My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 227: The Woman Who Knows Too Much

Leonard eased the sleek black car into his designated spot, the engine humming low before fading into silence. The day had been long, the kind that drained every ounce of energy from his body, leaving his shoulders stiff and his mind aching for rest. He sat there for a beat, hands still on the steering wheel, eyes closed as he let the quiet of the underground parking lot wrap around him.

For the first time that day, he allowed himself to think of something other than work, Katherine’s warm smile, the twins’ laughter echoing through the apartment. Just the thought softened the tightness in his chest, a flicker of peace cutting through the weariness. He exhaled slowly, a faint smile tugging at his mouth.

Finally, he killed the engine, grabbed his jacket from the passenger seat, and pushed the door open. The cool air of the garage greeted him, carrying the faint tang of oil and concrete dust. He straightened, rolling his shoulders as if to shed the day from his body.

That was when it happened.

"Hey, you."

The voice sliced through the stillness, sharp and deliberate.

Leonard’s head lifted at once, eyes narrowing in the direction of the sound. A woman leaned casually against a concrete pillar a few paces away, her arms folded across her chest as though she had been waiting. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Leonard recognized her almost instantly, Lara Johanssen. He had brushed her off that morning, dismissing her persistence with a mix of irritation and disinterest. And now here she was again.

His jaw tightened. Of all the people he wanted to see at the end of this day, she was at the bottom of the list.

"Excuse me?"

Lara tilted her head, her lips curving into a smirk that carried equal parts amusement and provocation. "Don’t play dumb," she drawled. "Yes, you. Who else is here? Unless you think I’m in the habit of calling out to invisible aliens."

Leonard’s brows furrowed. Sarcasm. Exactly what he didn’t have the patience for tonight. He gripped his jacket tighter in his hand and began walking toward the elevator without giving her another glance.

But then her voice rang out again, louder this time.

"Leonard Ford."

He froze, the sound of his own name ricocheting across the parking lot. His shoulders stiffened. He didn’t turn, but every muscle in his body went taut.

"Leonard Ford," Lara repeated, her tone laced with a mock sweetness that made the hairs on the back of his neck rise. "Katherine Anderson’s ex-husband. The man who divorced her while she was pregnant."

The words hit him like a blow. He inhaled sharply, the weight of them crashing down on his chest. The air suddenly felt colder, heavier, as though the walls of the garage had shifted closer.

Slowly, Leonard turned his head. His eyes locked on hers, and though he tried to keep his expression composed, his face hardened with a mixture of anger and restraint.

Lara’s smile widened, predatory, as if she had been waiting for that exact reaction. "Ah," she said lightly, her eyes sparkling with triumph. "So it’s true, then. That explains a lot."

Leonard’s voice was low, controlled. "What did you just say?"

She pushed off the pillar, her heels clicking softly against the concrete as she sauntered closer, every movement oozing confidence. "You heard me. I like to be well-informed, and let’s just say I’ve done my homework. And now..." Her gaze swept over him like she was dissecting him. "...now I understand why you’re here. You’re crawling back, aren’t you? Trying to earn her forgiveness."

Her words hung in the air, thick and poisonous.

Leonard’s chest rose and fell, as he fought to keep his composure. She was baiting him, testing for cracks in his armor, and the last thing he wanted was to give her the satisfaction of seeing him snap.

"You don’t know anything about me," he said finally, his voice like steel.

"Oh?" Lara arched a brow, her smirk deepening. "I don’t need to. Your silence says more than words ever could. I’m right, aren’t I? Tell me I’m wrong, Leonard. Go on. Otherwise..." She lifted a manicured finger to her lips in mock thought. "...I’ll have to fire the guy who gave me the info. But judging by that look on your face?" She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I’d say he did a pretty good job."

Leonard’s fists clenched at his sides, the tension in his body palpable. Finally, he turned fully to face her, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

"What do you want from me?" he demanded.

Lara’s expression shifted, the playfulness in her features giving way to something sly, calculated. "Nothing complicated," she said, her tone airy, almost casual. "I just think we should have a little talk. Privately. You and me."

"No."

She let out a soft laugh, not at all surprised by his refusal. Her eyes glittered with something mischievous as she closed the distance between them, reaching out as if to brush something from his shoulder. But Leonard slap her touch away with a sharpness that made his rejection clear.

Her laughter grew, low and velvety, echoing faintly in the cavernous garage. "So tense," she mused, unbothered by his rebuff. "Relax, Leonard. I don’t bite. At least, not without reason."

His jaw ticked. "Stay away from me."

Lara tilted her head again, studying him like a puzzle she was eager to solve. Then, with a shrug, she stepped back, her smirk never faltering.

"Tomorrow," she said simply. "I’ll be back tomorrow. Maybe you’ll change your mind by then. And when you do..." Her eyes lingered on his face, sharp with unspoken meaning. "...you won’t regret it."

With that, she turned on her heel, walking away with the ease of someone who knew she had successfully planted a seed of doubt.

Leonard stood rooted in place, his pulse pounding in his ears. His chest felt tight, every word she had spoken replaying in his mind. He hated that she knew his past, things she had no right to dig into. He hated more that she had said it all aloud, like stripping him bare in the cold of the night.