My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 178: A Knock On The Heart

"You coming?!"

Leonard winced and immediately pulled the phone away from his ear, Julio’s voice blaring through the speaker like a siren. He blinked, then let out a slow, exaggerated breath, holding the phone a little farther as he turned to lean against the window. Rain tapped lightly against the glass, the grey city skyline stretching ahead.

"Chill out, will you?" Leonard muttered, finally bringing the phone closer to speak again.

"Don’t tell me to chill out!" Julio snapped back. "You? Coming to Dad’s death anniversary? After all these years?! What, did you hit your head or something?"

Leonard gave a quiet, sarcastic laugh. "Wow. So much support."

Julio huffed. "I’m just... surprised. That’s all. You never came. Never wanted to. And now you suddenly care?"

Leonard walked to the kitchen counter, running a hand through his hair, fingertips lingering at the back of his neck. His voice softened. "Hey. People can change."

There was silence on the other end of the line, except for the faint clatter of something, maybe dishes, in Julio’s background. Leonard could almost see his brother’s skeptical face through the phone.

"You sure this isn’t just some guilt trip thing? Or, like, Katherine getting to you?"

Leonard chuckled again, this time a bit more genuinely. "Can’t a man just want to pay respect to his old man without being interrogated?"

Julio sighed but let it go. "Fine. Whatever. You do you."

A beat of silence passed before Julio asked, more carefully now, "Is Katherine coming too?"

Leonard leaned against the edge of the counter, one hand loosely holding the phone while the other rubbed at his jaw. His gaze dropped to the floor. "I asked her to. With the twins. But... she hasn’t said anything yet."

He didn’t need to add more.

Inside, Leonard had already accepted that she might not come. That she might decide it wasn’t her place, or that it was too complicated. And if she didn’t, he wouldn’t press. He couldn’t force someone to walk beside him if they weren’t ready.

But still...

His jaw clenched as he stared down at the tile beneath his bare feet.

I hope she says yes.

He wasn’t sure when exactly that hope had begun to root itself inside him, but it had. Quiet, persistent, and impossible to ignore. Despite everything, the mess, the misunderstandings, the past between them, he still wanted her there.

Not just for the twins.

For himself.

God, he thought, dragging a hand through his hair. Should I ask again?

Maybe in a gentler tone. Maybe with a touch of vulnerability this time. Let her see, really see, that he wanted her there, not out of obligation or politeness, but because it mattered.

Because she mattered.

Would that scare her off? Or would it finally reach her?

He didn’t know.

But he was still clinging to that sliver of hope. Even if it made him feel like a fool.

Before Julio could respond, the sound of the doorbell suddenly rang through the apartment.

Leonard’s head snapped toward the front door, eyebrows rising slightly.

He wasn’t expecting anyone. Barely anyone knew where he lived. He liked it that way.

But something in his chest stirred, a sense of certainty that already had his lips quirking upward.

It’s gotta be her, his mind whispered, traitorous and eager.

"Talk later, Julio. Gotta go."

"Wait, what? You can’t just—"

Leonard didn’t wait. He hung up and set the phone down on the counter.

His feet moved before he made the conscious decision to walk.

Crossing the floor quickly but quietly, he stopped at the door and took a second to smooth his shirt, suddenly aware of the faint flutter in his chest.

Then he opened it.

And smiled.

Katherine stood on the other side, one hand loosely gripping her elbow. Her posture was stiff, a little awkward, but not unfriendly. Her gaze met his, and there was something hesitant in her expression, like she wasn’t entirely sure if she should be here after all. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," Leonard replied, his voice warm and undeniably surprised, though pleasantly so. He stepped aside. "Come in."

Katherine shifted slightly on her feet but shook her head. "No. I just wanted to talk for a second."

Leonard arched a brow, but didn’t push. "Okay. What’s up?"

She took a breath, glanced briefly down the hall as if someone might be watching, and then back at him. "The twins and I... we’ll go with you this Saturday. To the cemetery."

His eyes widened.

"Really?"

Katherine nodded slowly, giving a small shrug like she was trying to play it off, but he could tell it had taken some thought. "Yeah. I mean... if you haven’t changed your mind."

Leonard took a step closer, his voice suddenly hoarse around the edges. "No. I haven’t. I want you to come. All of you."

There was a pause.

Leonard stared at her, heart pressing against his ribs. A quiet beat passed, something unspoken lingering in the air.

And then, moved by instinct more than thought, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.

Katherine tensed at first, surprised, but didn’t pull away immediately. Leonard buried his face lightly against her shoulder, the scent of her shampoo familiar and oddly grounding.

"Thank you," he whispered. "It means a lot to me."

After a moment, Katherine gently placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back, not roughly, just enough to break the contact.

Leonard blinked and took a step back, clearing his throat. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to-"

She waved it off with a faint smile. "It’s okay."

A pause.

Then she gave a little nod. "We’ll see you tomorrow, then."

She turned to go, footsteps soft against the hall carpet.

Leonard stood in the doorway, watching her cross the hallway and slip back into the apartment across from his.

The door clicked softly behind her.

He didn’t move for a second.

And then, slowly, his mouth curved into a smile.

Not wide, but real and hopeful.