My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 181: Rain of Farewell

"You divorced her? Just like that? What the hell were you thinking, Leonard?"

Leonard could still hear his father’s voice in his head, even now, sharp, disappointed, firm.

The memory rang loud and raw as he stood there, under the gray canopy of sky. His father’s voice wasn’t raised often. But when it was, it struck like thunder. It had been one of the few times Winston Ford looked at his youngest son with a mixture of disbelief and quiet fury.

Leonard had just told him the truth then, he had signed the papers.

And now, here he was, dressed in black, standing in the same place, the memory clinging to him tighter than the raindrops now soaking into his coat.

His father’s funeral.

Everything felt like it had happened yesterday.

The sky had been a relentless sheet of silver that morning, heavy and unmoving. The clouds threatened a storm, and the air carried the scent of wet earth. Leonard stood near the head of the private cemetery where only members of the Ford family were allowed to be laid to rest. It was the same ground where their ancestors had been buried for generations.

The umbrella in Leonard’s hand hung uselessly at his side, his fingers curled loosely around the handle, forgotten. Rain pattered against his black suit, slicking his dark hair to his forehead, but he didn’t seem to notice.

Beside him, Claudio stood in silence. Paula clutched Julio’s small hand. Even at his age, the little one knew something was not right.

Leonard glanced sideways.

Claudio’s jaw was clenched, his eyes red. Paula’s tears slipping soundlessly down her cheeks. The entire ceremony was small, dignified, just as Winston had wanted. No extravagance or crowds. Just family. Just the ones who mattered.

And yet, Leonard felt like he was floating above it all.

He didn’t cry. Not even once.

Not when the priest gave the eulogy. Not when the coffin was slowly lowered into the ground. Not even when Claudio placed a trembling hand on his shoulder.

"Say something," Claudio whispered to him once. "Anything."

But Leonard didn’t.

He only stared.

The grave looked too quiet. The tombstone hadn’t been carved yet, just a simple wooden marker with Winston’s name handwritten on it, for now. There was no wind, only rain, falling like soft drumming fingers over their umbrella canopies and funeral suits.

Leonard returned his gaze to the casket.

His chest ached, not from sorrow, but from something heavier. A crushing weight that sat between his ribs like a stone.

He remembered the last conversation he had with his father again, and it stabbed through him like a shard of glass.

"You’ll regret it, son. One day, when you finally understand what you gave up."

Leonard never got to say he was sorry.

The priest’s voice blurred into the background, words muffled by the sound of rain and the fog that had taken up residence in Leonard’s head. The final rites were being read, soil ready to be thrown in.

Claudio stepped forward first. He knelt, placing his flower at the base of the coffin. His hand lingered on the wooden lid for a second longer than necessary, trembling.

"I’ll take care of them," Claudio whispered.

Then came Paula, eyes swollen, nodding once before guiding Julio forward.

Leonard remained where he was, still.

The priest motioned for him. "Mr. Ford, would you like to..."

Leonard shook his head once. Then twice.

"I—no." His voice was hoarse, thin.

Leonard stood frozen, hands clenched at his sides as the priest’s words echoed in the still air.

What was he supposed to say?

He stared at the casket.

His father was gone.

And now the world expected him to say something. Something poetic or meaningful. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

But all Leonard could think was... what would be the point?

Regret?

That he regretted the silence between them? The strained conversations? The bitter tension that never really went away?

That he regretted not calling more? Not trying harder?

Did any of it matter now?

His throat burned, but the words refused to come. There were too many. And not enough.

I’m sorry, he wanted to say. I hated you sometimes. But I loved you, too. I just didn’t know how to show it. I wish we had more time. I wish... I wish I could take back how things ended.

But even that didn’t feel true. Not entirely. There was no neat, clean truth between them, just a mess of feelings he had never untangled.

Leonard swallowed, eyes fixed on the coffin. His chest felt tight, like something was pressing down on it from the inside.

He’d spent years convincing himself it didn’t matter.

But now?

Now there was no more time. No more space to argue or to make peace. Just a silence that stretched into forever.

Leonard took a slow breath. The priest turned his gaze gently away, giving him that mercy.

He didn’t step forward. He couldn’t.

What would I even say to you, Dad? That I wish we weren’t like this? That maybe I wanted to be better sons to each other?

He blinked, jaw tight.

No words would fix it. No speech would make up for what they both lost.

So he stayed still.

And said nothing.

Everyone gave him space. The crowd dispersed slowly, leaving Leonard to stand there as the rain picked up into something steadier, like a cold blanket being laid over the entire earth.

No one spoke to him.

The ceremony ended.

Eventually, Claudio approached again. "You okay?"

Leonard didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on the ground. His shoes were soaked through and his hands were cold.

What a stupid question anyway.

Not because Claudio meant harm. No, his brother meant well. But still-

Who the hell feels okay at a funeral?

It was almost laughable. Except nothing about this day deserved laughter.

And then, without a word, he turned.

Leonard walked away. Slowly. The sound of rain was the only thing that followed him.

He didn’t look back.

Not once.