My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 192: The Fiancée

Katherine wasn’t quite sure when exactly she lost control of the morning.

Maybe it was that moment when Lara Johanssen suddenly came to greet her, or maybe it was when she’d smiled that disarming smile and said, "Let’s talk, just the two of us."

Now, she was sitting across from the woman in a café not far from the office, her back straight, her fingers gently curled around a cup of lukewarm coffee she hadn’t touched. The clinking of spoons, the low hum of conversations, and the hiss of steaming milk filled the air, but none of it registered properly. Not when her mind kept circling the same question: Why didn’t I just say no?

Because it would’ve been rude?

Because Lara had caught her off guard?

Because some curious, cautious part of her wanted to know what the daughter of Felix’s father’s friend possibly wanted with her?

Katherine exhaled slowly through her nose, keeping her expression as composed as ever.

Lara, across the table, looked completely at ease. She wore a pale silk blouse tucked into tailored slacks, her long hair swept effortlessly over one shoulder. One perfectly manicured hand cupped a coffee cup, the other rested lazily beside it, as if this entire conversation was just a social call between acquaintances.

"I have to say," Lara said finally, taking a sip of her cappuccino and licking a faint trace of foam off her lip. "Felix really is a successful man, isn’t he?"

Katherine’s eyes lifted. "He is," she replied neutrally.

"No wonder so many women want him for themselves," Lara added, her gaze sharp even as her smile remained soft. "Wouldn’t you agree?"

Katherine met her stare evenly, her lips curving just slightly. "I’m sure Mr. Crawford is capable of handling attention. He’s used to it."

"Of course." Lara leaned back slightly, her fingers tapping against the ceramic mug. "He’s always been the type who attracts people. Men want to be him. Women want to be with him."

Katherine gave a polite nod, offering nothing more. Her mind, however, was already turning. This wasn’t small talk. Lara had a reason for dragging her out of her routine, and it wasn’t just to admire Felix’s reputation.

She folded her hands in her lap and said, "I assume you didn’t ask me here just to praise Mr. Crawford’s public image."

Lara laughed softly. "No. You’re right. I didn’t."

Katherine raised a brow, waiting.

"I just thought it was time I got to know the woman who’s become... so involved in Felix’s life," Lara said smoothly, eyes narrowing with meaning. "It’s obvious you’re not just his secretary."

It wasn’t hard to catch what she was hinting at. But Katherine had long perfected the art of letting loaded statements roll off her back. She offered a mild smile. "I take my job seriously. It’s natural for a secretary like me to be closely involved in the daily workings of her boss."

"Hmm." Lara swirled her coffee slowly. "Still. There’s something more, isn’t there?"

Katherine didn’t respond to that. She instead picked up her coffee and took a slow sip. Her fingers were steady, but she could feel the tension building in the air like static before a storm.

Lara didn’t let the silence deter her. She leaned forward slightly, elbow resting against the table as she tilted her head. "Felix and I go way back, you know. I’m surprised he didn’t mention it."

Katherine lowered her cup. "He did mention that you just came to town. That you’re his father’s friend’s daughter."

"Is that all he said?" Lara’s lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile. "He didn’t elaborate further?"

There was a pause.

"No," Katherine answered simply, then added, "But I’ve seen for myself that the two of you are like a friend. That’s clear."

Lara let out a soft, amused laugh. Not loud or theatrical—just enough to make it clear she found something funny, or perhaps ridiculous. She leaned back in her seat, her fingers gently brushing the rim of her cup.

"Friend?" she echoed, as if tasting the word. "Felix and I? Just friends?"

Her gaze drifted toward the window for a beat, then returned to Katherine with a glint that didn’t quite disguise the challenge in her expression. "That’s a rather innocent way to describe us."

Katherine didn’t flinch. She merely tilted her head, one brow arched with mild interest. "What else would you call it, then?"

Lara’s smile deepened, though it still didn’t warm her eyes. "Certainly more than that," she said breezily, as if it were obvious. As if it needed no explanation. "You don’t just forget someone you’re close to."

Close? The word hung in the air like perfume, sickly sweet and impossible to ignore.

"Funny," she said, brushing a nonexistent wrinkle from her sleeve, "it didn’t look like more than friendship to me."

Lara blinked once, her smile faltering for a split second before she quickly recovered. "Well, perhaps you weren’t looking closely enough."

"Or," Katherine countered smoothly, "perhaps I was looking exactly where I needed to."

The table fell into a brief silence, neither woman breaking eye contact.

Lara chuckled again, a breathy, amused sound that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "You’re good at this."

Katherine tilted her head. "At what?"

"Remaining composed," Lara said, sipping her coffee again. "I would’ve expected a bit more reaction from you. Discomfort, maybe? Curiosity?"

"I prefer clarity over dramatics."

"Then let me give you some clarity." Lara set her cup down, the porcelain making a soft clink against the saucer. Her fingers remained curled around the rim, but her body leaned forward slightly.

Katherine didn’t move.

Lara’s eyes searched hers. "Felix and I are engaged."

There it was.

The words hit the table like a dropped glass, not loud, but impossible to ignore. The hum of the café faded, muffled behind the sharp ring of that sentence.

Katherine didn’t flinch. She didn’t blink. But her fingers tightened ever so slightly on her cup.

Inside, her thoughts stilled.

She said they what?!