My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 136: She’s Everywhere

Felix exhaled heavily as the laptop clicked shut with a sharp snap. He leaned back in his chair, running a hand down his face until it covered his eyes, pressing the heel of his palm against the bridge of his nose. A long, tired sigh escaped his lips.

It had been a long day.

He hadn’t visited Katherine and the twins that morning. Not by choice—no, he would’ve loved to. Just thinking about Maya’s tiny smile or Nathan’s deadpan humor was enough to make his chest ache a little with longing.

But Lara Johanssen.

She’d literally tailed him this morning. He didn’t even realize it until he pulled into the office parking lot and saw her waving at him as if they’d arranged to meet. She was relentless. Charming, yes. Beautiful, definitely. But persistent to the point of exhausting.

And nosy. God, so nosy. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

He could only imagine what she would have done if she knew where he’d been going—if she found out that the apartment she saw him at wasn’t his, and even worse, that it belonged to a woman. Katherine.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed again, heavier this time. "I need a break," he muttered to himself.

But not yet.

He glanced at the clock—just past six. He told himself he’d stop by Katherine’s place after work. Hopefully Maya was feeling better by now, and he missed seeing Nathan’s face light up whenever he arrived with snacks.

But first, he had to survive getting out of the building without getting ambushed.

Unlike his usual confident strides through the lobby, Felix moved like a man trying to escape a hitman. He kept his head slightly ducked, his coat collar flipped up. His eyes darted left and right, scanning every corner, every parked car, every pedestrian.

He avoided the main elevator entirely, opting for the stairs like some kind of undercover agent.

Once outside, he nearly pressed himself to the side of the building, cautiously peeking around the edge like a spy tracking his target. "Okay," he whispered, eyes narrowing. "No sign of a Lara Johanssen."

His steps were quick and quiet as he crossed the street and reached his car. He slid in, locked the doors with a firm click, and started the engine.

Only when he pulled out of the parking lot without seeing a familiar figure in heels chasing after him did he smile in relief.

"Smooth getaway," he muttered with a smirk. "Take that, CIA."

The drive was peaceful—until his phone rang.

He pressed a button on his steering wheel to answer, switching to Bluetooth. "Yes, Mom?"

"Felix," came his mother’s warm voice. "Are you done with work?"

Felix glanced at the clock again. "Yeah, I just left."

"Perfect. Come to the house," she said, as if it were a done deal.

"What? Why?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

"You’ll know when you get here."

"Mom—"

"Just come, Felix." She hung up.

Felix let out a low groan and dropped his head back against the headrest for a second. "Guess Katherine and the twins will have to wait."

He didn’t like changing plans—especially when it involved disappointing a certain little girl who asked about him every time he showed up. But his mother’s tone brooked no argument. And when both his parents wanted something... it usually meant something annoying.

When he arrived at the Crawford family estate, the butler greeted him with the usual bow, and Felix returned it with a smile.

He stepped into the grand foyer, and his mother’s voice rang out from the parlor.

"Felix, darling, come in!"

"I’m here," he called out, slipping off his coat and handing it to the waiting maid. "Can you at least tell me now—"

And then he froze.

Because standing in the middle of the parlor, perfectly poised and beaming like she just won the lottery, was Lara Johanssen.

"Felix!" she chirped brightly. She didn’t wait for an invitation. She practically floated over and flung her arms around him, hugging him like they’d known each other for decades instead of... two awkward days.

Felix didn’t move.

He blinked once, then slowly turned his head to look at his parents who stood side by side, sipping tea as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

His father gave a subtle nod of approval. His mother smiled like she was about to pull out a wedding cake from the kitchen.

Felix gently pried Lara’s arms off him and took a single step back, still staring at his parents like they’d betrayed him.

"Why," he began slowly, "is she here?"

His mother answered first. "Because we invited her."

"I can see that," Felix replied, voice dry. "But why?"

"Well," his father said, ever the businessman, "Lara said she didn’t know many people in the city, and we thought, as our guest, she’d feel more welcome here than at some lonely hotel."

"Some lonely—she’s not a lost puppy, Dad."

Lara giggled behind him. "I wouldn’t say no to a collar if it had your name on it."

Felix nearly choked on air.

His mother looked delighted. "Isn’t she charming?"

Felix gave his parents a long, slow look. "You two are enjoying this way too much."

"We just want you to be happy," his mother said innocently.

"I was happy. And then she showed up at my place. Unannounced."

"She told us," his father said, unbothered. "She apologized, didn’t you, Lara?"

"I did," she said sweetly. "And I meant it. But I also meant what I said, Felix. I came because I wanted to know you, not because of an arrangement or a contract. I don’t believe in waiting for love to fall from the sky—I go and find it."

Felix turned around and gave her a strained smile. "Bold. But terrifying."

Lara only winked.

Felix sighed and turned back to his parents. "This wasn’t even supposed to happen. I told you I wasn’t interested."

His mother waved her hand. "You told us. You never told her. So go ahead and say it clearly. If she still wants to stay, then it’s her choice."

Felix ran a hand down his face. "This is madness."

"I think it’s fate," his mother mused.

Felix looked at them again—his mother gleaming with excitement, his father sipping tea like this was the most thrilling board meeting he’d ever attended.

And Lara, now standing comfortably beside him like they were already on a date, offered him another bright smile. "I hope you like steak. Your mom says we’re having it for dinner."

Felix wanted to groan.