My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 175: Unwelcome Guest

Felix rubbed a hand over his face as he stepped into his house. Lara stumbled in a step behind him.

"Whoa," she muttered, giggling as she leaned against the wall near the entrance. "Nice place, Mr. Crawford. I didn’t know you lived in a castle."

Felix sighed as he locked the door. "You’ve been here before."

She blinked at him, her mascara slightly smudged, lips stained wine-red. "Oh? Have I?"

He exhaled through his nose and took off his coat, tossing it over the nearest chair. "You need to sit down. Come on."

Lara trailed after him, a little wobbly in her step, before collapsing onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, arms flopping to her sides like a ragdoll.

"Do you always bring drunk girls back here?" she asked, her voice slurring ever so slightly but her gaze fixed on him, too intense.

"No," Felix answered shortly, crossing to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. "You’re the first and last one. Believe me."

He returned, uncapped the water, and handed it to her. "Drink this."

She took the bottle and looked at it like it had personally offended her. "I wanted something stronger."

"You’ve had enough. You reek of alcohol."

Lara wrinkled her nose but obediently took a sip. "Ugh. You’re no fun."

Felix leaned back slightly in the armchair, running a hand down his face again as he exhaled a slow breath. The silence stretched uncomfortably between them, filled only by Lara’s occasional hiccup. She was still slouched across the couch, cradling the water bottle half-heartedly in one hand like it weighed a ton.

He watched her for a beat longer before finally asking, "Do you remember where you live?"

Lara blinked at him, her brows furrowing in slow confusion. "Mmm... no. Not really," she said with a small shrug, her voice coated in a fog of exhaustion and wine. "I’m new to the city, Felix! Rememver? Everything still looks the same."

Of course. Felix internally groaned.

"Figures," he muttered under his breath, barely audible, but the bitterness clung to every word. "You don’t remember a damn thing I said before either. Like, I don’t know... that there’s nothing going on between us."

"What was that?" Lara asked, lifting her head slightly, a playful smirk ghosting over her lips as if she were trying to flirt but was too tired to commit to the expression.

"Nothing," Felix said quickly, voice clipped. He rose from the chair and began pacing slowly, folding his arms across his chest. His thoughts churned with mounting frustration. He hadn’t planned to bring her back. Hell, he hadn’t even wanted to run into her tonight. And now here she was, wobbling drunk in his living room, completely disoriented, and staring at him like he was her personal savior.

"Do you have any friends you can call?" he asked bluntly, coming to a stop beside the couch.

Lara tilted her head, blinking up at him as if the question was the most puzzling thing she’d ever heard. Then, without missing a beat, she grinned and raised a hand to blow him a lazy kiss. "I only have you, Felix. Muach~"

He stared at her, not interested. "Right."

Should he just drive her to his parents’ place? It was their fault she was here, after all.

But... it was so late. She was a mess. And the idea of seeing his parents tonight made him... never mind.

"Fine," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You can stay. But just for the night. Once you’re sober, you’re out."

Lara pouted dramatically, slumping back against the cushions. "Why are you so mean to me?"

"Because you don’t listen," Felix shot back, already turning toward the hallway. "Come on. I’ll show you to the guest room."

She made a noise that sounded half like a whine and half like a laugh, but she slowly got to her feet and followed him. Still, she trailed a step behind him like a reluctant child being led to bed.

Felix walked slowly down the hall, opening the door to the guest room and flipping on the light.

"You can sleep here," he said, standing in the doorway and motioning her inside.

Lara peeked in, then looked at him with big, exaggerated eyes. "Aww. I thought you were gonna tuck me in."

He shot her a deadpan look. "Dream on."

Still, she stepped inside, wobbling slightly as she reached the bed and flopped down on it belly-first, groaning into the pillow. "This is way comfier than the last place I stayed..."

Felix ignored the comment. "Bathroom’s across the hall. Don’t throw up on anything. If you need more water, you know where the kitchen is."

"Mmm," she mumbled, not lifting her face from the pillow.

He turned and walked away, not bothering to wait for a real response. As he reached the end of the hall, he muttered under his breath, "One night. That’s it."

Felix had just grabbed the doorknob when Lara’s sudden yelp made him stop in his tracks.

"Oh my gosh! Felix-wait!" she called, sitting up in bed like she’d just made a shocking discovery.

He turned slowly, brows narrowing. "What now?"

"There’s something wrong with the bed!" she said, pointing at it with exaggerated urgency.

His eyes dropped to the mattress and back to her. "Wrong? What, is it sinking? Is there a spider?"

"No, but-it’s... I don’t know, just come check."

He sighed, rubbing his temple. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

"Please," she added sweetly, batting her lashes.

Grumbling under his breath, Felix walked back across the room, shoulders tense with suspicion. "If this is some ridiculous-"

"No, no, look," Lara said quickly, scooting back a little to give him room. "Here. I swear something’s off."

He leaned over, inspecting the edge of the mattress, then reached down to pat it once with a frown. "Feels fine to me. Where’s the-?"

In a flash, Lara’s hand shot out.

Before Felix could react, she grabbed his shirt and yanked him forward with surprising strength. His balance tipped. He stumbled, and the next thing he knew, he crashed down onto the mattress with a startled grunt, his arms instinctively bracing against the bed to stop himself from squashing her completely.

But it was too late. He was already on top of her.

Their faces were inches apart. Her laughter bubbled softly in her throat as she looked up at him, triumphant.

Felix’s breath came short. "Lara."

She grinned up at him, eyes gleaming with mischief. "See? That’s what’s wrong."

His brows furrowed, still trying to make sense of the ambush. "What are you talking about?"

"This bed," she said, voice low and teasing, "was clearly made for two people."

Her hand slid gently up the front of his chest, resting right over where his heartbeat betrayed him.

"So," she whispered, "you staying under the blanket too... or just enjoying the view?"

His mouth opened, but no words came out.

And she just smiled.