My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 120: Heavy Hearts

"Katherine—careful!" Felix’s voice chased after her, echoing through the apartment hallway. His footsteps followed, but she barely heard him, her heart pounding too loud, drowning out everything else.

Her fingers trembled as she punched the passcode into the door. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Click. The moment the door unlocked, she shoved it open and dashed inside, kicking off her heels halfway through the living room.

"Maya!" Her voice cracked as she called, sprinting straight toward the twins’ room.

Her chest tightened at the sight that greeted her. Maya lay curled up on her bed, cheeks flushed an angry pink, her little forehead glistening with sweat. Nathan sat beside her, holding her tiny hand. Irene hovered nearby, holding a cool damp cloth. Leonard sat on the edge of the bed—his broad frame awkward on the small mattress—his hand lightly stroking Maya’s back.

Katherine’s throat tightened. Her baby. Her sweet little girl.

"Oh, honey..." She rushed over, kneeling beside Maya’s bed. Her hands instinctively brushed through Maya’s damp hair, fingers trembling as they skimmed across her heated skin. "Mommy’s here, baby," she whispered softly.

Maya stirred slightly but didn’t open her eyes.

"I changed her clothes, wiped her down with a damp towel, and gave her fever meds," Irene reported quickly, her voice all business but laced with worry. "Her temp was 38.7 earlier but went down a little now. I kept her hydrated. Her breathing’s fine, but she’s clingy and restless."

"Thank you... thank you so much, Irene," Katherine said, glancing up with grateful eyes.

Irene sighed, shaking her head. "I’m sorry for ruining your night."

Katherine immediately shook her head, firm and certain. "No. No, you did the right thing. I told you to call me—anytime, if anything happens. You absolutely should’ve called."

Felix appeared behind her, hands in his pockets, his brows pinched with concern but silent, letting her take over.

"I... I’m just going to change real quick, then I’ll be back," Katherine murmured. Her knees felt stiff as she stood, brushing them off. Her gaze flicked to everyone in the room before she turned toward her bedroom.

Inside her room, she yanked off her dress, hands fumbling with the zipper. The elegant fabric pooled to the floor, forgotten. She grabbed the first comfy clothes in sight—an oversized tee and sweatpants—and tugged them on. Her reflection in the mirror flashed her tired face, makeup smudged around her eyes, hair messy from running. But she didn’t care.

When she returned to the twins’ room, the air still felt heavy with tension but slightly more settled. Maya stirred in her sleep, mumbling incoherent words.

"Irene," Katherine said softly, resting a hand on her friend’s shoulder. "Thank you again... I mean it. But you should go home. You have that early client tomorrow, right?"

Irene opened her mouth to protest, then sighed in defeat. "Yeah... Yeah, I do. But text me. Update me. Every hour."

"I will," Katherine promised.

Irene sighed again but leaned forward to give Maya a gentle kiss on the forehead, then ruffled Nathan’s hair. "Be good, okay?"

Nathan nodded solemnly.

And surprisingly—even to Leonard—Irene shot him a tight, reluctant, "...Goodnight," before turning on her heel.

"I’ll walk you out," Felix offered smoothly, stepping forward. He placed a gentle hand on Irene’s back, guiding her toward the door.

"Thanks," Irene muttered, still stiff but allowing it.

As the door shut behind them, the room grew quieter—just Katherine, Nathan, and Leonard now. The air felt heavier, more intimate, yet tense.

Leonard shifted on the bed, resting his elbows on his knees. His fingers laced together as he glanced toward Katherine. "...Do you think she’s going to be okay?"

Katherine nodded, stroking Maya’s hair, her eyes never leaving her daughter. "Yeah. This happens. Kids catch fevers sometimes. It’s pretty normal."

"But shouldn’t... shouldn’t we take her to the hospital?" Leonard’s voice cracked slightly, the worry leaking through. His leg bounced, betraying his nerves. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Katherine finally glanced up, lips curling slightly—not with humor, but with that tired smile of experience. "No. This isn’t hospital-worthy. The fever isn’t that high. Some rest, fluids, and medicine... it’ll pass in a day or two."

Leonard dragged a hand down his face, groaning quietly. "God, I sound like... like a total amateur."

She didn’t reply to that, only smoothing Maya’s hair down again. Her silence said enough.

Not long after, soft footsteps echoed from the hallway. Felix returned, his presence filling the doorway. His gaze softened the moment it landed on Maya. He walked over, crouched beside Katherine, and pressed a hand to Maya’s tiny shoulder.

"She’s still warm... but I guess a bit better than before," he said softly.

"Yeah," Katherine whispered.

Felix shifted, turning his gaze to her fully. His eyes searched her face, gentle but resolute. "If you want... I can stay tonight."

Katherine blinked, surprised. "No. No, it’s fine, really. You should go home. You’ve had a long day."

"I don’t mind," Felix said, voice low, almost coaxing.

"I know. But really, it’s okay. I’ve got this." She offered him a small, grateful smile. "You should rest."

Felix hesitated, then sighed and nodded. "Alright. But promise me—no work for the next couple of days. Just focus on Maya."

Katherine chuckled softly. "Yeah. Of course."

He lingered for a beat longer, his hand brushing her shoulder, his thumb tracing her collarbone gently. Then he straightened. "One last thing... about earlier."

Her lips parted, breath catching.

Felix smiled, tilting his head. "I’ll still be waiting for your answer." His voice was quiet, loaded with meaning but light enough not to pressure her. His gaze held hers for a beat longer before he pivoted toward Nathan.

"Hey, champ." Felix knelt beside Nathan and ruffled his hair. "Take care of your mom and your sister, yeah?"

Nathan grinned and nodded. "I will."

Felix gave him a thumbs-up before rising. He glanced at Katherine one last time. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Felix... and thank you," she murmured, her chest tightening slightly.

As Felix stepped out, the sound of the door clicking shut echoed louder than it should’ve.

Silence fell.

And that’s when she realized—Leonard had been watching her. Watching them. His eyes didn’t waver as they met hers—steady, serious. Unreadable. His face was unreadable, but his eyes... his eyes were loud.

They said everything he didn’t. And she couldn’t look away.