My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 100: Across The Hall

Katherine sat frozen at her desk, a bead of disbelief trickling down her spine. She could still feel the echo of Leonard’s footsteps in the lobby. He had actually come here. She tried to steady her breathing. The chaos he’d caused in her life still felt fresh.

She glanced toward Felix’s office. She caught the flicker of something in his expression earlier: annoyance. A protective storm cloud gathering behind a steely calm. Katherine had seen that look before. It meant only one thing: Felix was angry. And that anger had drawn its power from something far deeper than professional rivalry.

Katherine rubbed the tension out of her temples. She focused on work, inputting numbers and clipping emails closed, until the clock struck five.

Felix emerged from his office not long after, eyes shadowed with the residue of whatever had stirred his temper earlier.

"Hey," she said, casually stepping into his path. "You should come by tonight."

Felix paused, his brow creasing just slightly.

"I mean it," she went on. "I’m cooking."

He tilted his head, studying her for a beat. "Yeah," he said at last, voice low. "I’m not an idiot. I’m not turning that down."

Katherine laughed softly and reached out to slap his shoulder, just hard enough to make him rock a little. "Good. I’d have been offended if you said no."

As they walked toward the elevators, she glanced at him sidelong. The hard line in his jaw had eased a little, though the storm hadn’t passed. Not entirely. But she’d cracked a bit of the shell.

Picking the twins up later, the atmosphere softened. Felix by her side, they greeted Nathan and Maya with warmth. Felix led them, grabbing their hands gently, while Katherine scanned the daycare for any sign of trouble. The little ones giggled and shoved each other.

Once home, the energy settled in. Katherine slipped into the kitchen, flipping a pan of garlic-mashed potatoes and sizzling steaks—Felix’s favorite. She measured a couple of kids’ spoons of butter, balancing nutrition and flavor. In the adjoining living room, Felix was on the floor with the twins, working on a unicorn jigsaw puzzle. The table scattered with bright pieces, tiny hands nudged each fragment into place.

Maya, talked between puzzle pieces, looked up and giggled as Felix exaggerated dinosaur roars; Nathan roared back, eager to knock over Felix’s playful fortress.

Across the kitchen counter, Katherine couldn’t help a small smile at the scene. Her heart swelled as the smell of garlic and charred rosemary danced through the air. Felix worked the puzzle with ease—his calm presence a steady anchor for the twins. It felt as normal as any family moment she’d hoped for in months.

She wiped her hands, catching his eye. He gave her a gentle nod. She returned it, grateful for how naturally it felt—two parents, cooking and caring side by side.

Dinner was plated and carried to the round table. Nathan bounced excitedly, Maya trying to daintily serve herself a potato chunk. Felix carved the steak and even offered Katherine a piece. She accepted, touched by his thoughtfulness.

"Are you always this good?" Felix teased as he cut another slice.

Katherine laughed, soft relief washing over her voice. "Well, I practiced—for you."

The twins giggled. Even in the moment, she felt they belonged to them both now.

Meal conversations were easy: school stories, funny drawings, a quick game of I Spy between bites.

After finishing their plates, Felix stood to clear the dishes. Katherine and the twins followed him to the kitchen, drying plates and stacking dishes in a rhythm.

"Thank you," Katherine murmured as she watched the twins slap cleanly washed bowls onto the rack.

Felix paused, taking her hand lightly, then said softly, "Dinner tonight... it was perfect."

She understood him without him having to say more.

Moments later, they gathered at the door as Felix retrieved his jacket.

Felix turned to her, jacket half in his arm. "Katherine? I wash thinking... Would you be open to having dinner with just us? No work, no twins. Just you and me."

Her mouth opened, paused. Part of her wanted to say yes—her heart thudding at the invitation. But motherhood meant planning: who would watch the twins? Blend schedules? Juggle nap times?

She swallowed. "Felix... I’d love to. If I can get someone to look after them, I would. I just... need to ask around."

He smiled a little—hopeful. "I already did. Irene said yes. I texted her; she’ll come help."

Her heart squeezed. His preparation warmed her—an earnestness she hadn’t expected. She folded her hands and nodded. "Then I’d like that."

The twins squealed from the foyer. Felix scooped them both up, spinning them lightly. Katherine watched as her two worlds merged—Felix holding her children, her children laughing.

Felix opened the apartment door and stepped out, his figure lit by the hallway light. Katherine lingered behind him, turned to close the door. The sound of metal scraping echoed, halting her breathing.

Across the hallway, the apartment door across from hers swung open.

Felix froze, his smile faltered, shoulders tensing. Katherine turned fully to face the hallway and winced.

There, in the threshold of that neighboring apartment, stood Leonard. Casual clothes, dark jeans, an untucked shirt, he held a cardboard box roughly cupped in both hands. The books inside peered over the top as he stared at them, his expression blank.

Leonard. Here. Next door.

The hair on Katherine’s arms prickled. She glanced from Leonard to Felix, whose jaw clenched tight. She drew in a breath as realization crashed over her—this was no coincidence.

Leonard stepped forward slowly, as if crossing that threshold gave him claim to her home, their lives. Felix stepped toward her protectively, hand lightly brushing across her back. Katherine’s pulse pounded in her ears. The world had shifted—again.

Leonard’s voice came quietly, unnaturally calm: "Uh... evening."

Silence.

Felix’s eyes narrowed. "Leonard," he said flatly, voice edged with a barely contained warning.

Leonard let the box dangle in his arms. "Hello to you, too, Felix," he repeated, though it sounded more like a statement.

Katherine stared. Fear and anger mingled in her chest. She could feel Felix’s arm tighten around her.