶ I am.ââThen we have nothing to talk about.ââSofia, waitâplease,â he pleaded, voice gentler now. âYouâre my sister. I know you donât approve, but Amaliah isnât the villain in this story. Sheâs not who you thinkâââYou made your choice,â
A Second Chance   Chapter Fifty Three
Amaliah had no clue how Francine had managed to persuade Caesar to bring in a new hire for the digital marketing team. But when she returned to work on Mondayâfollowing the mandatory day off Caesar had insisted she take on Fridayâshe was startled to find a woman occupying Markâs former desk.The newcomerâs high ponytail bounced with every movement as she swayed to the rhythm of whatever music played through her headphones, completely lost in her own world.Curious but not eager to engage, Amaliah held back, choosing to observe for now. She could only hope this new hire knew how to mind her own business. Just as she reached for her phone to text Caesarâwanting to avoid dealing with Francine as wellâa high-pitched voice nearly made her jump."Hello!" The woman greeted her with an infectious enthusiasm. "I'm Minerva. Just joined the company today."Amaliah forced a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Minerva. I'mâ""I know who you are," Minerva interrupted before she could finish. "You're A
A Second Chance   Chapter Fifty Two
A week later Amaliah nestled into a quiet corner of the Chinese restaurant, absently tracing the menuâs edge with her fingers as she browsed the options. She rarely dined alone, but with Caesar tied up in meetings, she was left to fend for herself for lunch.The restaurant was warm and inviting, filled with the rich aromas of stir-fried vegetables, soy sauce, and freshly steamed dumplings. Around her, the soft hum of conversation mingled with the rhythmic clinking of chopsticks and ceramic bowls, forming an atmosphere that should have been comforting.Yet, something felt off.She had just settled on ordering kung pao chicken with a side of vegetable spring rolls when, on impulse, she glanced toward the window.Her breath caught.Across the street, near the curb, stood a manâpartially obscured by passing cars, his dark hair slightly tousled, his posture hauntingly familiar. Even from this distance, the resemblance was striking.Rafael Rivers.Her husband.Her dead husband.A sharp jol
A Second Chance   Chapter Fifty One
Amaliah knew it was wrong. Her husband hadnât even been dead a year, yet here she was, locked in a kiss with his greatest rival. But no matter how much she tried, she couldnât summon the will to stop.When Caesarâs arms slid around her waist, drawing her closer, she didnât resist. When he grazed her bottom lip with his teeth, asking for more, she yielded, parting her lips for him. Their tongues met in a slow, intoxicating dance, each stroke deepening the hunger between them. Her fingers wove through his hair, holding him to her as if letting go would shatter the moment.Caesar finally pulled away, his breaths ragged, as though heâd just run a marathon. He couldnât believe what had just happened. For weeks, he had imagined thisâfantasized about itâbut the reality was beyond anything his mind had conjured. He wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but the kiss had left his mind utterly blank.Just when she thought it was over, Caesar tilted his head and captured her lips once more
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