My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 29: Between Two Men

Katherine could feel her pulse quicken as her eyes darted between the two men now standing in front of her. Leonard’s presence still clung to her like an unexpected chill, and now Felix was here, his brows drawn together with concern. For a brief second, Katherine imagined herself somewhere else entirely—anywhere but here.

She swallowed hard and straightened her posture. The air was tense, like a taut string that might snap with one wrong word.

Leonard and the man who had approached earlier stood face to face, a wave of curiosity and rivalry dancing between them. Just as Katherine parted her lips to say something—anything to cut through the tension—Felix beat her to it.

"You’re Leonard Ford, right? From Ford Industries?" Felix said, extending a polite hand.

Leonard turned slightly, eyes narrowing for a moment as if scanning Felix. Then he gave a small nod and took Felix’s hand in a firm grip. "That’s right. And you are?"

"Felix Crawford," he replied with his usual calm tone, though Katherine could feel the shift in his voice—a quiet caution hiding behind his charm. "From Lucent & Co."

Leonard’s lips curved slightly. "Ah. I’ve heard of your company. Impressive track record. Happy to be acquainted."

"Likewise," Felix said.

Katherine watched the two men shake hands, a perfectly normal and civil gesture.

There was nothing overt—no raised voices, no sharp words—but she could feel it. The way Leonard’s fingers gripped just a little too long, and how Felix’s voice smoothed itself into a colder kind of politeness.

She knew that tone. Felix didn’t use it often, but when he did, it was always with people he couldn’t quite place—or didn’t trust.

Still, what struck her most wasn’t the tension.

Leonard and Felix.

In the same space. Breathing the same air. Looking each other in the eye like two wolves circling a line in the snow.

How had they never met before?

It felt ridiculous now. Two men who operated in the same circles, ran in overlapping orbits.

Katherine stood still beside Felix, her fingers involuntarily curling into the fabric of her dress. She hated this—this stiffness, the civil tone soaked in underlying tension.

Leonard’s gaze shifted briefly to her. "So, you know Katherine?"

Felix glanced at her, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. "Well," he said lightly, "It seems like you know her too."

Leonard looked back at her, something flickering behind his eyes. "Yeah," he said slowly. "We... used to—"

"Felix," Katherine said suddenly, cutting off whatever Leonard had been about to say. Her voice was soft but insistent. She reached out and gently took Felix’s hand in hers. "I... I don’t feel very well. Can we go home now?"

Katherine felt Felix’s hand stiffen slightly beneath hers—not alarmed, just surprised. Felix immediately turned to her, his expression melting into one of genuine worry. "Of course," he said without hesitation. "You should’ve said something earlier."

She shook her head faintly. "I just need some fresh air. And maybe... just to be away from here."

In truth, it wasn’t her body that ached—it was everything else. Her thoughts, her chest, her memories. Being in the same space as Leonard again was like opening a wound she had spent years stitching closed. The past clung too tightly, like smoke in her lungs.

Felix turned to Leonard and offered him a nod. "Apologies our meeting was so brief," he said with polite warmth. "I hope we get a chance to talk more in the future."

Please no, Katherine thought, her fingers tightening around Felix’s in quiet protest, the gesture subtle enough to be missed by anyone who wasn’t paying attention.

One meeting had already left her rattled. And now Felix was talking about future conversations?

The idea made her stomach turn.

Leonard gave a smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Sure," he said, his gaze flicking back to Katherine. "Some other time."

Katherine didn’t wait for further pleasantries. With her hand in Felix’s, she turned and walked away. She didn’t look back. She didn’t have to.

She could feel the stare.

It clung to her back like an invisible thread being stretched tight—not by curiosity, but by something heavier. Regret? Memory? She couldn’t say. She just hoped it wasn’t Leonard. Not anymore.

The sound of music and laughter faded behind them as they made their way to the exit. Outside, the cool night air greeted them, brisk and quiet compared to the heavy atmosphere inside.

That was close. Too close.

We used to— What? Be in love? Be married? Be a couple (just herself, actually) who believed in forever until reality peeled it all away?

Whatever version of the truth he was about to give, she wasn’t ready for it to fall into the open like that.

It wasn’t that she was hiding anything—at least, not intentionally. Felix knew she had a past.

But the specifics? Nah ah. That wasn’t something she wanted to unpack in the middle of a party, surrounded by champagne flutes and candlelight.

Felix opened the car door for her and waited until she settled in before circling to his side. Once inside, he turned to her, voice gentler.

"Are you really feeling unwell? Or..."

Katherine gave him a tired smile. "Just... emotionally out of shape, I think."

She felt a flicker of guilt. They’d left early because of her.

She sighed and shifted slightly in her seat. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

But what else was she supposed to do? Stay?

Enjoy herself?

With Leonard in the same room?

Gah. No.

It wasn’t just seeing him. It was feeling him there. Her whole body had gone on alert the second she spotted him. And when they finally stood face to face again, all the years she’d so carefully placed between them cracked open like glass under pressure.

Felix nodded in understanding, not pressing for more. The engine hummed to life, and as they drove into the night, Katherine leaned her head against the window.

She didn’t say it out loud, but in her heart, a question echoed.

If she had turned around... would Leonard still be watching?