Caught In His Embrace: A Second Chance Romance

Chapter 129

Cedric froze, the smile on his face faltering. As expected, he had been rejected.

With a self–deprecating chuckle, he said, “So, I guess this is your way of refusing me?”

“No,” Sienna said, momentarily stunned. “No, you’re a good person.”

“But just not the one you like.” Cedric’s smile turned bitter. “Is that it?”

A

Not ready to give up yet, Cedric quickly added before Sienna could respond, “I get it, you can’t force feelings. But there’s such a thing as love at first sight, and then there’s love that grows over time. We’ve never really tried being together.

“Maybe if we gave it a shot, you’d start seeing me differently. Sienna, what do you say? You don’t hate me, do you?”

Sienna paused, taken aback. His confession was so pure, so passionate, so bold like a young man throwing caution to the wind, not caring about the consequences. It almost reminded her of the person she had been when she was twenty.

Sighing lightly, Sienna had no choice but to remind him, “Cedric, does your family know about this?”

‘Cedric blinked, taken off guard. He opened his mouth, then admitted. “Not yet.”

Just as she had suspected. Sienna turned the glass of water in her hand slowly, locking eyes with him.

“If what you’re looking for is just a ‘memory,‘Cedric… then I won’t turn you down.”

He had helped her more than once. He was a warm presence in her life.

For his sake, she wouldn’t mind spending a little time with him, becoming a ‘passing figure’in each other’s lives.

She wasn’t some old–fashioned, conservative type. She didn’t think romance between men and women was anything to be ashamed of. But she knew Cedric wasn’t like that. He was serious.

“Sienna,” Cedric said her name with a note of urgency.

As expected, he quickly shook his head, denying it. “I’m not looking for just a fleeting thing. I want us to have a future.”

“A future?” Sienna couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “We won’t have a future. Your family won’t accept me.”

‘How could I, a twice–divorced woman, possibly be right for him He is a rich, well–educated man from a prestigious family. And to make matters worse, I have Joyce,’ she wondered.

It was simply impossible.

for a moment, struggling for words. “How can you

Sienna replied without

isn’t Fliraty, and I’m not

p

you’ve done for helping me break free from my painful marriage, for helping me get back to the

friend to me. Let’s end this now, while it’s still

20:55 Mon, Jan 6

Chapter 129

he became too deeply attached, before the wounds ran any

want to give

knock on the door.

58%

to be a celebration of my successful performance? Let’s not talk about

words stuck in his throat. He knew that, at this point, there

at home, Cedric was deep in thought, planning his next

family. He just didn’t think it was the

sooner. Once he came clean to his family,

he’d confess to her

prepare a gift for the confession? What would be appropriate?

out of the room, and made his way to the basement. The basement housed a safe where

his personal safe. He opened it and rummaged through until he found a box. He opened it, took a quick look, and

locked

about to go upstairs, he heard someone call out

turned around to find his parents, Evan

Mom, Dad,”

returned from a gathering. It was perfect timing, as Cedric had

forward, her expression a little strange as she looked him over. “You’re back early.” Then, her gaze landed on the box in his

smiling as he answered,

to tell them about Sienna anyway, so there was no need to

brow, recognizing it

“Yes.” Cedric nodded.

for permission, Xenia grabbed the box, opened it,

coming to mind as she studied her son. “Come here. We

Mon, Jan 6

Chapter 129

looked at his father, puzzled. “Dad,

head. “You’ll

a father, he too wasn’t too pleased about the gossip he had overheard