Page 68 of The Billionaire's Second Chance

I wandered through the market, my thoughts heavy with the weight of everything unsaid between Kevin and me.

A light breeze carried the scent of fresh apples, and for a brief moment, I felt a small sense of peace. I took my time, inspecting each piece of fruit, allowing the simple task to clear my mind.

The vendor, an elderly woman with kind eyes, gave me an extra pear, saying it was her favorite. I thanked her, smiling genuinely for the first time that day.

Once home, I decided to shower and maybe catch a quick nap before Joey arrived. It had been a long day, and I was desperate for some rest.

As I stood under the warm water, I found myself thinking about Avery. His sudden interest in my life was unexpected, and despite my better judgment, I couldn’t help but wonder what his intentions were. Was he serious about me, or was I just another challenge for him to conquer?

I dressed in comfortable loungewear and settled on the couch, my thoughts still lingering on Avery. There was something about him—his confidence, his persistence—that intrigued me.

But there was also a part of me that was wary, afraid of letting someone new into my life when I was still so tangled up in Kevin.

I was jolted from my thoughts by a call from Avery. I hesitated before answering, opting for silence.

He broke it with a light chuckle. “Hi Licia, I’m at your door.” His tone carried a subtle amusement that unnerved me.

How is that possible?“I don’t remember giving you my address.”

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I really needed to see you, so I found a way.”

“Okay, I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

“Take your time.”

I peered through the peephole, confirming it was him.Tall and confident, Avery stood there,waiting. One question lingered:how did he find my house?But I didn’t have the energy to interrogate him, so I decided to play the nice host.

“Avery, welcome.” My smile was as genuine as I could muster. “What a surprise.”

“Sorry for showing up unannounced. That was rude of me.”

“Don’t worry about it. Come in, please.”

He followed me in, and I motioned for him to take a seat.

“Thank you,” he said, sinking into the couch.

“What can I get you?”

He started to decline but then reconsidered. “Wine would be great.”

“Red or white?”

“Humor me.”

I returned with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and two glasses, setting them down on the marble side table next to him.

“Good choice,” he said, nodding in approval.

“Do the honors,” I offered, settling back into my seat.

Surprisingly, I found myself relaxing in his presence. I wasn’t thrilled about his visit initially, but now, I didn’t mind at all.

He poured the wine and handed me a glass.

“To us,” I said, raising my glass.

He mirrored my gesture, swirling the wine and inhaling its rich aroma before taking a sip. “Classic. You really know your wine.”