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.

silent for a moment, struggling for words. “How can you be so sure they’ll oppose it when they don’t even know

without hesitation, her conviction

isn’t Fliraty, and

p

me break free from my painful marriage, for helping me get back to

with genuine appreciation. “You’re an important friend to me. Let’s end this now, while

20:55 Mon, Jan 6

Chapter 129

he became too deeply attached, before the wounds ran

didn’t want to give

moment, there was a knock on the door. The waiter

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the subject, “Wasn’t this dinner supposed to be a celebration of my successful performance? Let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s

at this point, there was no point in saying more.

home, Cedric was deep in thought, planning

meant to hide his relationship with Sienna from his family. He just didn’t think it was the right time to tell them

after Sienna’s response, he felt compelled to bring it up sooner. Once he

confess

for his parents to return, thinking to himself, should I prepare a gift for the confession? What would be appropriate? The gift couldn’t be

room, and made his way to the basement. The basement housed a safe where the family kept their most

entering the passcode, he went inside and found his personal safe. He opened it and rummaged through until he found a box.

the box, he locked the safe

about to go upstairs, he

find his

Mom, Dad,” he

from a gathering. It was perfect timing,

over.

smiling as he answered,

about Sienna anyway, so

recognizing it instantly. “Is

“Yes.” Cedric nodded.

me see.” Without waiting for permission, Xenia grabbed the box, opened it,

rumors she had heard at the party tonight coming to mind as she

Jan

Chapter 129

his father, puzzled. “Dad, what’s

head.

too pleased about the gossip he