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.” Sienna replied without

isn’t Fliraty, and I’m not Larsa,” she

p

me break free from my painful

“You’re an important friend to me. Let’s end this now, while it’s still

20:55 Mon, Jan 6

Chapter 129

attached, before the wounds

want

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

58%

supposed to be a celebration of my successful

in his throat. He knew that, at this point, there was no point in saying more. The issue wasn’t

home, Cedric was deep

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

tonight, after Sienna’s response, he felt compelled to bring it up sooner. Once he came clean to his family, she would have no reason to reject him,

he’d confess to her

himself, should I prepare a gift

made his way to the basement. The basement housed a safe where the family kept their

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

locked the

Just as he was about to go upstairs, he heard someone call

around to find his parents, Evan

Dad,” he

was perfect timing,

over.

didn’t hide it, smiling

Sienna anyway, so

brow, recognizing it

“Yes.” Cedric nodded.

see.” Without waiting for permission, Xenia grabbed the

rumors she had heard at the party tonight coming to mind

Mon, Jan

Chapter 129

at his father, puzzled. “Dad, what’s going on with

head.

he too wasn’t too pleased about