My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 198: Be Ready

Felix still stormed forward, gripping Lara’s wrist tightly, dragging her away from the prying eyes. His pace was quick, unrelenting, his jaw clenched so hard it ached. Lara finally stopped protest, only let herself be pulled along with an almost curious smile on her lips. They wove past the corner, past a row of potted plants and hotel staff who looked away politely, and then ducked behind the hotel where the alleyway opened into shadow.

The air was cooler here, the scent of old bricks and faint motor oil replacing the earlier aroma of fine dining.

Felix stopped abruptly.

He let go of her wrist as if it burned him.

She stumbled slightly but quickly straightened, brushing nonexistent dust from her wrist as she tilted her head at him, amused.

"You shouldn’t be here," he said, voice low, almost shaking with restrained fury. His eyes were narrowed, dark, almost burning. "You had no right to follow me. What do you want, Lara?"

She smiled slowly, the corners of her lips curving in practiced innocence. "Follow you? What a strange thing to say. I told you already that I came to Singapore for work. You know, meetings, clients. It just so happens we ended up in the same city."

Felix laughed, but there was no humor in it. Just disbelief and frustration. He took a step closer, towering over her.

"Cut the act," he spat. "You tracked me here. You knew where I was staying, what restaurant I was going to. You’re not here for work. You planned this."

She blinked, feigning offense. "That’s a lot of accusations, Felix. I can’t help it if I have good luck."

"You call this luck?" he hissed, running a hand through his hair, the strands sticking slightly with sweat. "You don’t get to invade my life like this. What are you now, stalker?"

She moved forward, too close to his liking, the scent of her perfume wrapping around him like something poisonous disguised in sweetness.

"After everything we shared," she whispered, eyes wide and glassy. "You won’t even give me the time of day."

"We shared nothing," Felix snapped. "And we’re definitely not anything to each other."

A flash of something ugly twisted across her face, but she smoothed it away with another forced smile. "Don’t be so cruel, Felix. You say that like it was just business."

Felix took a sharp step back, clenching his fists.

"It was an arrangement, Lara. Something our families wanted. Not something I ever asked for. And you meant nothing to me."

For a second, her composure slipped. Her eyes narrowed, mouth tightening. But it passed in a blink, replaced by something even more insidious. A slow smile curled on her lips again.

"Then why," she purred, "do you look so angry? Why do your hands shake when you speak about it? Is it because you’re scared your little girlfriend back home will find out?"

His expression hardened. "You don’t get to talk about her."

"Oh? So you admit it," she said, drawing out the words like honey. "The secretary, huh? Does she know you have a bad habit of running away when things get too real?"

He stepped forward, and for a heartbeat, she faltered, but then raised her chin stubbornly.

"Is that a soft spot I see?" she added, tapping a finger to her lips. "Maybe I should pay her a visit again when I get back. Say hello. Tell her how we spent some good time together."

Felix’s fists clenched tighter, knuckles whitening.

"Leave her out of this."

What kind of language did she need to hear to finally understand? That nothing would ever happen between them? That whatever fantasy she’d built in her head... the arrangement, the lies, none of it mattered anymore?

"So protective. Does she even know about me?"

Lara asked, her voice laced with mockery, smug satisfaction playing on her lips as if she’d struck a nerve.

But she hadn’t. Not anymore.

He drew in a slow breath, steadying himself.

Katherine knew.

He’d already told her everything that mattered.

He owed Katherine that much.

Felix didn’t answer and just stared at her, eyes full of the storm brewing in his chest. Then he turned, ready to walk away.

But her voice stopped him.

"If she’s so precious to you," she said, almost singsong, "maybe you shouldn’t leave her all alone."

He froze. Just a moment. But it was enough for her to notice. Her smile grew.

"Worried?" she asked lightly.

He turned around slowly, his expression calm now, but deadly cold. "If you so much as breathe near her, Lara..."

"You’ll what?" she challenged, arching an eyebrow. "You going to kill me, Felix? That wouldn’t be very princely of you."

He exhaled through his nose, tired, tense. "This is the last time we have a conversation like this. Stay away from me. Stay away from her. You don’t get to stir up my life whenever you want."

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she took a step closer. Her hand reached up slowly, fingertips brushing along the edge of his lapel.

"I miss you," she murmured.

Before he could stop her, she leaned forward, as if to kiss him.

But this time, Felix jerked his head away.

"Don’t," he snapped. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The coldness in his eyes made even her hesitate. The kiss never landed.

He stepped back, disgusted. "It won’t happen twice."

Lara stared at him for a beat, lips parted.

Then she straightened and fixed her hair with careful fingers, her pride still intact.

"Fine," she said smoothly. "I see how it is."

She turned on her heel, preparing to walk away. But before she disappeared into the hotel’s back corridor, she turned her head slightly, just enough for him to catch the gleam in her eye.

She smirked.

A knowing, calculating smile.

Felix stood still, didn’t move a muscle, watching the shape of her disappear into the shadows.

He didn’t know what she was planning.

But it wouldn’t be good.

And this time, he had to be ready.