Chapter 121—b

A few minutes later, Leonel saw Chloe and the waiter walk away to fetch some orders requested by Chloe. He observed her movements from a distance while waiting for the right moment. He walked and accidentally bumped into the waiter carrying the food before Chloe.

Leonel observed every movement of his ex-wife, noticing how Chloe appeared sweeter and caught his attention more with each passing day. Not only that, but he also saw Chloe becoming more graceful as a busy woman, perhaps even more active than before. But she didn't neglect self-care. Chloe was different. Different. He used to think that women only needed a man's wealth, but it turned out that women could take care of themselves and become even more successful than most men.

Leonel continued to wait for the waiter to arrive, hoping it would happen at a moment like this. He wanted to capture Chloe's attention even more.

While waiting for the waiter, Leonel watched Chloe play with the flat object in her hand. He saw her scrolling through social media and searched for his ex-wife's account. There was no activity or status update. It meant that his ex-wife wasn't the type of woman who liked to broadcast things publicly. He became even more impatient to approach Chloe and give her more attention to win her back. No matter how hard a stone was, it would eventually create a hole if the water kept dripping, just like his efforts now. He wouldn't slack in his efforts to win Chloe back.

Once again, Leonel scanned the entire side of the restaurant, spotting the waiter bringing Chloe's order. Even though this was a fast-food restaurant, if there were a particular order in the morning, it would be delivered to the customer's table. It was clear that Chloe had a table number. Leonel couldn't wait to approach the woman at the other end as time passed, and he grew increasingly impatient.

Meanwhile, Chloe felt uneasy because she felt something was missing from her daily routine when Darren wasn't around. She checked her flat object several times, hoping to receive a notification from Darren this morning, but there was nothing.

"Should I send him a message first?" Chloe muttered.

Finally, what Leonel had been waiting for happened. The waiter carefully walked toward the table where Chloe was sitting. Meanwhile, Leonel acted as if he didn't know Chloe was there and maintained a nonchalant expression, so it wouldn't be evident that he had been observing his ex-wife's movements. Then, as planned, he accidentally pretended to bump into the waiter carrying Chloe's order.

Crash!

Prank!

Just as he had planned! Leonel felt like he deserved a great reward. Pretending and acting like this without talent seemed to earn appreciation. The plates and glasses on the tray fell, as did Leonel and the waiter. Upon hearing the sound of breaking leaves and seeing the waiter covered in spilled food, Chloe was startled. She stood up and looked at what had happened.

"Oh my gosh!" Chloe exclaimed upon hearing the sound of the broken plates and seeing the waiter covered in spilled food on their clothes. Meanwhile, Chloe also looked confused at a man who bumped into the waiter, causing this chaotic morning scene that didn't match her expectations.

Judging by his clothing, Chloe saw a man who was no stranger to her. However, Chloe was surprised when the man turned around and confirmed her suspicions.

"Leonel?" Chloe whispered, not expecting this.

"I'm sorry, it was an accident," Leonel whispered, starting his act.

"It's okay, sir!"

"Let me compensate for everything!" Leonel interjected, immediately standing up and rushing forward. But before doing that, he glanced at Chloe and widened his eyes, unable to believe what he saw. Come on! Pretending to exaggerate the situation!

"What are you doing here?" Leonel asked Chloe.

Meanwhile, Chloe didn't answer Leonel's question; she remained silent and observed his actions. She let Leonel take care of all the issues regarding the damages. After settling with the cashier, Leonel approached Chloe, sitting not far from where he saw her, already eating the food the waiter had delivered again.

This time, Leonel pulled out a chair before Chloe and offered her the chocolate sundae he had spilled earlier. Seeing this, Chloe raised her face. She couldn't believe that it was Leonel who brought it to her. She had hoped that someone else would come and give it to her, Darren. Ah, that was impossible, right?

"I'm glad to meet you here," Leonel told Chloe, who stopped eating. Chloe's eyes looked annoyed when they locked gazes, and then she stared blankly in Leonel's direction.

"Why are you here? Did you follow me?" Chloe snapped at him again, eliciting a small chuckle from Leonel.

"Am I mistaken if you think I followed you? I have the job that accidentally led me to meet you," Leonel came up with an excuse. In reality, he did follow Chloe to this restaurant intentionally. It was all for one purpose: to regain her attention.

Upon hearing that, Chloe nodded quietly. She didn't want to prolong the conversation with Leonel this morning.

"Oh, by the way, I replaced the ice cream you ordered earlier. It spilled because of me," Leonel said, handing the cold drink to Chloe.

"Thank you, but you didn't have to go through the trouble of getting it for me," Chloe said to Leonel again, but he didn't care. He still gave it to Chloe so she would drink it. Chloe also couldn't understand why Leonel showed so much concern for her. During their marriage, Leonel was indifferent and cold, never showing this kind of attention to Chloe.

He wouldn't even offer her a drink, let alone ask about her well-being.

"Are you going to the cafe alone now?" Leonel asked Chloe again, to which Chloe nodded softly. Of course, she went alone if Darren wasn't there.

"Of course," Chloe replied curtly. Her tone was cold, and she didn't want to be bothered.

"I hope you can be more careful when you have to go alone, especially on busy roads like this," Leonel said.

"Do you think I'm a child who has just learned how to drive?" Chloe said, shaking her head slightly and chuckling, seeing Leonel's excessive concern. "Besides, Brad always drives for me. Your advice earlier is pointless, Leonel."

Upon hearing that, Leonel looked embarrassed. "There's nothing wrong with being worried about you."

"Did my warning yesterday not make it clear?" Chloe retorted with a slightly louder tone. "Are you pretending to be deaf now?"

"No." Leonel smiled broadly. "I'm just genuinely concerned about you, Chloe. I can still vividly remember how that accident almost took your life. There's nothing wrong with what I said earlier, right?" Leonel concluded. Meanwhile, Chloe shook her head slightly and ignored what the man said.

There was a long pause intentionally created by Chloe. She didn't want Leonel to talk to her too much. She chose to enjoy her food instead. She didn't care if Leonel had eaten or not. What was he doing here, anyway? But it did pique her curiosity.

"Why are you here by yourself? Do you have some business to take care of? Or are you just trying to find out about me?" This time, Chloe didn't stay silent. She wanted to find out why Leonel suddenly appeared in the same restaurant as her.

"I had a sudden job that I needed to do at this restaurant, but the client canceled it due to more important matters. So, I'm free for the next few hours today, and coincidentally, I ran into you. Isn't this much better?" Leonel explained to Chloe again, but she furrowed her brow, not understanding.

"Since when does Mountain work with restaurants?" Chloe chuckled. "Do I only have Mountain?"

Leonel laughed. "Do you think I only have Mountain?"

Chloe sighed in annoyance. "What did you say? Coincidence? God, it's ridiculous how fate plays between us."

"You're right," Leonel said, nodding briefly. "How about if I call it... destiny?"

Chloe furrowed her brow.

"But I do believe this is destiny if we're meant to return to how we were before," Leonel said confidently. Meanwhile, Chloe was taken aback by Leonel's self-assurance. Then, according to Chloe, her smile turned bitter upon hearing that he quickly forgot the painful past.

Meanwhile, the remaining food at the corner of Chloe's lips was bothering her, leaving some sauce on her upper lip. Leonel quickly wiped it with a tissue and gave her a faint smile.

"You're always like this, never clean when eating," Leonel said to Chloe, observing his hand at the corner of her lips.

"Don't overdo it!" Chloe snapped at Leonel at that moment.

"I'm not overdoing it; I just want to pay more attention to you, Chloe!" Leonel concluded, making Chloe clean the corner of her lips herself. She brushed away Leonel's hand, which was still there.

At this moment, Chloe felt that the time that used to be filled by Darren was now filled with Leonel. It was as if the time when Chloe hoped for Leonel's attention. Although it wasn't everything about Leonel, now she was getting it when their relationship was no longer bound. Chloe truly couldn't understand Leonel's mindset. Especially now, Leonel's change in attitude had reached a hundred and eighty degrees.

It also made Chloe uncertain. Before, Leonel was cold, indifferent and didn't care about her, often neglecting Chloe. Back then, Chloe had hoped for all of that from Leonel. When they divorced, Leonel started to show his true self. The one she yearned for and wanted to reach, even if it was just a little Leonel glanced at her. It made Chloe think more because she didn't want to fall into a trap that would only reopen her wounds.

"Perhaps you're wondering why I'm like this, Chloe," Leonel began before Chloe interrupted him, saying something to complete his sentence. "I do want to make amends to you, not just with words of apology. I know that won't be enough. No matter how many apologies are uttered, I've already inflicted a deep wound in your heart. Allow me to make amends now. Allow me to pour out everything I have in my heart for you, Chloe. I'm here not with a feeling of guilt but as a fighter who wants to reclaim and have an equal chance with you."

Chloe stared intently at Leonel, who seemed eager to speak further.

"Allow me to get close to you again. At that time, you did give me a chance, but Josh, oh my, I can't say that Josh didn't ruin my plans to win you back. But that's the reality, right? I was busy with Mountain. Meanwhile, I wanted to improve myself before you, Chloe."

Chloe remained silent.

"I'm serious about this. I fell in love with my ex-wife when it was too late. But when it comes to love, there's never such a thing as 'too late,' right, Chloe?"