เข้าสู่ระบบแชร์
136. Expectations
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด:
2025-03-05 16:26:05
บทที่เกี่ยวข้อง
Second Chance For Him? 137. Please say yes
Clara's POV"What do you mean?" Keith asked, his brow furrowing.I felt my tongue tied, not knowing where to begin. A realization that he never truly meant it hit me. That he was never really serious when that night he said Selena was just a childhood friend for him. Keith could have lied just to keep me from getting upset.He might not have been serious at all when he suggested we start our relationship over. I'm the foolish one here, taking his words too seriously when I know we can't control others. People can change whenever they want, and the best way to protect yourself from getting hurt is to keep your expectations in check."I don't understand why you have to lie to me about Selena being just your childhood friend when, in truth, she's your fiancée." I finally said, "I don't understand why you think it's alright to ask me to begin a new relationship when you never truly meant it."A flicker of shadow crossed his eyes upon hearing that. His gaze turned darkened for a brief mome
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-05Second Chance For Him? 138. Hustle and bustle
Clara's POVI arrived at TasteTales a bit earlier today, and now I'm in the kitchen getting ready to start my work day. Being back in the kitchen, surrounded by customers' orders after such a long time, filled me with a fresh energy, and got me feeling excited again. I was pulling up a note on my phone to check my list of orders when I heard a car come to a stop in the parking lot by the back door.I caught Diana's voice as she thanked Kevin her boyfriend. Today, she’s returning to work again even though I asked her to take annual leave until she's fully recovered."Good morning, Diana It's great to have you back." I welcomed her when she walked into the kitchen, she was taken aback to find me there already."Ma'am, you arrived quite early." She headed to the changing room to stash her bag in a locker and grab an apron before coming back to join me. "I figured I’d be the first one here.""I meant to surprise you intentionally. Just wanted to check if you were truly going to be stubbor
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-06Second Chance For Him? 139. Before my brother
James's POVA few minutes ago. Clara's restaurant was the very place that popped into my head right after I touched down in this city. So today, I just hopped in the car and drove over there. The restaurant was just as lively as it was the first time I visited that night, the night I discovered that Clara was still alive.After parking the car, I walked into the simple yet comfortable ambiance. It's lunch hour so the space was dominated by employees from the surrounding office buildings who stopped by for lunch.I took a seat at one of the perfectly positioned tables. Not long after, a waitress came by to take my order.I glanced around, noticing a few people looking alert as if they recognized me, but I couldn't quite place who they were. I noticed a couple of chefs moving between the customers' tables and the kitchen, but I didn't spot the restaurant owner at all.Where is Clara? I want to see her today. In fact, I came here not to have lunch but I just wanted to see her.But she’s
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-06Second Chance For Him? 140. Something fun
Clara's POVI raised an eyebrow at his unexpected request. How did James thinks it's okay to ask me out for dinner now that we're nothing but strangers, while he never even thought to invite me to dinner when I was his wife."I'm sorry, but I can't. If you have something important to tell me, just go ahead and say it now." But an undeniable curiosity tugged at me, what kind of important topic that James have to wait until dinner to share? It can't be that important, can it? Our marriage is ending, and there's nothing more for us to talk about.“No, Clara. I can't share that with you here." But he insisted, "You don’t work at night; it’s just your employee who works after sunset, right? So why are you turning down my invitation?"His tone really got to me, as if he believed I had nothing better going on. Besides, I have a daughter now. He should understand that I’m busy taking care of Layla when I’m not working.Aside from that, I have my own dinner plans for tonight. The agenda I'm p
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-07Second Chance For Him? 141. Pampering day
Clara's POV"Diana, you just gave me an idea. But I don't want to spark a civil war among them."I knew James hated the idea of me being around his family, even around the brother he hated. Keith will go to any lengths to keep me away from James. He'll be curious about how James even managed to show up, and besides, I wouldn't want to disrespect Keith by inviting him to the same event as James."It's the perfect way to get back at him for wasting your time on another woman, ma'am. Is regret all that's left for him now? Let him drown in it." Diana remarked a wicked sparkle in her eyes.Damn, for a moment, her suggestion really caught my attention. And I was so close to doing what she said.But I soon changed my mind about it. No, I won't hurt Keith's feelings just to satisfy my desire for revenge against my ex-husband. What makes Diana so certain that James regrets divorcing me? No, James doesn't regret it. He just didn't want to see me happy."Diana, what's making you smile? What’s s
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-07Second Chance For Him? 142. Treatment
Clara's POVKeith was spot on. Having Melissa assist me with getting ready not only saves time but truly transforms my regular bathing routine into a luxurious experience, reminiscent of a five-star hotel. She helped me out, and to my surprise, instead of feeling a bit uncomfortable by her being around since I'm not used to receiving help, I actually enjoyed her company."You're very lucky; Mr. Morgan is genuinely everything a woman could wish for," Melissa said as we walked into my room with a box of my new dress.We've just finished the bathing and massage session. I’ve stepped out of the bath and wrapped the bathrobe around myself. I'm just about to change into the new clothes that Melissa brought from the living room to my bedroom."These days it's so rare for a man to be so attentive to his woman's needs, don't you think?"I gave a nod. Melissa was spot on. I'm indeed lucky to be the woman in Keith's life. Ever since we were just friends, I always knew that if he ever got married
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-08Second Chance For Him? 143. A night for us
WARNING: This chapter contains sexual content, kindly skip it if you're uncomfortable.Clara's POVI wasn't asked for these; he took the initiative on his own. And to be honest, it's nice to have a man who genuinely cares about the little things we need. It's always about the effort he puts in, not the cost."Okay, Die. I need to end our video call now so Keith doesn't have to wait too long. Can you keep me updated about how Layla's doing?" I told her as it hit me that I needed to leave right away."Sure, don't worry. And have fun." She gave a wink before ending the call.I headed over to my closet to pick out a purse that goes well with this dress and tossed in my phone and a few essentials before making my way back to Melissa."Melissa this is for you. Thank you for your help once again." I gave her some cash as a tip for all the help she provided me this evening.But Melissa just shook her head. "No, thank you, that's not necessary. All the work I did for you was included in the p
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-08Second Chance For Him? 144. Between us
James' POVI gazed out at the vast sea of shimmering city lights while another shot of whiskey slid down my throat, closing my eyes for just a moment. Trying to savor the tranquility of the night air, something I don't often get to experience.My phone in my hand is ringing again with a call from Zoe. She has no idea I'm in NYC at the moment, and I bet she called to find out about my whereabouts. I haven't answered any of her countless calls since yesterday. I honestly have no idea why she keeps trying to reach out to me.Wasn't what happened last time obvious enough that I didn't want to see her again?I took another sip of my whiskey just as another ring echoed through the room. I clicked my tongue and set the glass down on the table. I have a feeling this is just another useless call, not from the person I'm actually waiting for. Just as I was about to toss my phone onto the couch, I noticed my mother's name pop up on the screen.I tapped the button to answer and asked. "Yes, mom?"
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-09
บทล่าสุด
Second Chance For Him? 205. The right time
James' POV"Zoe left on the same day Mr. Keith departed the city, sir." Dain gives his report. "What?" I blurted it out, could barely wrap my head around the fact that Zoe was gone as well. For a moment, I could only remain quiet. I didn't need any more proof to see that they were working together. Keith is taking Layla out of the city, and Zoe is involved. I hold my phone so firmly. I had never thought that my brother could do something like this. Since the first moment I first saw Keith and Layla, I felt that he genuinely cared for her. I never thought that he would stoop so low and take a step like this."It happened right after the last time when she crossed paths with Mrs. Clara at the restaurant," Dain said.I didn't respond. I came to understand that Zoe's actions were influenced by more than just her last encounter with Clara at the restaurant. I recall our final argument on the day of our divorce when she mentioned that she thought Clara and Layla were the reasons for our
Second Chance For Him? 204. Weak
Clara's POVI’ve never felt anything like this before. When my body feels like it doesn't truly belong to me. As I opened my eyes, I could see everything, yet felt completely drained. Suddenly, I felt a hand on me and turned to see Diana smiling next to the bed.My IV pole was next to her. I realize that I ended up in the hospital. “Hey, just stay put for a moment. The doctor advised you to stay on your bed." She mentioned. "Water," I murmured faintly.Luckily, Diana got what I was saying and quickly went to the table to fill a glass with water. She returned and passed me the glass. She also assisted me in getting into a comfortable position to avoid choking while drinking.I finished the water in an instant. Diana took the empty glass from me and put it back on the table."How are you feeling?" She asked.I paused for a moment. My body feels ache with pain. But it’s nothing like when I think back to why I came here in the first place. "Where's Layla? She should be here by now."
Second Chance For Him? 203. Puzzle
James' POVI gazed at the monitor next to Clara's bed and her peacefully closed eyes in turn. I wish for a miracle that would make her wake up. It’s been a day and night since Clara passed out, and I can’t help but worry about when she’ll wake up. Our daughter is still missing, and I don't think I will be able to keep my sanity if something bad happens to Clara too.I pressed my face into my palm, while my other hand clutched Clara's delicate hand firmly. I wish I could pass my strength on to her. 'Clara, you might never forgive me, but please open your eyes.' Suddenly a voice called out from behind me. "Excuse me, I'm going to do a routine check-up, sir." I looked back and saw a nurse standing.With a slow motion, I released Clara's hand and then rose to my feet, giving some space for the nurse to check on Clara. I looked over at the door just as Diana came in, I made my way over to her.She stared at Clara who was lying unconscious and then back at me."She hasn't slept or eaten
Second Chance For Him? 202. The traitor
Clara's POV"Please you have to take a rest too"I quickly got up from the sofa; what Diana just said was hardly audible to me. How could she possibly tell me to calm down in a moment like this when my daughter was just missing? Layla has gone. My daughter is no longer here!I attempted to reach out to the police number where we filed the report once more. However, there's been no answer. I held back my frustration and attempted to call once more. Yet, the outcome remained unchanged.“They’re not helpful. They ought to have wrapped up the investigation!" We submitted the report yesterday afternoon, so they should have reached out to me with the results by now. I still haven't received the results at all.A fear that I had been most afraid of gradually started to drown me. I realized that reporting on someone as powerful as James would be a challenging task, to say the least. And deep down, I realized that my efforts were going to be pointless.Suddenly what Lily once said to me came
Second Chance For Him? 201. Earn it back
James' POVWhen I got to Clara's place, Diana and her boyfriend were already present. She was attempting to soothe Clara, who had burst into tears while her boyfriend was talking to someone on his phone. I heard him mentioning a CCTV recording or something like that.Seeing Clara crying like this broke my heart. Hearing from her that Layla didn't make it to Diana's place threw me off. I went up to her even though deep down I knew she would turn me down. I was right because as soon as she spotted me, Clara stood up straight, her eyes burning with fury."Get out of here!" She threw her hand to push me back. Although I haven't said anything at all. “Please. I need to find out what happened too. I'm confused by all of this." I made an effort to negotiate.In our earlier phone conversation, Clara mentioned that Layla didn't arrive at Diana's place. She claimed I took Layla somewhere else, but that's not true. I really took my daughter to Diana's apartment, the address Clara sent me. I fo
Second Chance For Him? 200. What happened
Diana's POVA little while ago."Are we ready to go?" Kevin, my boyfriend, asked me. He’s been here for three hours now, helping me get everything ready for today’s fun activity. Today, we're heading out with Layla for a picnic date. And I'm so excited.I’m so excited just thinking about it. We're just waiting on one more thing now—Layla still hasn't shown up. Mrs. Clara mentioned she would be dropped off around 9. "Hold on, Layla still isn't here." "Seriously? It's odd. Have you thought about giving her mom a call?" Kevin made a suggestion.I glanced at my watch which time was showing one in the afternoon. "Wait, you're right."I looked up Mrs. Clara's number on my contact and called it, but an automated response came on, it's clear that her cellphone was off. I gave it another shot, but the outcome was still the same."No answer?" Kevin asked."Looks like she's tied up right now. She has a ton of orders today, so she probably won't have a chance to check her phone. Or maybe, she
Second Chance For Him? 199. Missing
James' POVI got home from work right as night fell, but surprisingly, I didn't feel as worn out as I normally do. Today, Clara is letting me have some time with my daughter. Even though it's only a car ride of less than 30 minutes, it means a lot to me.I can't shake the feeling that Layla isn't afraid of me like I worry she might be. It gave me a sense of relief. I found myself reaching for Dain's number and dialing it without even thinking. This excitement has me restless; I can't sit still without needing to do something.“Good night, Sir. How's your plan coming along? Is everything alright?" Dain asked. He's the one person I share this with. "Yes. There's just one thing. Clara turned me down when I invited her to lunch and suggested I could pick her up. But she trusts me enough to drive Layla to Diana's place, which is pretty great, right?"Shit. I come off as silly when I'm craving validation this much."Yes yes. That's very great.""Just be honest with me, Dain! I didn't pa
Second Chance For Him? 198. A dream of perfect family
Clara's POVOnce I finished helping Layla to get ready, we headed to the down floor, and to my surprise, James was waiting for us. He's leaned back against his Bentley, hands tucked into his pockets. I paused for a moment. All of a sudden, I was hit with a wave of doubt. Am I seriously going to let my daughter spend the day with this man?"Uncle James," Layla ran straight towards him before I could say anything, catching me off guard. I noticed I wasn't the only one taken aback; James' eyes widened for a brief moment before he quickly masked his surprise with a neutral expression. It's quite weird to see him struggle to control his face in front of someone."H-hey," James even stuttered.Letting out a sigh, I walked over to them."My mommy said you're taking me to Auntie Diana's house today," Layla said with a smile. "Yes! Did she say that to you?" James seems a little taken aback. He looked at me, his face lit up with a joy I had never witnessed before. “Yes, she did!”"That's gr
Second Chance For Him? 197. Just one chance
James' POV"Zoe hurt Clara when she crossed paths with her?" I'm starting to feel my anger rise. "Yes, sir. She still sees Mrs.Clara as her competition. Explained Dain.I'm feeling frustrated. I’ve already made it clear to Zoe that our relationship is done, and she’s accepted that. Even though she's feeling down, she's expressing that she will learn to accept it. But what did I just hear? She continues to meddle in the lives of those connected to me."I'm going to meet her to give her a warning," I whisper. "I wouldn't recommend that, Sir. We know that Mrs. Zoe is likely to become even more upset, and she may seek out another way to hurt Mrs. Clara." Dain said.I slipped into silence. His suggestion makes sense; how could I not consider it? How can I make sure Clara stays safe? Do I need to hire bodyguards? She's going to be upset and won't agree.Fuck. This is frustrating. Why can't we just share a house? So I can ensure my safety is taken care of."Appreciate the update, Dain. K
