Semua Bab Second Chance Christmas : Bab 11 - Bab 20

Julia* “Santa!” I snapped out of my daze at the sound of the twins excited squeal. Tearing my gaze away from him, I turned just in time to see the kids bounding down the stairs as quickly as their little legs could carry them.“Don't run,” I chastised them, sighing when they paid no heed to me as all their attention was now on the hunk of a man in a Santa Claus costume standing in our doorway.I turned back to him, swallowing as I noticed how his shoulders almost filled the doorway. I shook off the thought and motioned for him to come in; he nodded once, still watching me with that stormy gaze that seemed so familiar, yet I was sure I'd never met him before. I shut the door and locked it after him before turning back to watch him fall to his knees, his arms wide open as the twins rushed into his arms.“You kept your promise, Mommy,” Lucien grinned, pulling away from him and rushing to my hips. I chuckled, ruffling his hair as I smiled down at him. “I promised you, didn't I, and I alw

Julia“Your what?!” I echoed, watching as his grey orbs twinkled with mirth and mischief. He took a step closer to me; he was so close that I could feel the warmth emanating from his body. He towered over me that I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze, my frown deepening.“What are you doing?” I asked, swallowing when he took another step, and I quickly took one back.“I wanna take a closer look at you,” he murmured, taking another step closer to me. “It's been too long,” he added, his tone low and gravelly.My eyes widened when he raised his hand and gasped, ready to take a step back, but he stopped, seeming to think better of it. He brought his hand to his head, dragging the red hat off in one go, revealing thick locks of dark hair that fell in unruly curls over his forehead, eerily identical to Lucien's.His stormy gaze met mine as he slowly pulled the fake white beard off his face, and I gasped, my eyes growing wide.“R-ryan,” I stuttered in shock, taking a step back in shock

Julia“A second chance,” he murmured, his steely gaze soft and pleading.“A second chance?” I echoed, chuckling dryly as I looked at him as though he'd just spouted another head. ”For what?!” I snapped.“After everything you've done, you still have the nerve to ask that?” I seethed, watching in contempt as his expression remained guarded.“Darling, I wasn't asking,” he scoffed, raising his hand and pushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear while his fingers lingered a second longer on my skin.“I'm making a proposition here; it's all up to you to accept,” he murmured.“You never loved them, not when you chose her over them,” I seethed, and his jaw ticked. I scoffed, realising I'd hit a nerve at the mention of Kathryn.“I've loved them since the first day I learnt you were pregnant with them, and I always will. Hell, I haven't stopped loving you, but you have left me no choice,” he rambled, his clenched fist trembling by his side.I swallowed thickly, thinking of ways to get out of

JuliaThe second I walked out of his bedroom, it was as though I was immediately drenched in ice-cold water.“Fuck!” I cursed, pulling at the roots of my hair as the scene of how I'd acted like a fucking hormonal teenager before him replayed in my head.It was like I had no control over my body, but a small voice in the recesses of my mind whispered otherwise, but I was in denial to ever admit any of it was of my own volition.“It only happened because I hadn't gotten laid in so long; yes, that must be it,” I whispered underneath my breath, trying to convince myself that that must be the reason why my body had responded the way it did.I rushed down the stairs, my cheeks still burning from my earlier encounter with Ryan. As I walked into the dining room, all heads turned to me. The twins were already seated opposite each other at the dinner table.As I made to walk towards the kitchen, Lucien's words stopped me short in my tracks.“Why are your cheeks red, Mommy?” Lucien asked, tiltin

RyanRyan Leaving the house after breakfast wasn't what I wanted, but I had to if I was going to win the game Julia was playing at. Parking my car in the parking lot of the five-story office building, I got out. Quickening my pace when I got to the front desk.I realised how so much had changed within the five years I'd been gone, leaving my law firm in the care of a professional manager. The receptionist didn't recognise me immediately as she looked up at me, her expression bored but polite.“Welcome to Ryan Thompson & Associates. What can I do for you, sir?” she said all in one breath.“I'm here to meet Attorney Damon Aurelio,” I responded, and she nodded, her red lipstick-covered lips set in a thin line.“Do you have an appointment?” she asked in an equally professional tone. “Well, not exactly,” I trailed off, tilting my head to the side with a sheepish smile.“I'm sorry, but you have to make an appointment, sir,” she clarified, and I nodded. “I know, but he's expecting me; you ca