My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 186: Midnight Explorers

"Psst. Nathan. Hey, wake up."

Nathan opened his eyes to a gentle poking at his arm.

He blinked slowly, disoriented in the dim light. The warm cocoon of blankets was so inviting, but Julio’s whisper kept tugging him toward wakefulness. Nathan turned his head, squinting toward the figure crouched beside his bed.

"Julio?" he mumbled, voice scratchy. "What time is it?"

Julio didn’t answer. Instead, he began gently nudging Maya’s shoulder.

"Maya," he whispered urgently. "Maya, wake up. C’mon."

Maya stirred, her brows furrowing as she groggily sat up. Her hair was sticking up on one side, and she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. "Wha... Julio? What happened? You need to go to the bathroom but scared?"

Julio rolled his eyes. "No. The bathroom’s in the room. Why would I be scared to go?"

"Then why are you waking us up in the middle of the night?" Nathan asked, sitting up now, but still wrapped in his blanket like a sleepy burrito.

Julio’s eyes gleamed with excitement, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. "We’re going on a secret explorer mission."

Nathan blinked again, slower this time. "A what?"

"Secret. Explorer. Mission." Julio said the words like they were sacred. "Now is the perfect time. Everyone’s asleep. We can go to all the places we’re not allowed to during the day. It’s more fun when it’s dark."

Maya perked up at that, clearly intrigued. "Like spies?"

Julio grinned. "Exactly."

Nathan frowned. He was the serious one, always the cautious one. "I don’t think we’re supposed to be wandering around at night."

Julio shrugged. "That’s the point. It’s secret."

Nathan hesitated. This had ’trouble’ written all over it. But then Maya gave an eager nod and was already climbing out of bed, tiptoeing across the soft carpet with Julio. Nathan let out a tiny sigh.

"Wait up," he muttered, tossing off his blanket and padding barefoot after them.

The mansion was different at night. Shadows draped over everything, the ornate furniture looming like sleeping giants in the dim hallway. Soft moonlight poured through the high windows. The only sound was the soft patter of their feet and the occasional creak of the wood beneath them.

Maya stifled a giggle. "We really do look like spies."

Julio led the way confidently, like he’d done this a hundred times. Nathan stayed close behind Maya, constantly glancing over his shoulder.

"If we get caught, it’s your fault," he whispered to Julio.

Julio waved a hand. "We won’t. Everyone’s asleep."

They turned down a hallway Nathan hadn’t explored before, passing a tall grandfather clock that ticked ominously in the silence. At the end of the hall was a heavy door, slightly ajar. Julio pushed it open without hesitation.

"This is Grandpa Winston’s office," he said in a hushed voice.

Nathan paused on the threshold. "I know. Theor said this was his favorite room. He used to work here all the time."

The office smelled of old books and something faintly woody, like cedar. The walls were lined with dark shelves crammed with leather-bound volumes, dusty trophies, and framed certificates. A large wooden desk stood at the center, papers still neatly stacked, as though Winston might walk in at any moment.

Julio walked in like he belonged there.

"Julio, should we really be—"

"Relax," Julio cut him off. "It’s my grandpa’s office. That makes it mine too."

Maya giggled, trailing her fingers along a shelf as she moved toward the desk. Nathan hovered near the doorway, the feeling of wrongness crawling along his spine.

Julio made a beeline for the drawers.

Nathan’s eyes widened. "Wait—are you opening them?"

Julio was already tugging one open. "Yeah. There might be maps or secret codes. Or treasure."

Maya knelt beside him, eyes shining with curiosity as she peered into the drawer with him. "Oooh, what’s this?"

"It’s a fountain pen, I think. Wow, it’s heavy."

Nathan finally stepped inside, casting his gaze toward the bookshelves instead. He read a few spines—Economic Reform, European Markets, Legacy of Steel. He didn’t understand most of the titles, but he liked how neat they all were. Still, the room felt heavy. Like it remembered things and didn’t like being disturbed.

He reached out and ran a hand along a globe that sat on a side table, spinning it slowly.

Then he heard Julio gasp.

"Whoa. Hey, look what I found!"

Nathan turned. Julio was holding up a photo, his face lit with discovery.

"What is it?" Nathan asked, walking over.

Julio grinned, holding the frame closer so Maya could see too.

Maya squinted. "That’s... wait."

Julio beamed, holding up the photo for them to see. It was old, slightly faded, but the joy in it still gleamed clear. Paula stood in a sleek white wedding dress, bouquet in hand, her arm looped around Claudio, who looked younger, cleaner-shaven, and oddly formal in a classic black suit.

"Wow," Maya murmured, her eyes widening. "She looks so pretty."

Nathan leaned in for a closer look. "That’s definitely your mom and dad, huh?"

Julio carefully set the frame aside, then ducked back toward the cabinet they’d been exploring. "There might be more!" he said, fingers rifling through old books, albums, and stacked envelopes.

Nathan knelt beside him, gently moving things out of the way while Maya checked another corner of the shelf.

Then—"Whoa!" Julio gasped again, louder this time. He tugged out another photo frame from behind a dusty stack of magazines. "Look!"

Nathan turned and froze. Maya, peering over his shoulder, let out a tiny, shocked "Oh."

Nathan took the photo from Julio, holding it carefully. It was old but well-kept, encased in a silver frame. His eyes scanned it slowly.

A man and a woman stood side by side, smiling softly at the camera. The man looked a little younger than now, his hair neater, his expression full of something quiet and proud.

And the woman...

Nathan’s breath caught.

It was his mom.

His mom... wearing a wedding dress.

And beside her, smiling faintly, was Uncle Leonard.

Nathan stared at the photo, his brows slowly drawing together. He didn’t understand. Not really. But his chest felt heavy, and something about it made his stomach twist in a way he couldn’t explain.

"...Is that... Mom?" Maya whispered beside him, her voice small.

Julio nodded slowly. "But... why is she with Uncle Leonard?"

Nathan didn’t answer right away.

He just kept staring.