All Chapters of SECOND CHANCES AT SUNRISE : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CHAPTER ELEVEN — WORK, LAUGHTER, AND SHARED MOMENTSThe following week brought a flurry of activity at Indigo Glow. A new project had landed on Yara’s desk—an international collaboration that required precision, creativity, and her full attention.Jamal, as always, was involved. Not because he had to be, but because the project fell under his department. And somehow, the universe—or perhaps fate—kept arranging it so that they ended up in meetings together, working side by side.Yara tried to focus. Truly. She told herself that every moment spent analyzing layouts, budgets, or design plans was simply… business. Nothing more.But it was impossible to ignore Jamal. Not when he leaned over her laptop to point out a detail, his hand brushing hers ever so slightly. Not when he offered quiet encouragement during tense client calls. Not when he laughed at her jokes—real laughter, not the polite chuckle she had grown used to from colleagues.During one particularly long afternoon session, they

CHAPTER THIRTEEN — SMALL GESTURES, BIG IMPACTOver the next few days, Yara found herself thinking about Jamal more often than she cared to admit. Not in a desperate way, not in a panicked, heart-fluttering way—just… a quiet awareness that he existed in her thoughts like a familiar melody she hadn’t realised she’d missed.It started with small things.A text in the morning:“Good morning. Coffee later?”A subtle smile when he arrived at her office to check on the project progress.A shared joke over a misprinted sketch, causing them both to laugh until they were nearly crying.Each gesture was small, almost innocuous, yet their combined effect was significant. They were reminders that he was here—not the man who left, but someone changed, patient, and willing to rebuild what they had lost.One afternoon, Yara stayed late to finalise the design presentation. She was hunched over her desk, eyes tired, when Jamal knocked softly and entered.“Thought you could use a break,” he said, holdin

CHAPTER FIFTEEN — WEEKEND ESCAPESaturday morning arrived with a rare calm. The city was just beginning to stir, and Yara felt a lightness she hadn’t experienced in years.Her phone buzzed gently.“Meet me at 10? I have a little plan.” —JamalShe smiled, shaking her head. “A plan? This I have to see.”By 10:15 a.m., she arrived at a small botanical garden Jamal had chosen—a quiet oasis tucked away from the bustling city. He was waiting near the entrance, holding two iced coffees, dressed casually in a white shirt and jeans.“You brought coffee?” she asked, laughing.“Of course,” he said, handing her one. “Essential for surviving nature walks with me.”They strolled along the flower-lined paths, sunlight filtering through the trees. For once, there were no meetings, no deadlines, no client emails—just the soft sound of birds and the rustling of leaves.“You know,” Jamal said, breaking the silence with a gentle grin, “I always thought you’d hate outdoor activities. Too much risk of mess

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN — CITY LIGHTS AND QUIET MOMENTSIt was a Friday evening, and Lagos was alive with the soft hum of nightlife. Yara had just finished a long week at Indigo Glow and was feeling unusually drained.Her phone buzzed:“Meet me at the riverside? Just a walk, nothing fancy.” —JamalShe hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “I’ll be there in ten.”When she arrived, Jamal was leaning against the railing, silhouetted by the golden glow of streetlights reflecting on the water.“You made it,” he said softly, his smile lighting up the quiet evening.“I did,” she replied, letting herself breathe out a tension she hadn’t realised she’d been holding.They walked side by side along the riverside, the cool breeze carrying the soft scent of the water and the city.For a while, they didn’t speak. The silence was comfortable, punctuated only by the distant sounds of laughter and traffic.Then Jamal stopped and turned toward her. “Yara… I’ve been thinking.”Her heart skipped slightly. “Abou

CHAPTER NINETEEN — OPEN HEARTSThe second day of their getaway dawned with golden sunlight spilling over the ocean. Yara awoke to the sound of gentle waves and the faint scent of coffee drifting from the porch.Jamal was already up, sitting with two mugs of steaming tea. He looked up as she emerged from the cabin, smiling softly.“Morning,” he said, handing her a mug.“Morning,” she replied, taking it and letting the warmth seep into her hands.They sat in comfortable silence, sipping slowly, letting the world wake around them.After a while, Jamal spoke, his voice gentle. “Yara… I want to ask you something.”Her curiosity was piqued. “Go ahead.”He took a deep breath. “Do you ever… worry that giving someone a second chance is too risky? That you might get hurt again?”Her fingers tightened around her mug. “All the time,” she admitted. “I’ve been hurt before, badly. It’s… hard not to be cautious.”“I understand,” he said softly. “And I don’t expect you to trust me blindly. I just… wan