84 The Second Chance

"Good morning!" Grace smiled at Daniel and blushed slightly.

"Good morning." His voice was grave with sleep. He smiled slowly.

"How are you feeling?" He asked her. Her blush deepened.

"Sore. But that's okay." She said softly.

"Sorry. I got a little carried away." He admitted. Apparently lever A went very well with slot B. So much so, that they'd connected again and again throughout the night.

"It's alright. Don't they say practice makes perfect?" She teased.

"Maybe we should get some practice in. I'm a perfectionist, you know." Daniel suggested.

"Aren't you forgetting we both have classes to teach today?" Grace asked. Daniel could only groan.

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For the past several days, Calvin went to work and spent his evenings with Amy at the Zhou villa. They hadn't really discussed the issue separating them but it hung in the air between them.

Calvin was working in his office when he was informed his oldest son was there to see him. He hadn't seen either of his boys since Grandmother Stella's birthday party when they had treated Amy poorly.

"Anthony. What brings you here?" Calvin asked.

"Is it true?" He spat in anger at his father.

"Is what true?" Calvin asked.

"Did you get that woman pregnant?" Anthony clarified.

"That woman, as you call her, is my wife and she has a name. And yes, Amy is pregnant." Calvin confirmed.

"So you're just starting a new family all over again as if mom, Richard, and I never existed, right?" Anthony accused.

"It's not my intention to treat you and your brother as outsiders, however I readily admit your mother and I never should have been together. You and Richard have a hard time accepting Amy. To some degree, I think I understand. She's your age and married to me. That's probably awkward for you, but the two of you need to understand that Amy is the woman I love. Yes, she's pregnant. I only hope she carries to term safely." Calvin explained.

"Sorry, Father. I'll never understand. You had a family. Instead of being there for us, you were out chasing women." Anthony said in scathing reproof and walked out.

Calvin sighed sadly. It seemed he had really ruined a lot of things in his life. Though it wasn't his intention to start over and create a whole new family, he suddenly felt that he had an opportunity to change his future even if his past was a mess.

He grabbed his coat and walked out.

"Cancel my afternoon appointments. I'm needed at home." He told his secretary as he headed for the elevator.

He went directly to the Zhou villa and was informed by Uncle Arthur that Amy was walking in the courtyard.

He found her strolling the garden path.

"Amy!" He called out.

"Is something wrong?" She asked with concern. She wasn't used to Calvin leaving work early.

"We need to talk." He told her, leading her to a stone bench.

"Alright." She said, curious.

"I need to apologize. To sincerely apologize. I was wrong to try to force you to abort our child. I had no right to exert my will over your body. I was scared. I still am. I don't want to lose you and I'd do anything to keep you safe. But my method was selfish and disrespectful. I'm very sorry. I betrayed your trust." Calvin admitted.

"I know why you wanted me to do it, but I love this baby and have an urge to protect it in the same way you'd like to protect me." Amy explained

"I understand that now. I will not mention it again. If you'll let me, I want to be beside you while you go through your pregnancy. I'd like to ask you for another chance at this if you'd let me. I want to be a good husband and father." Calvin told her.

"Of course I will!" She threw her arms around him.