Second Chance: Secret Billionaire Heir

Shattered Ambitions and New Beginnings

The following week pressed heavily on Celine Hart’s shoulders. Each sunrise brought another exhausting battle inside Morraine Group’s chaotic offices. Senior departments collapsed into disorder, managers whispered anxiously behind closed doors, and executives scrambled to salvage crumbling financial structures. The suspension of Veylor Group’s contracts had struck the entire company like a sudden earthquake. Projects halted abruptly, investors fled, and internal morale evaporated.

Celine and Tristan worked under relentless pressure. Their tempers frayed day by day as they spent long hours analyzing spreadsheets, preparing emergency proposals, and attempting to contact Veylor leadership. Their desperation grew each time they visited the corporate tower belonging to Veylor Group. Guards refused them entry, receptionists claimed they had no appointments, and security personnel escorted them off the premises. Even Tristan’s numerous attempts to call various departments ended with unanswered rings.

Her dream of a lavish wedding celebration with Tristan vanished entirely. What once looked like an easy path toward a more prestigious future now dissolved into fear and uncertainty. The man she believed would guide her toward success grew increasingly irritable and volatile.

Inside her home, exhaustion piled on exhaustion. Celine returned late every night. By the time she arrived, Lyria often cried uncontrollably because she received no attention from either parent figure. The girl clung to her mother’s sleeve during one of these evenings, cheeks wet with tears.

“Nathan stayed home with me,” Lyria sobbed. “He always listened. You and Tristan don’t stay with me anymore.”

That statement jolted Celine. She snapped back reflexively, “Stop being dramatic. You need to behave properly. Crying won’t help anything.”

Lyria shrank into silence, though the hurt lingered clearly in her eyes.

Just when Celine believed she could not tolerate another interruption, the doorbell rang. Through the camera monitor, she saw Amy Hart—her younger sister—standing outside with a worried expression.

Celine opened the door quickly. “Thank goodness you’re here. I need your help. My schedule is impossible this week. Can you stay with Lyria?”

Amy stepped inside and immediately scanned the room. “Where’s Nathan?” she asked casually, though she hid an undercurrent of curiosity.

Celine stiffened. “He’s gone.”

“Gone where?” Amy’s voice sharpened.

“We divorced,” Celine replied flatly.

Amy froze. Her breath hitched. For a long moment she simply stared, unable to speak. Then her mood collapsed entirely. Without acknowledging Lyria, who tugged her sleeve for attention, she stormed toward Celine’s bedroom and slammed the door behind her.

Stunned by the outburst, Celine followed her and pushed the door open slightly. Amy stood beside the dresser, trembling with anger.

“You let him leave?” Amy whispered, voice breaking. “After everything he did?”

Celine frowned defensively. “He wasn’t supportive. He—”

“Supportive?” Amy’s tone hardened. “He left his career for you. He handled the housework alone. He raised Lyria while you chased status. How could you treat him like nothing?”

Celine exhaled sharply and looked away, unable to confront that truth. She buried deeper into her tiredness. Her mind wandered toward her secrets—dark, hidden thoughts she shared only with Tristan. Their sinister plan to stage an “accidental death” for Nathan had dissolved the moment he walked out willingly. His unexpected acceptance of divorce shattered their strategy. Instead of feeling triumphant, Celine felt strangely adrift.

She always assumed controlling Nathan would be easy. Now, losing him produced a hollow sensation she could not articulate.

To pacify Amy, Celine gestured toward the dining table. “I bought expensive meals. They’re in the kitchen. Eat something. You’ll feel better.”

Amy brushed past her without glance. “I’d rather have Nathan’s cooking.”

Her blunt rejection sliced deeper than Celine expected. Nathan’s cooking, Nathan’s care, Nathan’s patience—everything Amy appreciated belonged now to a man she had driven away.

Amy retreated to the guest room, leaving Celine overwhelmed and Lyria still sobbing despite the efforts of multiple housemaids attempting to soothe her. The entire household slipped into deeper unrest.

*

Far from the tension inside the Hart residence, Nathan Cole—now living within the serene estate owned by Kade Veylor—settled into his new environment with surprising ease. His days adopted a steady rhythm. Even though the mansion employed numerous attendants, Nathan insisted on helping whenever possible. He cleaned common areas, wiped counters, organized shelves, swept corridors, and sometimes mopped the floors despite polite protests from the staff.

Cooking quickly became his regular contribution. He prepared morning meals for Kade and occasionally for Aurora, who often left for work early. Without being asked, he packed nutritious lunch boxes for her every morning. She never requested them, yet she always received them with quiet gratitude.

After chores, Nathan trained inside Kade’s private gym. His workouts were extensive—heavy lifting, prolonged cardio, flexibility drills, and strength conditioning. Sweat dripped across his arms and chest as he maintained routines far more intense than those performed by average athletes.

Aurora returned home one evening carrying a bag filled with neatly wrapped clothing. She had purchased several sets of shirts, trousers, and casual outfits for Nathan. She felt guilty whenever she saw him rotate the same limited wardrobe, and she wanted to return the kindness he showed by preparing meals for her.

Curious about his whereabouts, she wandered through the estate until she reached the gym entrance. When she pushed the door slightly open, her breath caught.

Nathan stood near a rack of weights, removing a damp shirt after finishing his final set. His torso glistened beneath the soft lighting, highlighting defined muscles carved through years of silent discipline. Sweat traced lines down his shoulders and abdomen, revealing a physique far from the gentle domestic image he once displayed.

Aurora froze.

She had always admired Nathan’s sincerity and character, but she never expected the quiet househusband to possess such a sculpted body. Heat flooded her cheeks while her pulse accelerated. She pressed the wrapped gift against her chest, unsure whether to speak or flee.

Nathan turned at the sound of her soft gasp. “Aurora? I didn’t hear you come in.”

His modest smile only intensified her flustered reaction. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and approached shyly.

“I—I brought you something,” she said, offering the parcel. “Please open it later… in your room.”

Nathan looked puzzled but accepted the gift with gentle hands. “All right. Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Aurora felt her face warm even more. She shifted her weight nervously. “Your wardrobe seemed limited. I thought you might need a few new things.”

“That’s thoughtful,” Nathan replied. “I’ll check everything once I finish here.”

As he spoke, Aurora’s gaze traveled over him again. She admired his sincere expression, unaware of how captivating she appeared to him in that moment. Nathan observed the elegant curve of her waist, the delicate lines of her face, and the soft pink flush coloring her cheeks. Though he tried to remain respectful, he could not deny the subtle magnetism she carried.

“I was thinking,” Aurora continued, “your room still looks empty. You hardly have belongings. Would you like to shop for essentials? I know a place nearby.”

Nathan shook his head politely. “I want to wait until I start earning again. I’ll buy everything later once I rebuild my savings.”

Aurora stepped closer, determination replacing her shyness. “Don’t worry about expenses. I can cover it. Consider it a temporary loan.”

“I don’t want to burden you,” Nathan replied gently.

“You’re not burdening me,” she insisted softly. “Please let me help.”

He hesitated—then nodded. “All right. But when I have money again, you must accept repayment.”

Aurora smiled quietly, touched by his sincerity. “Deal.”

They left the gym together, both slightly flustered, both slightly excited, neither willing to reveal the emotions simmering beneath the surface.

Later that evening, they walked side by side through one of the city’s most prestigious shopping districts. Aurora guided him into designer boutiques, introducing him to brands he rarely considered for himself. Nathan felt slightly awkward entering upscale storefronts with polished marble floors and gold-trimmed displays, but Aurora’s warm encouragement kept him comfortable.

She watched him choose shirts, jackets, and trousers with a thoughtful expression—one that blended admiration and affection. Nathan tried to select affordable items, but Aurora continuously pushed him toward higher-quality pieces.

“You deserve something good,” she said each time his hand hovered near the price tags.

Nathan tried not to show how deeply her kindness affected him.

*

While their evening unfolded gently, turmoil inside Morraine Group intensified.

Celine paced her living room nervously after returning home from another grueling day at the office. Lyria lay asleep on the couch, exhausted from hours of crying. Housemaids whispered with concern as they cleaned around the room.

Tristan entered moments later, expression stormy.

“Bad news again?” Celine asked apprehensively.

“Worse,” Tristan muttered. “Veylor just suspended yet another contract. Our cash reserves won’t survive long if this continues.”

Celine felt panic rise through her chest. She thought leaving Nathan guaranteed a brighter future. Instead, everything collapsed around her.

For the first time, she wondered if she had miscalculated every decision she made.

And through the growing storm, Nathan’s absence haunted her more than she expected.