Second Chance: Secret Billionaire Heir

Morning Routines and Unspoken Feelings

Sunlight had not yet touched the horizon when Nathan awoke. Dawn lingered beyond the windows, and the mansion remained silent except for soft humming from distant ventilation. Waking early felt natural to him. His body still carried traces of habits built across eight years—preparing breakfast for Celine, packing meals for Lyria, cleaning every corner before rushing to school drop-offs. Those routines no longer belonged to his current life, yet his internal clock refused to change.

He sat on the edge of his new bed, rubbing faint traces of sleep from his eyes. Several bags filled with items Aurora insisted he purchase lay scattered near the wardrobe. He had not fully unpacked them last night, choosing instead to arrange only a few essentials before collapsing into sleep.

Now, with a rested mind, he knelt beside the bags and carefully sorted through each package. Aurora’s thoughtfulness became more evident as he uncovered one item after another—shirts made from durable fabrics, sleek trousers, fresh socks, comfortable casual wear for weekends, even a pair of stylish shoes.

Then he noticed one particular parcel wrapped in soft paper.

“Hm? What’s this…?”

He unwrapped it.

A pile of underwear in various styles and colors spilled into his lap.

His eyebrows lifted slightly before a small amused smile curved his lips.

“So this is why she wanted me to open it in my room…”

He stacked the garments neatly and shook his head while chuckling under his breath. The gesture felt unexpectedly personal, yet strangely heartwarming. Aurora must have thought he would be embarrassed receiving such intimate items publicly.

Nathan placed everything inside a drawer, straightened himself, and stretched his limbs. Morning air brushed against his skin, refreshing his mind. With a gentle exhale, he slipped on a workout outfit and began his usual rhythm.

A broom in hand, he cleaned the hallway outside his room, tidying surfaces and dusting corners with quiet efficiency. House staff tried several times earlier in the week to take over those chores, but he insisted on contributing. The mansion felt too grand for him to simply live in without offering something back. And in truth, cleaning calmed him. It grounded him.

After finishing the corridors, he headed toward Kade’s private gym.

Inside the spacious training room, Nathan performed warm-up stretches before beginning a set of heavy lifts. His muscles tightened under the strain, reflecting strong endurance and long-term discipline. Sweat formed across his temples and neck while he exhaled steadily through each repetition.

Mid-session, the gym doors opened softly.

Aurora entered wearing a fitted exercise top and leggings, her hair tied in a high ponytail. Weekend sunlight streamed behind her, illuminating her silhouette.

She waved lightly. “Morning.”

Nathan paused his workout. “Morning. You’re up early.”

“I wanted to exercise with you,” she replied with a gentle grin. “I don’t usually train on weekends, but… today felt different.”

He nodded, welcoming her presence without hesitation. “You’re always welcome here.”

She wandered to the corner where she placed her water bottle, then positioned her phone on a stand. “Mind if I record a live workout session? My friends wanted to watch.”

Nathan shrugged. “Go ahead. I’ll stay out of the frame if you want privacy.”

Aurora laughed softly. “No need. You can join the video. They already adore your cooking from the photos I showed last time.”

He raised an eyebrow, surprised. She giggled at his expression.

The livestream began with Aurora greeting her viewers. Her tone grew cheerful as she introduced Nathan as her “training partner today.” Comments streamed across the screen rapidly:

“Who’s the guy??”

“He’s handsome!”

“Look at those arms.”

“Aurora never does gym lives… what changed?”

Soon, relatives from the Blackwell family left supportive reactions. Even Kade’s brief appearance in the live chat stirred excitement.

Aurora blushed lightly at the flood of messages, then shot an affectionate glance at Nathan.

Meanwhile, Nathan focused entirely on his workout. He remained blissfully unaware of the storm of compliments about his physique. His attention stayed on his form, his breathing, the movements of each repetition.

Between sets, Aurora glanced toward his corner—and her smile faded slightly when she noticed his old phone resting on the bench.

The device appeared scuffed and outdated, barely functional in a world of advanced smartphones. It had only basic messaging capability. Even the camera had long stopped working.

Her jaw tightened.

“How did she let him use something this outdated…?” Aurora thought bitterly.

She approached him slowly. “Nathan, your phone looks like it’s about to fall apart.”

He glanced at it. “It still works for calls.”

“It doesn’t support apps,” Aurora replied. “Half the functions won’t run.”

“I know,” he said calmly. “I’ll upgrade it once I save enough.”

Aurora frowned. “Let me take it. I’ll refurbish it. Free of charge.”

Nathan rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not comfortable letting you pay for anything more. I can handle it myself.”

Her patience cracked slightly, afraid Nathan still considering putting Celine’s number on his phone, “Are you worried about losing someone’s number? Is that why you won’t let me touch it?”

Nathan blinked, noticing the frustration behind her eyes. “Well… yes. I don’t want to lose my father’s number.”

Aurora froze.

“Your… father’s number?”

“Yeah.” Nathan exhaled softly. “I know he’s gone. I just… keep it because it reminds me of him. That number was the last connection I had before everything changed.”

Her shoulders relaxed instantly. Relief washed through her expression—followed by embarrassment for assuming something else.

“Oh,” she whispered. “I thought you were protecting a number from your past.”

“I’m protecting memories,” he replied gently.

Aurora breathed deeply, then nodded. “I promise I’ll keep it safe. I’ll record it myself in case anything erases your data. Please trust me with this.”

Nathan considered her sincerity for several seconds.

Then he handed her the phone.

“Okay. I’ll trust you.”

Her eyes brightened. “Thank you.”

After finishing their workout, Nathan and Aurora headed toward the dining area. They shared a simple breakfast prepared by Nathan—toast, eggs, and a vegetable stir-fry. Aurora commented several times on how delicious everything tasted. Nathan brushed the praise aside modestly.

When they finished eating, they moved to the locker rooms. The cleaning area had separate entrances for men and women, ensuring privacy for the residents and staff.

Nathan entered the men’s section, stepping into the shower. Warm water cascaded over his shoulders, easing tension along his muscles. He wrapped a towel around his waist afterward and began drying his hair.

Suddenly, a sharp scream echoed from the women’s section.

Nathan froze.

Another cry followed—louder, frightened, unmistakably Aurora’s voice.

Without thinking, he rushed toward the hallway, water still dripping down his back. His steps hit the polished floor in quick succession as he moved toward the source of the sound. His towel hung barely secure around his hips, but urgency drowned out embarrassment.

“Aurora?!”

He reached the doorway of the women’s shower area, ignoring protocol. Fear cut through his chest as he feared the worst—an accident, a fall, an intruder, a malfunctioning fixture… anything that could threaten her safety.

“Aurora! Answer me!”

Her voice reached him through the steam-filled corridor—

“Nathan!”

The urgency in her tone made his heart drop.

Nathan stepped forward without hesitation.

Whatever waited inside, whatever danger caused her to scream—He would face it without second thought.