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40. Lunch together
Last Updated:
2025-01-12 22:50:23
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Second Chance For Him? 41. The proposal
Clara's POVLucas slid a chair out and gestured for me to take a seat, just like he always did whenever he had the opportunity.He took a seat across from me and signaled for a waiter."Thank you." At times I felt a bit guilty about how someone like him treated me with such care."No problem. What do you think of this place? If you don't like it we can look for another location." "No. I like this place so much. Thank you for taking me here." I replied.This was a recently opened restaurant that we had checked out. This venue, in contrast to TasteTales, caters exclusively to wealthy customers.We lounged in the open space beneath a sleek white canopy, enjoying an unobstructed view of the cityscape. A white tulip vase stood between us.The waiter approached us soon after to take our orders. As she walked away, Lucas remarked, "I should be the one thanking you. For willing to accept my invitation to lunch."I knew Lucas wasn't being intentionally sarcastic, yet I still felt compelled to
Last Updated : 2025-01-12Second Chance For Him? 42. Undermine his plan
James' POVThis afternoon was bright and sunny, and I began to feel that I was truly starting to enjoy life here. Taking a break from work feels refreshing. While I continue to keep an eye on my office online, I find myself feeling less stressed than before. This morning, I wrapped up leading a meeting and then caught up with an old friend.We meet to reconnect about life and share insights on our respective businesses.Sadly, Zoe could not join as she was out with her friends. If she could be here, I would introduce her to my colleagues and share just how lucky I feel to have her as my wife."This way, sir." The server swung open the door to the outdoor space. I intentionally selected it to savor the fresh air. It's pleasantly less crowded here compared to the indoor area, which suits me perfectly. I scanned my surroundings. Dain said this is a new dining spot in town. But I found this place boring. If it hadn't been for his recommendation, I might not have considered it at all.M
Last Updated : 2025-01-13Second Chance For Him? 43. The game
James' POV"Mr. Morgan you..." Clara trailed off, her words hanging in the air. The look of genuine surprise on her face was a sign that she hadn't anticipated my presence here at all. But I was pleased that her expression didn't abruptly turn to pout like it always did since we first crossed paths at TasteTales."I didn't expect to run into you here. Though I see you wanted to leave soon.""I was having lunch with my friend, Lucas." Friend? What kind of friend suggests a proposal during a lunch outing?"Lucas Brown." He held out her hand.I paused to consider it briefly before giving it a shake."James Morgan." Lucas' eyes grew large at the mention of my name. I anticipated his question, so before he could speak, I said, "I'm Keith's brother. I'm pretty sure you're familiar with him, aren't you?"My response didn't quite meet his expectations, "But how do you know Clara?""Clara is my brother's close friend, of course I know her. We crossed paths quite some time back." While I wa
Last Updated : 2025-01-13Second Chance For Him? 44. Pity
Clara's POVBeing in the car with James alone isn't something I would choose, yet here I am, left with no alternatives! Throughout the ride I directed my gaze outside to avoid his face, he wore that annoying smirk after winning our argument."This is the first time I've seen someone fight with their couple on a date. That's quite unexpected."James' comment was so predictable it made me roll my eyes. I knew that he would bring this up. I was still frustrated with Lucas, and I wasn't sure I could remain calm if I had to deal with James' questions as well."We're not on a date, just having lunch together. Lucas Brown is a friend of mine, and that's all."I didn't intend to clarify my actions. I just didn't want to be perceived as a person who engages with many men whenever it pleases me."Really? Your friendship with him seems truly one-of-a-kind, cause this is the first instance I've seen someone proposing to his friend." My face was hot with embarrassment. Who would have thought Luc
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Second Chance For Him? 45. Parents' concerns
Clara’s POVMy heart dropped when I noticed that Keith wasn't alone; my daughter was with him. “What’s he doing here?” I brushed off James’ question and quickly got out of his car. Upon spotting me, Layla dashed over and enveloped me in a warm embrace. “Mommy!”I embraced her just as firmly. Has school finished today? It was unusual for her to be home at this hour. I was about to ask when I realized her temperature was a bit elevated. "Are you alright, darling?"“Layla’s teacher reached out to you, but you didn’t answer her call.” Keith turns his gaze at me."What?" I quickly checked my phone and realized I had unintentionally turned on do not disturb mode. “Oh my- I didn’t mean to-”“Forget it. What matters is that Layla is back home now. She’s just feeling a bit unwell today." I could hear the disappointment in Keith's response.Aside from mine, Layla’s teacher had his number as an alternative contact available for emergencies like this. "Mommy, can we head home right now?” Coul
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Second Chance For Him? 46. Who is the father?
James POV"What have you been up to today?" My beautiful wife asked.After wrapping up our inspection of the building she leased for her new bussiness, we opted to have dinner at a nearby restaurant."Just catching up with a longtime friend."What happened afterward I don't think Zoe needs to know, I don't want to upset her. But I'm satisfied enough that I have left the impression that will make Clara and Keith's relationship tense."Are you sure you didn't meet that bitch Clara?" Zoe still felt restless.She had been like that since that night in the park. The fact that Clara was still alive troubled her more than it did me.I understand her perspective, Zoe must be afraid I will remember my past, she is my ex-wife after all.But Zoe is the only woman I love and she shouldn't worry that I will be swayed by Clara."Are you still upset with her?" I asked gently and took her hand.It's heartbreaking to see her without a smile on her face; I can't bear the thought of losing her joy again,
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Second Chance For Him? 47. His secretary
Clara's POVAfter a restful night, Layla's fever finally subsided and I couldn't feel more thankful to see her healthy again."Hey, are you still feeling that guilt?" I heard Keith's voice as he stood behind me.Today, I visited his penthouse after dropping off Layla, and we spent some of the morning making snacks together.He knew that I was restless and I spent the whole night without sleep, burdened by the weight of not being a good enough mother."I've never overlooked calls from Miss Olivia before."She's Layla's teacher, and occasionally reaches out to inform me about changes in the pick-up time or to share updates on how my daughter is doing. She engages with all parents to guarantee that the school provides them with good care."I won't make the same mistake again.""Hey, didn't I mention that it's all alright? Making mistakes is a part of being human, Clara. Perfection is just an illusion." Keith placed his hand gently on my shoulder.His words lightened the lump in my chest.
Last Updated : 2025-01-17Second Chance For Him? 48. Something more
Clara's POV"I understand that you are his trusted secretary and have worked with him for a long time. But It's just that this has nothing to do with that, I just want to respect his privacy."I tried to make Stephanie understand. If she is his personal assistant, shouldn't she be familiar with Keith's personality and habits?"You are just wasting my time. Get out of my way." Stephanie was on the verge of shoving me out of the doorway when, out of nowhere, she paused."Clara? What is this? Who are you talking to?" I turned around at the sound of Keith's voice. Upon spotting Stephanie, Keith's expression darkened; it looks he was taken aback by her presence. "Stephanie? How long have you been here?” His tone conveyed a blend of surprise and displeasure.Stephanie beamed as soon as she saw his face. Her earlier grumpy and gloomy expression vanished in an instant. Now she smiled brightly and her vibe was completely changed. How can someone change her mood with such finesse? "Mr. Morga
Last Updated : 2025-01-17
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James' POVI was glad to hear that Clara is back to her usual activities. It's good, it means she no longer feels down. Lily's in town, so I suppose that's why she was able to leave Layla. But when Lily gets back to LA, who’s going to look after Layla? Thinking about it, it's time to bring in a professional assistant for her. To look after Layla and ease Clara's responsibilities at home. I'm not sure if she'll go for it, but I'll bring it up with her later. Dain entered my study and said, "Sir." I intentionally asked him to come today. "Did you take Layla to school?" "Today, Mrs. Clara's cousin is the one driving her," Dain replied. I gave a nod. “Should I go to her school to pick her up this afternoon?” I think Clara has already asked Lily to grab Layla as well. Perhaps her cousin would like to hang out with Layla while she's in town. "No. Not necessary.""Alright, sir. Anyway, how was your dinner last night going?" Asked Dain.Oh, dinner last night. It was nearly flawless
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Lily's POVToday I spend my time with Layla, and we make an awesome team. We got up early and went for a jog. We headed home for a quick shower and then went cafe hopping until noon. Later in the afternoon, we kept strolling through the city park. We just got home in the evening as Clara was getting ready to head out for dinner with James. Before she left, I made sure to remind her multiple times that she needed to call me if she sensed even the slightest hint of his behavior. I recall how that man used to treat her and to be honest, I didn't want my cousin to have dinner with him by herself tonight. But if I went with Clara, then who would look after Layla? Also, Clara asked me to stay home and look after her daughter. I didn't have any other option."Auntie, did you just call mommy?" Layla asked as I stepped back into the TV room. I sat down beside her on the carpet. She was focused on her Lego, completely tuning out the cartoon on the TV. "Yeah, I did. I just made sure to be re
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Clara's POVEverything was going smoothly. James showed up, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me because we could finally begin our dinner before diving into the main topic tonight, to discussing the trip he wanted to take Layla on.But then the door swung open and Selena burst in. Yes, Selena. She's at the restaurant we were at. I’m not sure when she got here, but I didn’t notice her at all before. Her face was a mask of rage that was impossible to conceal. “You!" she snapped, pointing a finger at me. Her teeth clenched. "What did you do to Keith? How could you do all of this to my future husband?"Her voice trembled.I jumped up right away. Watching her on the brink of tears pulled at my heart, but just as I was about to reach out, Selena smacked my hand away forcefully."Answer me bitch!"Her words made James stand up immediately. And the atmosphere felt like it had shifted. Selena, who was saying something, fell silent under James's piercing gaze. She looked at him with des
Second Chance For Him? 216. Mother's request
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Second Chance For Him? 215. Tale to share
Clara's POVWe headed to the airport this morning around eight and got there about thirty minutes later. I ensured we arrived on time so Lily wouldn't have to wait. Yeah, my cousin is alive here in NYC today. Lily mentioned it to me in our call just yesterday, saying she planned to surprise me."Clara!"I glanced over at the voice, spotting Lily rushing toward me. With a smile, I hurried over to her, and we embraced tightly. Lily wrapped her arms around me so tightly that I could feel my ribs nearly being crushed."Hey take it easy Lily! I can't breathe!" I coughed."Sorry. I’m just really excited to be here and see you again!" She exclaimed after we released our embrace. Lily then turned to Layla, who was standing beside me. She bent down to hug her too. “Hey sweetheart, it’s so great to see you again. You've grown so much." Lily asked when they let go of their embrace, "Do you miss me?" "Absolutely Auntie!" Layla exclaimed, "I've been waiting for you to arrive for so long, Aunt
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James' POV"Do you think it's good enough? Do you think Layla will like it?" I asked Dain for his thoughts.Fuck. Why is it harder than I expected to find a gift that fits Layla? I think it will be easy. But I've been reconsidering how Clara has managed to provide everything Layla needed, and my daughter is certainly not missing out on anything.So, I need to choose something unique and special.Something that will bring her joy when she receives this gift I gave her. I just wanted to see her smile again, to wipe away the sadness. It was annoying to see her sad, and I just couldn't stand it. "Hmm, I think this might be a little too much, sir. And besides we have to wait a few more years until she can drive the car on her own?" Dain looked at me with a puzzled expression.He glanced at the picture of the pink Mini Cooper on my laptop with a raised eyebrow and said, "I don't think this is a good idea." I nodded and shut the website down. I might just hand over the car to her when she'
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Clara's POVNew York CityWe’ve been here for a week now since coming over from Paris. Even after that week, I still can't seem to get back into my work routine. I still feel anxious about leaving Layla alone like I usually do. My day starts with waking up, driving her to school, and then picking her up again when school is done.I just can't trust Dain to drive Layla anymore. James got us a bodyguard, but I said no. I just can't get comfortable with the idea of another stranger being close to my daughter, even if it's someone James trusts.I stepped into the apartment and shut the door behind me. Diana called earlier to say she would swing by after work, so I figured I’d prepare some snacks for her. "Layla you can change your clothes before grabbing a bite to eat. I'll whip up something for us to eat. Auntie Diana will swing by later too.""Okay, mommy." My daughter hurried to her room.In the meantime, I headed to the kitchen. I checked the cupboard and fridge to see what ingred
Second Chance For Him? 212. A vacation
Clara's POVThe following morning finally arrived. The gentle sunlight poured in through the hotel window. I stretched my body and, getting up, walked over to the window. I drew back the curtain and looked out. The view outside my room instantly woke up my tired eyes.'What a beautiful city.'Of course. I'm in Paris right now. The wide array of buildings featuring beautiful classic architecture, the balconies of the apartments lining the street, and the lively hustle of the street below create a lively atmosphere. I think I have become so accustomed to the rigid vibe of New York that being here truly amazes me.I know I’d have a better time if we were here on vacation instead of trying to rescue my daughter from someone who attempted to kidnap her. With a sigh, I made my way to the bed."It's time to wake up Miss Sleepyhead, we're heading back today. We have to catch that flight."Layla extended her limbs. She let out a yawn for a moment, and when she replied, her voice carried a lin
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James' POV"Where is Clara?" I asked Arlo as soon as we got into the hotel. "She's in her room already, sir." I headed straight to Clara's room. I and Clara stayed in the same hotel but in separate rooms for sure. There’s so much I want to say to her right now. But the main thing was that I wanted to check in on her and Layla to make sure they were alright. When the police arrested the car where Layla was kidnapped, I didn't have the opportunity to check on her because I was too focused on Keith and Zoe.I got to Clara's room, but the door was firmly shut. I was just about to knock on the door when a thought crossed my mind—Clara probably didn’t want to be disturbed. Perhaps I should give her some space with her daughter.Following this traumatic event, she must be feeling hurt and deeply affected. Maybe she would like to have some time alone with Layla without any interruptions. I dismissed the urge to see or talk to her and turned and walked to my room, which was across from her
