My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 33: Beautiful Name

Katherine sat inside the black car, her hands folded tightly in her lap. The leather seat was buttery soft beneath her fingers, yet she couldn’t feel an ounce of comfort. Her heart was beating a little faster than usual, a throb of unease making her skin prickle. What was she doing here?

She glanced at the tinted windows, watching the quiet suburban scenery blur by. Trees, gated homes, and trimmed hedges rolled past like scenery from a silent film. She was still reeling from the moment she’d agreed to come. Had she really said yes?

Well, not exactly. It wasn’t as if she had a real choice. The way the man—Theor, he said his name was—looked at her, and the polite tone in his voice, made it clear she wasn’t going to be left alone until she complied. She wasn’t about to start a fight with a stranger dressed like he belonged in a government file.

Still, she made sure to excuse herself before leaving her mother’s house and changed quickly, slipping into jeans and a pale blouse. And she had done a little Googling.

Winston Ford.

The name sent a quiet chill through her. She wasn’t completely oblivious to the world. That name carried weight. Even someone like her, who had lived a modest, often overlooked life, had heard of the Ford family. Wealth. Power. Legacy. And for some inexplicable reason, someone from that very family wanted to meet her.

Why?

She hadn’t found much else—just scattered news articles, business coverage, a few blurry photos of a stern-looking older man with salt-and-pepper hair. It made no sense. And here she was, in a car heading straight to... whatever this was.

"We’re here, Miss Anderson," Theor said gently.

Katherine blinked and straightened in her seat. The car rolled to a stop in front of what she could only describe as a mansion. The building loomed like a piece of architecture from another world. Tall iron gates, stone walls covered with ivy, windows as wide as storefronts. Elegant but intimidating.

Katherine opened the door slowly and stepped out, her shoes touching down on the paved driveway. The air smelled faintly of roses and something more distant—perhaps old money.

She glanced up at the estate. Mansion. Yes, this had to be what people meant when they said that word. It was breathtaking and... cold, in a way.

Theor stood beside her and motioned gently. "This way, Miss."

Katherine followed. Her steps were hesitant at first, but she matched his pace. She tried not to gape, but her eyes kept sliding toward the high ceilings, crystal light fixtures, and intricate moldings. Everything sparkled or shone or whispered of wealth.

She cleared her throat lightly, trying to stay composed.

They passed what seemed like several halls before stopping in front of a tall white door with a brass handle. Theor gestured politely. "Please, go inside."

Katherine looked at the door, placing her hand on the handle.

But before she could push it open, the door swung inward by itself. She barely had time to process what she was seeing when someone stepped out from inside.

She froze.

The man who now stood beside her was unlike anyone she had ever seen. Tall, with a sculpted jaw and high cheekbones. His dark hair was swept back, elegant and slightly tousled like he’d just walked out of a fashion campaign without trying. He wore a black shirt, sleeves rolled slightly, and dark trousers that fit like they were made just for him. But what caught her attention most were his eyes—a stormy gray, sharp and not that much emotion in there.

He turned his head slightly, clearly noticing her standing just outside the doorway.

"You’re in the way," he said, voice smooth but clipped.

Katherine startled and stepped aside quickly. "S-Sorry."

He didn’t say anything more, just walked past her, his steps composed and effortless. As he passed Theor, the older man bowed his head slightly.

"Young Master."

The man barely glanced at him but responded, "I told you to stop calling me that."

Theor straightened, his hands folded in front of him. "Apologies, sir. Old habits."

The man stopped in his tracks. For a moment, there was only the ticking of the hall clock, faint and steady.

"Just... call me by my name. Leonard isn’t that hard to pronounce, is it?" he asked.

He was still facing away, but Katherine noticed the tension in his shoulders now. Subtle, like something buried pressing to the surface.

Theor smiled softly but said nothing more.

Katherine turned slightly, still watching the man as he moved with purposeful grace down the hallway. Her heart was beating in her ears.

Leonard.

That was the name Theor had just said. Leonard.

She didn’t know why, but the name clung to her, echoing in her thoughts. She hadn’t expected anyone like him to be here. And she certainly hadn’t expected to feel like she was knocked off her feet by just looking at someone.

As the door slowly creaked open behind her again, Katherine snapped herself back to reality. She gave one last glance over her shoulder, watching as the man—Leonard—disappeared around the corner without so much as a backward glance.

She smiled to herself, just a little, the corners of her lips curving before she even realized it.

"Leonard, huh... what a nice name," she whispered.

"Miss Anderson," a voice called gently from behind her.

She jumped, spinning on her heel.

Winston stood in the doorway, hands clasped behind his back, his expression politely neutral. But the faint raise of one eyebrow told her he’d seen her staring.

"Please," he said with practiced calm, "do come inside. Mr. Ford is already waiting for you."

Her face went hot. "Oh. Right. Sorry, I—" She glanced again down the hallway, but Leonard was gone. Just the sound of her own heartbeat and the hum of distant, quiet voices remained.

She cleared her throat, straightened her shoulders. "Yeah. Of course."

Then she stepped forward, finally entering the room where the mysterious Winston Ford was waiting.