My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 81: Welcome Sign

Felix stepped out of his car and shut the door behind him, his polished shoes tapped against the asphalt in front of the kindergarten building. He adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, checked his watch, and allowed a small, secretive smile to curl at the corner of his lips.

Today, he wasn’t just picking up Nathan and Maya.

He had a plan.

Inside the kindergarten building, the twins spotted him instantly through the glass and came running as soon as the teacher opened the door. Nathan’s backpack bounced with every step, and Maya’s hair ribbon fluttered behind her.

"Uncle Felix!" Maya squealed, launching herself into his arms.

"Hey, guys!" Felix ruffled Nathan’s hair and lifted Maya easily, her giggles contagious. "Guess what? We’re not going to daycare today."

"Really?" Nathan blinked up at him with wide eyes. "Then... where are we going?"

"You’ll see." Felix winked as he led them to the car, the two children skipping excitedly beside him.

Once they were buckled into the backseat, Felix glanced at them through the rearview mirror. "Okay. You get three guesses. Where do you think we’re going?"

Nathan frowned in concentration. "Home?"

Felix gave a dramatic buzzer noise. "Ehh. Wrong."

Maya raised her hand like she was in class. "Ice cream?"

"Tempting," Felix grinned, "but nope."

"Uhh... park? The movies? Zoo?"

"Nope, nope, and not today," Felix replied with a grin growing wider as the guesses flew.

Finally, Nathan slumped back with a groan. "We give up!"

"Alright then," Felix said, turning onto the main road, eyes twinkling. "We’re going to pick up your mom."

There was a beat of silence—and then a joyful explosion.

"Really!?" Maya shrieked.

"Yay!!" Nathan clapped and held up his hand. Maya slapped him a high-five across the seat.

The airport came into view not long after, its glass facade glinting in the sun. As Felix pulled into the parking area and walked hand in hand with the twins, he could already feel the buzzing anticipation from both of them. Nathan’s eyes darted everywhere, absorbing the crowds and moving walkways, while Maya kept asking questions about what planes looked like inside.

Once they reached the arrivals area, Felix glanced around and then clicked his tongue. "You know what?" he said, looking down at them. "We should’ve made a sign."

"A sign?" Maya tilted her head.

"Like a ’Welcome Home’ sign. You know, like in the movies. Your mom would love that."

Maya gasped. "Why didn’t we make one?!"

Felix shrugged, guilt flashing briefly in his eyes. "Blame me. I was too spontaneous."

Nathan suddenly reached into his backpack. "Wait—I still have my drawing book. And my crayons!"

Felix crouched down to help him open the zipper. "You’re serious?"

Nathan nodded fiercely. "We can do it now!"

Felix looked around, then pointed at a row of empty seats along the glass wall. "Let’s go, then."

They quickly claimed the space, the twins kneeling on the chairs with their legs tucked underneath them. Nathan flipped open his drawing book while Maya already had a pink crayon in hand.

"I’ll draw Mommy!" Maya announced, tongue sticking out a little as she focused hard on her lines. "And me, and Nathan. And you too, Uncle Felix."

"I feel honored," Felix said with a chuckle, glancing over her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Nathan carefully wrote on a blank sheet: We love u mommy! in uneven but adorable handwriting. He passed it to Felix and said, "Help me with it?"

Felix crouched again, gently helping him outline the letters. "Perfect. She’s gonna cry happy tears."

By the time the flight board signaled the arrival of Katherine’s plane, the twins were standing at the gate, holding their creations with glowing pride. Maya had drawn the whole family holding hands beneath a big sun. Her version of Felix had the longest legs and the messiest hair.

"Okay, ready?" Felix asked, smoothing Nathan’s collar and brushing a crayon smudge from Maya’s cheek.

Both twins nodded, clutching their signs with sticky fingers and wide eyes.

And then—there she was.

Walking out through the glass doors, dragging her carry-on, looking around in search of them.

Nathan saw her first.

"MOM!!"

Maya’s scream followed just a second later. "MOMMY!"

Katherine’s face lit up. She quickened her pace into a jog, her carry-on bouncing behind her as she rushed to them. Her eyes were already wet before she reached them.

"Oh my god—you guys!" she gasped, dropping to her knees to hug them both tightly.

Nathan almost knocked her over with the force of his hug. "We made you signs!"

Katherine laughed through tears as she pulled back to look. "Oh, these are beautiful." She kissed Maya’s forehead, then Nathan’s cheek, then looked at Felix standing behind them.

"Surprise," Felix said, smiling. "You like it?"

Katherine stared at him, her eyes warm and glassy. "I love it."

She turned back to the signs, reading the scrawled words and admiring Maya’s drawing. "You even drew Felix?" she laughed.

"He’s part of the family," Maya declared proudly.

Felix blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected warmth those words brought.

"I missed you guys so much," Katherine said, voice breaking slightly.

"And we missed you," Felix said softly.

But the sweet moment didn’t last.

A throat cleared behind them—loud and deliberate.

It wasn’t a child’s voice. Felix didn’t even have to look to know.

He turned slightly, his jaw tightening.

There he was.

Leonard.

Walking toward them with casual confidence and just a trace of smugness beneath his too-charming smile. His coat was slung over one arm, and his suitcase rolled smoothly behind him. His gaze fixed on the twins first.

"Hi there," Leonard said, stopping a few feet away. "Nathan. Maya."

The twins blinked at him, confused. They didn’t say anything.

Felix’s hand instinctively brushed Nathan’s shoulder.

Leonard turned his attention next to Felix.

Their eyes locked.

One pair calm but guarded, the other trying too hard to appear relaxed.

They stared at each other in silence, the sounds of the airport fading beneath the tension crackling between them.

The air felt heavier. Katherine stood slowly, her smile fading as she turned toward the two men.