My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 111: Cake & Claws

The next day.

The sky had begun to dip into warm shades of orange and lavender by the time Katherine pulled into the parking lot in front of the cake shop. The twins had been chattering endlessly in the backseat since she picked them up from daycare, their voices dancing with excitement over visiting Leonard’s new apartment. Maya couldn’t stop guessing what color his curtains would be. Nathan was sure he had a balcony with a telescope.

Katherine’s fingers tightened subtly around the steering wheel as she parked. There was a flutter of something uneasy in her chest—faint but persistent. Maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t stepped foot in Leonard’s private space since... well, since before everything fell apart. Still, she wasn’t going to dwell on it.

She climbed out of her car and immediately walked over to Felix’s. He was leaned back in the driver’s seat, his hand resting casually on the steering wheel, and turned to her as she knocked lightly on the window.

He rolled it down, a curious smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Can you stay with the twins for a bit? I want to pick up something from the bakery."

Felix’s gaze moved to the rearview mirror, where the twins were now waving dramatically at her from the back seat. "Of course," he said. "Take your time."

She gave him a thankful nod and turned toward the glowing storefront.

The sweet scent of vanilla and butter cream wafted through the glass door as she entered the shop. It was warm inside, the lighting soft and golden, casting a peaceful kind of glow over the pristine displays of pastries and delicately decorated cakes. Her eyes scanned the selections quickly, landing on a shelf of individual slices in clear domed covers.

There—a perfect strawberry shortcake slice. Layers of soft sponge cake, airy whipped cream, and bright red berries resting like jewels on top. It looked elegant, festive. Just enough to say, "Congratulations on the move" without being too personal.

She reached for it, her fingers brushing the edge of the plastic lid—

Another hand collided with hers.

Katherine blinked and looked up, startled.

The other woman’s manicured nails tightened slightly around the same cake slice.

"I was getting that," Katherine said evenly, her tone polite despite the unexpected clash.

"So was I," came the response—slow, amused.

Katherine’s stomach twisted. The voice was familiar, nauseatingly familiar. She turned her head fully and locked eyes with none other than Miranda.

Miranda. Of all people.

Katherine straightened, drawing her hand back with a slow, deliberate breath.

"Well, well," Miranda said, lips curving into a smirk as her eyes flicked down Katherine’s outfit. "Running errands for Leonard, are we?"

Katherine kept her tone cool. "Not everything revolves around Leonard. But I’m sure you’re still hoping otherwise."

Miranda let out a dramatic sigh. "It’s almost cute how defensive you are."

"No, what’s cute is your obsession with hovering where you’re no longer wanted." Katherine tilted her head. "Like a fly that doesn’t know when to leave the picnic."

Miranda narrowed her eyes. "Oh, sweetheart. I’m not the one who got left."

"No," Katherine replied, smiling now, "you’re the one who got used. Big difference."

The smirk slipped for just a second, a flash of irritation crossing Miranda’s perfectly powdered face.

"You always thought you were better than me," Miranda said, her voice lower now, laced with venom.

"I didn’t have to think it. I just watched you throw yourself at a man who was already taken." Katherine smiled wider. "And fail to keep him. That’s not confidence. That’s facts."

Miranda scoffed and grabbed the cake with sharp fingers, as if to punctuate her frustration.

Katherine raised an eyebrow. "Of course, your hobby has always been taking things that don’t belong to you, hasn’t it?"

That did it.

Miranda’s eyes burned with fury as she lifted her hand, fingers spread in an unmistakable arc of anger.

Katherine barely had time to shift before she felt the air tighten behind her.

A hand—firm, calm, and strong—appeared from behind, grabbing Miranda’s wrist mid-air, holding it in place before the slap could land.

Katherine turned her head sharply to see Felix standing behind her, his expression unreadable but his eyes razor sharp.

"Seriously?" he said to Miranda, voice quiet but dangerous. "You were about to hit her in a bakery? That’s new."

Miranda froze, her arm still suspended by Felix’s grip. For a second, she tried to pull back, but his hold was unrelenting.

"Let go," she snapped.

Felix did, but not before giving her a cold look. "Be careful who you raise your hand to. I won’t be this polite next time."

Miranda glared between the two of them, chest rising and falling. She turned her attention to Katherine, as if hoping to reclaim some control. "You must be so proud of yourself."

"Why wouldn’t I be?" Katherine answered smoothly, collecting a new slice of chocolate cake and handing it to the stunned clerk who had frozen behind the counter. "Not only did I win the argument—again—I got cake too."

"You think this is over?" Miranda hissed, straightening her handbag on her shoulder.

Katherine looked her dead in the eyes. "No, darling. This was over the moment Leonard slammed the door in your face."

"Should I be worried about leaving you alone for five minutes?" he said with a dry smile.

Katherine gave him a sidelong glance. "Trust me, I didn’t plan to run into a walking disaster today."

"You handled it well," he said.

"I didn’t even raise my voice."

"That’s what makes it so scary," Felix added, shaking his head in mock awe.

Katherine let out a small laugh, finally loosening the tension in her shoulders. She paid for the cake and turned to head back toward the car with Felix beside her. The night air had grown cooler, but it felt like a breath of fresh relief after the heat of that confrontation.