Leonard slamd his car door shut with a force that echoed through the dimly lit basent parking lot. His shoes clacked against the concrete as he walked toward the elevator, a steaming cup of black coffee in one hand. The day hadn’t started yet, but his mood was already sour. There was a tight pull behind his eyes, the type that warned of a headache incoming.
But as he rounded the corner, the sound of heels—unmistakable and out of place for this early hour—stopped him cold.
He blinked.
There she was.
Standing near the elevator like so cartoon spy: black sunglasses, a beige trench coat pulled too high, and a wide-brimd hat that did nothing to conceal her arrogance.
Miranda.
Leonard’s grip on the coffee cup tightened. "You’ve got to be kidding ."
Miranda lowered her sunglasses with an overly dramatic motion, her lips curving into a grin. "Surprised?"
Leonard didn’t even bother answering. He let out a slow breath through his nose, glancing toward the ceiling as if summoning the last shred of patience he had.
"You’re wearing a wig," he said flatly. "Are you going for ’lunatic incognito’ or just hoping to make the building’s security report more entertaining?"
Miranda rolled her eyes and tugged off the ridiculous wig, revealing the dark brown locks beneath. "Wow, charming as ever. Don’t tell you didn’t miss even a little bit?"
"Only like I’d miss a migraine," he muttered, brushing past her toward the elevator. "What the hell are you doing down here?"
She followed him, clicking in her heels. "Waiting for you, obviously. But let just say, this whole basent parking lot ambiance? Not the reunion setting I imagined."
Leonard stepped in front of the elevator panel and slamd the up button harder than necessary. "You had no business being here, Miranda. I’ve already told the building you’re not allowed inside. Guess I need to change the security team if you’re slipping through the cracks like water."
"Oh, co on, Leonard." She made a show of batting her lashes. "This is . You really think locks and guards could keep away?"
"I don’t think. I hope."
The elevator dinged, but he didn’t step inside.
Miranda smirked. "So... Katherine. I didn’t expect her to pop up again after all this ti. And with kids, no less."
Leonard’s jaw twitched.
So his hunch at the mall was right. The twins had run into her—this nightmare in designer heels and misplaced pride. The way Nathan and Maya had described the ’an lady’ suddenly made perfect sense. And now the pieces slid into place like cruel puzzle parts.
Miranda tilted her head, watching his reaction with interest. "The little girl looks just like you, you know. Sa scowl. Sa frown lines. But the eyes? Definitely not yours."
Leonard stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "You stay the hell away from them."
Miranda blinked, caught off guard for a mont by the venom in his voice.
"I’m not kidding," Leonard continued, voice low and firm. "Don’t go near them. Don’t talk to them. Don’t even look in their direction. If I hear you said one thing that makes them uncomfortable again—"
"What?" she cut in, laughing bitterly. "You’ll unleash your inner father-of-the-year rage on ?"
He stepped even closer, the edge in his tone sharp enough to slice through steel. "Maybe. And I’ll make sure you regret every second of it."
Miranda’s expression twisted into sothing more spiteful. "You’re acting like I’m so villain who ruined your fairy tale. Please. You used Katherine like a convenience store. You never cared—until suddenly you couldn’t have her."
Leonard’s face darkened. "You don’t know anything."
"Don’t I?" she sneered. "It’s adorable, really. Watching you try to rewrite your history. Crawling back, trying to look like the reford man. You think she’s just going to take you back with open arms? A kiss on the forehead and a happily ever after?"
Leonard didn’t flinch. He just stood there, silent, like a statue made of tension.
Miranda stepped even closer, voice low. "You and that big ego of yours—you’re not built for soone like her. You need soone who gets your world. Who can handle the pressure. Who can deal with you."
She ran her finger up the lapel of his jacket slowly.
"Soone like ."
Leonard recoiled as if stung. "You disgust ."
"Oh please," she scoffed. "We were great together. And if you want to play house now? Suddenly want to be the doting father? I can do that. I can give you a child, Leo."
Leonard’s fingers curled into a fist.
"No, we weren’t. I was just too blind to see it at the ti." His eyes were fire now, smoldering. "And now, the only thing I feel when I look at you is regret."
Miranda’s mouth curled into a mocking smile, but her eyes flickered—just for a mont. That hurt her more than she let on.
Leonard stepped back, straightened his jacket, and pressed the elevator button again. "We’re done here, Miranda. For real this ti."
The elevator arrived, the doors opening with a soft chi.
Leonard stepped inside, but before the doors could close, he fixed his gaze on her one last ti.
"You stay away from them. I don’t care if it’s in the mall, the building, or the damn grocery store. You see them, you turn the other way. That’s your only warning."
Miranda’s arms folded, but she didn’t reply.
The doors slid shut.
Inside the elevator, Leonard let out a long breath and closed his eyes for a mont. The ride up felt longer than usual, the silence heavier.
He hadn’t expected his morning to start like this. And now the bitter taste of Miranda’s voice clung to him like smoke.
As the elevator reached his floor, Leonard knew one thing for certain:
He needed to deal with Miranda.
For good.
Before she stirred up even more damage.
Because if there was one thing Miranda loved more than drama, it was destruction. And this ti, he wouldn’t let her destroy anything—not Maya, not Nathan, and definitely not Katherine.
Not again.
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