My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 158: The Splash

Laughter echoed off the mansion walls. It had been a long time since Katherine had felt this strange warmth in her chest—a sense of belonging she hadn’t dared to hope for again.

Inside the grand living room, things had picked up into full swing. Children darted back and forth with balloon animals made by the magician, while adults gathered in relaxed clusters, sipping on chilled punch and catching up with other parents.

An hour.

She had been here for a full hour.

It didn’t feel like it. Time had slipped by, easy and unnoticed, the way it did when things... didn’t feel heavy. That realization alone left a strange knot in her chest.

When was the last time she’d been at a gathering like this? One where she didn’t feel the need to look over her shoulder? Where she wasn’t just surviving through small talk and polite smiles?

She scanned the room again, this time more slowly. Nathan was giggling at something Julio whispered in his ear, and Maya was busy showing off her lopsided balloon crown to a small group of kids who looked genuinely impressed. Their faces were bright, their joy real. That alone made her heart squeeze.

She hadn’t expected to stay this long.

But now, watching her children laugh and play like they belonged here, surrounded by kind faces and warm air, Katherine couldn’t quite bring herself to regret it.

Katherine sat on a velvet-cushioned chair near the arched window, watching the sunlight dance over Paula’s golden earrings as she spoke.

"I still can’t believe Julio and the twins are cousins," Paula said with a laugh, her tone soft and affectionate as she glanced out the window toward the backyard where the children were. "I mean, we were just talking the other day about how Julio made new friends in school and kept mentioning this Maya and Nathan. Who would’ve guessed?"

Katherine chuckled, her hands resting around a delicate porcelain teacup. "Honestly, I didn’t either. I wasn’t even sure Leonard had told you anything. You both seemed so shocked earlier."

"Oh, he definitely didn’t," Paula replied, arching an eyebrow. "Claudio and I were—how do I put this—stunned. That’s a word."

Katherine smiled a little. "He kept everything so quiet. I understand why now, but still... I thought he would’ve at least prepared you."

Paula leaned in conspiratorially, lowering her voice. "He probably didn’t want to jinx it. Or maybe he thought he’d mess it up if he said anything too soon."

Katherine bit her lip at that. "He’s trying to be a good father and I appreciate that."

Paula gave her a pointed look. "And what about you?"

Katherine hesitated, eyes drifting to the other side of the room where Leonard was laughing quietly with Claudio, a glass of juice in his hand. His head was tilted slightly toward his brother, but every so often, his gaze would drift toward her. Their eyes met briefly, and he offered a faint, almost bashful smile.

"I... don’t know yet," Katherine murmured, eyes softening. "There’s so much I’m still working through."

Paula nodded with understanding. "You don’t have to have all the answers right away. But I will say this: those two kids of yours? They’ve brought something back into Leonard’s eyes that I thought was long gone."

Katherine lowered her gaze to her lap. "We haven’t even told them yet."

"About Leonard being their father?"

She nodded.

Paula gently rested a hand on her arm. "You’ll know when it’s time. And they’ll understand. They’re bright kids."

Katherine gave a grateful smile. "Thank you."

The sound of children shouting joyfully from the backyard drifted in through the open glass doors, breaking the moment.

"They’re having so much fun," Paula said, peering out. "Looks like the mini zoo is a hit."

Katherine stood, brushing her skirt smooth. "Should probably check on them—"

But her words were interrupted by a loud voice outside.

"Hey! Maya, slow down!"

Katherine’s heart paused.

Her head snapped toward the direction of the voice.

That was Julio, and he was outside. But... hadn’t he been inside just a moment ago? With Nathan and Maya?

Maya’s eyes sparkled as she spotted a butterfly drifting near the pool’s edge, golden wings fluttering like magic. She giggled and picked up her pace, her little sandals slapping against the ground as she skipped after it. "Pretty," she murmured, half to herself, completely caught up in the moment.

Behind her, Nathan frowned, watching his sister with growing concern. He was standing beside Julio near a tall planter, a half-eaten cookie in one hand and a juice box in the other.

"Maya, don’t go too close to the pool," he called out.

She either didn’t hear or ignored him, focused entirely on the butterfly. It dipped lower, close to the sparkling water, and she hurried after it, her little feet moving from a fast walk into a full sprint.

Julio’s eyes widened. "Maya—! Wait!"

Nathan’s juice box dropped to the ground as panic clutched his chest. "Maya, stop!"

She turned her head at their voices, laughing—just for a second—but her feet caught the edge of the slick tile. One wrong step.

The butterfly vanished into the sky as Maya’s sandal slid forward, her arms flailing as she tried to catch herself.

There was no time.

Her laughter turned into a sharp gasp, then a shriek.

Katherine and Paula both moved toward the glass doors just as a loud splash echoed across the yard.

"Maya!" Katherine screamed, bolting outside without a second thought.

The air changed instantly.

All the cheerful noise was swallowed up in a second, the laughter turning to startled gasps and whispers. Parents turned their heads. Children stopped in place.

Katherine’s heels clicked rapidly against the tiled patio as she raced toward the pool’s edge. Her hands trembled. Time felt like it collapsed in on itself.

She saw the blur of movement near the deeper end of the pool, a small splash followed by frantic bubbles rising. Maya’s little arms were flailing, her pigtails submerged, eyes wide in panic.

"MAYA!" Katherine’s voice broke, shrill with fear. She stumbled to the edge but froze, helpless—she couldn’t swim.