My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 62: In The Crowd

"So let me get this straight," Leonard said, crouching slightly to meet the boy’s eyes. "You followed your sister because she wanted to see a mascot, but then you two got separated in the crowd—and now you’re trying to find her?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Nathan nodded solemnly, his small hands clenched into fists in his lap. He sat between Leonard and Julio on a shaded bench near one of the food stalls. His legs didn’t quite reach the ground, and they swung gently as he answered with nothing more than a quiet nod.

Leonard glanced at Julio, who gave a slight shrug, then looked back at the boy. "And you came here with your mom... and a man you called Uncle Felix, right?"

Another nod.

Leonard leaned back slightly, drawing a slow breath. Felix. It was just a name. There had to be thousands of people named Felix in this city. It couldn’t possibly be that Felix.

Still, he felt the familiar twist of unease crawl into his gut.

"Well," Leonard said, standing up and dusting off his jeans. "Why don’t we go back to where you last saw your mom and sister? Maybe your sister already found her way back."

Nathan slid off the bench and gave a quiet, hopeful, "Okay." He tugged the hem of his t-shirt nervously as he fell into step beside Julio.

Julio, ever the confident one, patted him on the shoulder with one hand. "Don’t worry," he said, puffing his chest just a little. "We’ll find her. I’m pretty good at this kind of thing."

Leonard cracked a faint smile at Julio’s attempt to sound grown-up and followed behind the boys.

Nathan led them with slow, careful steps until they reached a long bench near a bubbling fountain—its waters catching the glow of neon lights from the food stalls. He stopped in front of it and looked up at Leonard.

"This was where we sat," he said softly, pointing.

Leonard frowned. The bench was empty.

"You’re sure this is it?" he asked.

Nathan nodded. "I remember this fountain," he added, pointing to the fountain. Leonard scanned the area. No sign of any frantic mother or Maya.

"Alright," Leonard said, as calm as possible. "Your mom wouldn’t just leave the spot while her kid’s still missing. So, that leaves two possibilities. Either she’s out looking for you right now... or she went to the information center to get help."

Nathan looked up at him, wide-eyed and hopeful. "The information center?"

Leonard smiled gently. "Yep. So here’s what we’re going to do, okay? We’ll head there now. If your mom and sister are there, great. If not, we’ll ask the staff to help us make an announcement so your mom knows where to find you. Sound like a plan?"

Nathan nodded. "Yeah."

"Good boy," Leonard said, patting the top of Nathan’s head gently before gesturing for the two boys to lead the way. "Let’s go."

As they began walking, Julio kept chatting in his usual, animated way—pointing at a candy stand or a costumed mascot in the distance—but Nathan remained quiet, his shoulders tense, steps small but steady. Leonard followed behind, watching the two children with a silent awareness.

Then he spoke again, his voice warm and quiet. "You’re very brave, Nathan."

Nathan turned his head slightly. "I have to be," he said with a seriousness that didn’t belong on a boy so young. "For my mom. And Maya."

Leonard’s chest tugged at the honesty in that answer. He gave a small nod. "That’s good."

They had just passed a colorful archway when a voice rang through the park speakers.

"Attention, guests. We have a lost child announcement. INathan if you’re hearing this, your mother and your sister are currently waiting for you at the main information center near the front entrance. Please come see the staff, and we will help reunite you."

Julio lit up like a lightbulb and turned around. "Hey! See? They’re there! I told you we’d find them!"

Leonard smiled faintly. "Come on, guys. Let’s not keep them waiting."

They quickened their pace, weaving through the thinning crowd. Leonard’s gaze stayed sharp, scanning faces out of instinct—but it was easier now with direction and purpose.

As they reached the information center, the area came into view—a round kiosk with bright signs and a couple of uniformed staff standing nearby.

And then Leonard saw them.

A woman and a man stood at the counter, their backs turned to him, speaking with one of the staff. The woman’s shoulders were tense, and one hand rested on a little girl’s shoulder. The girl, no doubt Maya, stood on her tiptoes and suddenly looked toward their direction.

Her face lit up immediately.

"Nathan!" she squealed, dashing forward with all the speed her little legs could manage.

Nathan gasped and ran ahead, arms stretched.

"Maya!"

They collided in a tight hug right outside the kiosk, messy, tearful, and genuine.

"Mommy!" Maya called, still holding Nathan. "It’s Nathan! He’s here!"

The woman turned sharply.

Leonard froze.

She crouched down immediately, throwing her arms around Nathan as he ran into her.

"Oh, thank God," she whispered, pulling him tight. "You’re okay. You’re okay..."

Nathan buried his face into her shoulder and mumbled something Leonard couldn’t hear.

The man beside her crouched too, resting a firm hand on Nathan’s back, saying something softly to reassure him.

And that’s when it happened.

As she lifted her head to look toward the man standing behind Nathan and Julio, her eyes locked on Leonard.

And Leonard... felt his entire world shift.

His breath caught.

"Katherine?"

The name never made it past his lips. He only thought it—hard, sharp, and undeniably certain.

It was Katherine.

She was there—her arms around the little boy who called her Mom.

Leonard stood frozen in place, his mind reeling.

She’s their mother? Nathan and Maya’s mother is... Katherine?

He couldn’t look away. His heart pounded in his ears. His gaze dropped to the children once more, and suddenly, things began to click in place in the most unexpected, bewildering way.

No. No way.