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

without hesitation,

and I’m not

p

voice softening. “I’m truly grateful for everything you’ve done for helping me break free from my painful marriage, for

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

20:55 Mon, Jan 6

Chapter 129

deeply attached, before

want to give

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

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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

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

Cedric was deep in thought, planning his

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

he came clean to his family, she would have

confess

himself, should I prepare a gift for the confession?

way to the basement. The basement

it and rummaged through until he found a box. He opened it,

the box, he locked the safe

to go upstairs, he heard someone call out

to find his parents, Evan Brawne and Xenia

Dad,”

had just returned from a gathering. It was perfect timing,

Xenia took a few steps forward, her expression a little strange as she looked him over. “You’re back early.” Then, her gaze landed on the box in his hand, and her eyes narrowed. “What’s

smiling as he answered, “It’s

about Sienna anyway, so there was

furrowed her brow, recognizing it instantly.

“Yes.” Cedric nodded.

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

Jan

Chapter 129

looked at his father, puzzled. “Dad, what’s

head. “You’ll understand soon

pleased about the gossip he had