All Chapters of A Second Chance: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

The midday sun bathed the rooftop garden in a golden glow, transforming it into a serene retreat above the hum of the tech company below. At a sleek glass table, Amaliah sat across from Caesar, the remnants of their lunch scattered between them. A gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh flowers, lifting strands of her hair, and for the first time in a long while, she felt… at peace.Returning to work had been refreshing, yet a part of her still longed for Tuscany. She wondered, almost absentmindedly, if Caesar would ever take her back. After their return, he had hired a landscaper to fill the once-barren rooftop with flowers—simply because she had mentioned, in passing, that it would make the space more beautiful. But he hadn't stopped there. A gazebo had been built, complete with a glass table and two chairs. When he had shown it to her, she had been speechless, overwhelmed by the thoughtful gesture.Her fingers instinctively found the pendant resting against her skin. She had neve

A week later Amaliah had just ended her phone call with Caesar when the doorbell rang. Caesar was away on a business trip in Thailand, and she had been worried sick after seeing reports of the tsunami that had struck part of the country. Relief washed over her when she finally got through to him, and he reassured her that he had left Thailand a day before the disaster occurred.With that peace of mind, she made her way to the door, expecting the delivery guy Caesar had mentioned. But when she opened it, it wasn't the delivery she had anticipated—it was Rafael, standing there with a bouquet of red roses.Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. She had desperately hoped it had all been a dream—that he was gone, that he hadn't returned. But the sharp, undeniable reality settled in as she felt her babies kick inside her. This was no dream."Hello, Amaliah," Rafael greeted, a small, cautious smile playing on his lips.Amaliah gripped the door handle, steadying herself. This

When Rafael refused to stay away from Amaliah despite her repeated pleas and continued stalking her at both her home and workplace, Caesar urged her to file for a restraining order. A police officer served Rafael the legal documents within the week.Not even seven days later, Amaliah’s new attorney—Denise Jordan, a sharp and seasoned professional recommended by Caesar—served Rafael with divorce papers. Enraged by what he perceived as betrayal and furious that Amaliah would dare end their relationship without giving him another chance, Rafael swore vengeance. Specifically, he vowed to ruin whatever relationship she had with Caesar.A few days later, Amaliah received a chilling call from the twins’ school: Rafael had come to pick up Madisyn and Micaela—and they had gone with him willingly. Her heart pounded as she tried calling his number, but it was switched off. She suspected right away that he had gotten rid of the phone to avoid being tracked.Panic-stricken and barely able to thi

The night air was thick with tension as Caesar crouched behind the car parked out front, his gaze fixed on the cabin ahead. The floodlights were off, the only sound was the soft murmurs of the police officers positioned around the perimeter. They had parked a good distance away, choosing to approach on foot to avoid alerting Rafael to their presence.Detective Briggs crouched beside him, his expression tense as his eyes scanned the surroundings. “Surveillance confirms the twins are inside. They’re in the back room. Guarded by one man—Rafael’s cousin. Also... there’s a woman with them.”Caesar’s chest tightened at the mention of a woman. He already had a sinking feeling he knew who it was. “Who is it?” he asked, his voice cold, steady.“Miss Anastasia Knight,” Briggs replied, confirming his worst suspicion.The name struck Caesar like a punch to the gut. He clenched his jaw and fought to suppress the flare of anger. “We go in silent. No mistakes.”Briggs nodded sharply, his eyes steel

The first witness, Detective Briggs, was called to the stand.“I was the lead officer on the kidnapping case. We obtained CCTV footage showing one of the defendants—Rafael Rivers—leaving the school premises with the children. The girls were reported missing hours later. The cabin they were kept in was rented under a false name—Anastasia Knight’s cousin.”“Was there any indication the children were harmed?” the prosecutor asked.“They weren’t physically harmed, but they were confused, disoriented, and crying for their mother. Upon their arrest, Mr. Rivers grabbed an officer’s gun and shot Mr. Masterson, who had been comforting the girls at the time.”Amaliah’s breath caught in her throat, and Caesar’s grip on her hand tightened.The next witness, a child psychologist, took the stand, having interviewed the girls.“They were confused and terrified. They were told they were going on a ‘surprise vacation.’ But as days passed without contact with their mother, the older twin began crying e