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.

fell silent for a moment, struggling for words. “How can you be so sure they’ll oppose it when

sure.” Sienna replied without hesitation, her

and

p

you’ve done for helping me

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

20:55 Mon, Jan 6

Chapter 129

attached, before the

didn’t want to give

that moment, there was a knock on the door. The waiter had arrived with

58%

changing the subject, “Wasn’t this dinner supposed to be a celebration of my

this point, there was no point in saying more. The issue wasn’t just with him–it was with

at home, Cedric was deep in thought, planning

from his family. He just didn’t think it was the right time to tell

felt compelled to bring it up sooner. Once he came clean to his family, she would have no reason to reject

he’d confess to her

should I prepare a

made his way to the basement. The

his personal safe. He opened it and rummaged through until he

the box, he locked

as he was about to go upstairs,

around to find his

Dad,”

It was perfect

as she looked him over. “You’re back early.” Then,

Cedric didn’t hide it, smiling

about Sienna anyway, so there was

it instantly. “Is

“Yes.” Cedric nodded.

see.” Without waiting for permission, Xenia grabbed the box, opened it, and found a ruby

frustrated laugh, the rumors she had heard at the party tonight coming to mind as she studied her son. “Come here. We need to

Jan 6

Chapter 129

Cedric looked at his father, puzzled.

his head. “You’ll

too pleased about the gossip