My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 213: Polite Wars

The moment Felix stepped over the threshold, the twins seemed to forget the existence of the photo album still open on the dining table. Maya launched herself at his side with an excited, "You came!" while Nathan, a little more reserved but no less pleased, reached up for a quick high-five.

Felix chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. "Of course I came. I brought something, too." He lifted the paper bag slightly, the faint crinkle of its handles filling the quiet. "Your favorite egg tarts from that bakery you like."

"Yay!" Maya beamed, taking his hand to tug him toward the living room without hesitation. Nathan trailed after them, his small steps quick.

Katherine followed them in, her gaze drifting to the other paper bag in Felix’s hand. Felix set the tote down on the coffee table. "Just a little something I picked up while I was in Singapore." He gave a small, almost sheepish shrug. "Well... technically, I didn’t pick them up myself. I might’ve had some help."

Nathan frowned slightly, curious. "Help?"

"I didn’t exactly have time to go out shopping," Felix admitted, sinking onto the couch as Maya crouched to rummage. "But I sent someone to get a few things I thought you’d like."

He began pulling items out one by one: neatly boxed kaya jam, packets of pandan cookies, glossy tins of tea with bright gold lettering, and a small, carefully wrapped parcel that he set aside. "That one’s for your mom," he said, glancing briefly at Katherine.

Katherine tried to keep her voice neutral. "Tea?" she offered as she walked past toward the kitchen.

"Tea sounds good," Felix replied, settling on the sofa. His posture was relaxed but not lazy, one ankle resting over the opposite knee, arm draped casually on the backrest. Still, his eyes kept flicking toward the dining table where the album lay, open and inviting questions.

The twins busied themselves with peeking into the bag, taking exaggerated whiffs of the pastries. "Smells so good," Nathan murmured.

"I see you’re still spoiling them," Katherine said from the kitchen doorway, setting down a steaming cup in front of him.

Felix gave a half-smile. "I call it... quality investment." His tone was light, but when their eyes met, there was an unspoken understanding, he wasn’t just talking about pastries.

They made small talk, the kind that flitted from school to weather to which cartoon the twins were obsessed with this week. Felix kept his voice even, calm, but every so often his gaze returned to that album on the table, as if it were a puzzle he was already halfway through solving.

The air was warm, comfortable even. Until the knock came.

It wasn’t the cheerful chime of the bell this time, just a firm, deliberate knock. Katherine’s steps slowed as she made her way to the door. She opened it... and froze.

Leonard stood there, perfectly put together as always, his tailored shirt crisp, his hair immaculately combed. His polite smile appeared instantly, but his eyes, sharp and assessing, moved past Katherine almost immediately and locked onto Felix seated in the living room.

"Well," Leonard said, his tone smooth but carrying the faintest edge. "Didn’t expect to see you here."

From the sofa, Felix didn’t miss a beat. "I could say the same." His voice was steady, polite... but with just enough weight behind it to meet Leonard’s tone head-on.

Katherine stepped aside because that’s what politeness demanded, though she already felt the tension tightening the air like a string drawn too taut. Leonard entered with the kind of measured movements that made him seem taller than he was, his gaze flicking over Felix before settling on the twins.

"Nathan. Maya." His smile softened just enough for them. "How’s my favorite troublemakers?"

"We’re doing homework!" Maya said, running to pull his hand toward the dining table. "We’re making a family tree!"

"Oh?" Leonard allowed himself to be guided over, glancing down at the open album, and then, almost imperceptibly, at Felix again.

The twins chattered between them, alternating questions, until Maya suddenly turned toward Felix. "Can you help too? You can both help!"

The invitation made Felix glance briefly at Katherine before replying, "Sure, kiddo. I’ve got plenty of practice drawing things."

Leonard’s chuckle was quiet, almost pleasant, but there was something underneath it. "Good. We could use... different perspectives." The words were innocuous enough, but Katherine caught the flicker in Felix’s eyes, he heard it too.

They sat together at the table, though "together" felt like a stretch. Felix leaned forward slightly, elbow on the table, while Leonard sat back in his chair, legs crossed, one hand resting lightly on the table’s edge as though staking a claim without needing to say so.

"So," Leonard began casually, "I hear congratulations are in order." His eyes were fixed on Felix, the smile polite but almost lazy in its delivery.

Felix’s jaw shifted, not quite a clench, but close. "What?"

Leonard’s smile didn’t falter. "Your engagement," he said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Don’t be shy about it. Everyone’s heard by now."

Katherine’s fingers tightened around her mug, though she kept her gaze fixed on the tea swirling inside. The air between the two men seemed to dip a degree colder.

Felix’s expression stilled, the faint crease between his brows deepening. For a beat, he didn’t answer—just studied Leonard like he was trying to decide whether the comment was bait or an honest mistake. Then, he exhaled, slow.

"There’s no engagement," he said flatly.

Leonard tilted his head, a picture of mild surprise. "No?"

Felix’s mouth pressed into something that was almost a smile, except it carried no warmth. "Just a stupid rumor. I’ve already taken care of it."

"Oh?" Leonard leaned back, his hand still resting on the edge of the table. "Funny how those things spread so quickly. Must’ve been quite the convincing rumor for it to reach here."

Katherine caught the flicker in Felix’s eyes, there and gone in an instant, but his tone stayed even. "Convincing to people who don’t know me," he said, shifting slightly in his chair, "or who prefer gossip to facts."

"Well, that’s good then," he said smoothly. "Wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea about your... availability."

The way his gaze lingered on Felix made Katherine’s stomach tighten. She took a sip of tea, the bitter heat grounding her, but it didn’t ease the strange pressure in the air.

Felix leaned back at last, mirroring Leonard’s posture, though there was nothing relaxed about it. "I make sure people don’t."