The news instilled fear in Leonica as much as it did hope.
A baby was currently living inside her, serving as proof of the nights she and her husband made love together. Proof of how strong she and Gabriel's bond was about to become.
Would Gabriel cancel his demand for divorce if he learned of his child growing in her womb?
"I...I need to let him know." Leonica muttered under her breath, looking around for her phone.
She quickly found it on the nightstand and with a smile on her lips, she dialed Gabriel's number and pressed the phone to her ears, listening to the line ring.
It rang unanswered for seconds. Seconds soon turned into minutes and several more tries, but her efforts were futile.
Gabriel didn't pick up.
Well, how would he even have the heart to pay attention to her when his past love returned?
Her smile turned bitterly as the tips of her fingers clutching her cell phone started to shiver.
"Enough, Leonica," Benjamin sighed deeply and took away the phone from her daughter's hands after exchanging a look with his wife.
"He might just be busy, Dad." Leonica forced a smile trying to explain. She knew her parents never looked favorably on the marriage.
"Leonica my honey," C*ssandra began as she held her daughter's hands. "Does Gabriel treat you this way, all the time?"
"Treat me what way?" Leonica asked, not understanding the underlying meaning of the question.
"Today was his grandmother's funeral, correct? Gabriel was at least meant to be with you, but the one who had brought you into the hospital after you p*ssed out was a total stranger. What happened?" Benjamin asked with a serious look.
Leonica sighed. She didn't know how to tell them that Gabriel had demanded for a divorce. From the go, they never liked the fact that she had sacrificed so much just for the sake of marrying him. In order not to worry them, she had kept many of their arguments secret, from both her parents and his Late grandmother.
However, being loved or not could always be found from the smallest details. Her silence was enough to answer for her wise parents.
They both sighed and C*ssandra shook her head before helping Leonica back to the bed, "Darling, I'm glad you're alright, and I'm also glad that you're expecting a baby. But, this marriage of yours, you should think about it very well."
"If it was not for Ms. Bryce's proposal and that you liked him so much, we wouldn't have even acknowledged Gabriel Bryce as our son-in-law," Benjamin scoffed.
Leonica's heart clenched and her mother added, "Darling, three years is enough to see into a man's heart. You're so smart not to understand that. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about the child in your womb."
Benjamin nodded, "If Gabriel has behaved this badly since the start, then I'm sure he isn't a good husband to you and I doubt he'd be a good father to that child. Divorce him and come back home. We're capable of helping you raise this child well."
Benjamin held his daughter’s shoulder to face his gaze and reminded her, "Leonica my dear, remember you're the daughter of the Romero family. We're not less powerful than his."
C*ssandra nodded her head in agreement, "Divorce him, Leonica. I'm sure you deserve someone better. And your baby."
Looking at her parents' keen concern, to say Leonica was not moved would be an understatement. She didn't expect that so many people would ask her to give up her marriage in one day, all of whom were closest to her.
Had she really made the wrong choice in the first place?
She lowered her head and saw her bracelet, a wedding anniversary gift from Grandma. Gabriel almost forgot it every year but Grandma always remembered. It felt like Grandma was the only supporter of this marriage. Sometimes, even Leonica had no idea why Grandma had so much faith in her.
If Grandma were around today, would she have advised her to get a divorce too?
Leonica thought sourly but quickly dismissed the thought. No, Grandma would have been happy. Grandma had been looking forward to this great-grandson for a long time.
And Ragriel didn't know that he was going to be a father yet. Maybe he'd change his mind?
Tears blurred her eyes, and Leonica had made her decision. For Grandma, for the baby, and herself.
"No. I can't." She muttered, shaking her head.
"Leonica," Her mother began.
"Please Mom, " She interrupted her with pleading eyes. "Let me try again. Just one last time."
Her parents looked at her, seeing the determination and determination that swirled in her eyes. Sighing, they nodded and respected her decision.
A few hours later, she was discharged from the hospital with strict instructions to avoid stress and stern lecturing from her parents to take care of both herself and the baby.
Soon after, she arrived home and eagerly rushed into the house, wanting to tell Gabriel about the baby.
However, just as she stepped inside, her heart clenched and her face paled upon seeing a pair of red heels and a Green Gucci bag beside Gabriel's shoes.
Her heart ached once more while she tried to tell herself that there was no way Gabriel would do something like bringing another woman into their matrimonial house which had been a gift from his beloved late grandmother.
There was no way he would break the promise he had made to his grandmother, right?
'But then again...' Leonica's thoughts trailed off as she recalled Gabriel breaking the promise he had made to his grandmother by contacting Angelina.
Just the thought of that alone somewhat angered her and this time, she would not stand by and watch the blessed house she cherished be tainted by the likes of a third party!
Clenching her teeth, anger cursing through her veins, Leonica furiously ascended the stairs, rushing to their bedroom.
When she got there and furiously slammed their bedroom door open without so much as a knock, her entire body froze up and her eyes grew wide when she spotted a brunette sitting on the edge of their bed with damp hair and a bathroom towel wrapped around her body.
The person sitting on her matrimonial bed, currently looking at her with the most innocent look in her eyes, was none other than Gabriel's past lover.
Angelina Fernandez.
The one person she hated. Her worst nightmare!
The humiliating memory of the wedding night came back to her when Leonica caught Angelina sitting comfortably on her matrimonial bed like she was the real hostess."Y-You! How did you get in here?" Leonica hissed, anger rising to the surface of her visage as a glare formed on her eyes.Angelina didn't say anything, instead, she just looked at Leonica provocatively. And the next second, the bathroom door opened from behind and Gabriel stepped out, with a bathroom towel wrapped around his waist as his wet hair clung messily to his face.Leonica's heart shattered into pieces at that moment and her eyes were filled with betrayal, hurt, and annoyance, especially when Gabriel's facial expression turned into disdain after spotting her existence."Gabriel, what is she doing here?" Leonica demanded as she balled her fists.Angelina wasted no time in scurrying over to Gabriel and shamelessly burying her face in his bare chest, acting like a scared cat.Gabriel made no effort to withdraw from he
Gabriel didn't know how to tell his feelings.The woman standing before him was clearly the same, yet the aura around her had suddenly shifted.Earlier in the day she had been pleading with him, trying to vie for his attention like a hungry wh*re and now here she was, acting like an arrogant lioness.But most of all, he wondered why his heart ached when Leonica spoke of divorce with such conviction.Wasn't her willingness to divorce exactly what he wanted?"Gabe, I...I think I should leave. I-I don't want to see you two fighting because of me." Angelina's voice pulled him out of his mind. The little woman hung her head low in his arms, trying to restrain her trembling."Stay here." He tried to re*ssure Angelina but got Leonica scoffed. Gabriel shot his angry gaze to his wife again.Angelina suppressed her smile and continued her act, "N-no. I think I should leave."She said and quickly turned around to get dressed. However, when she just took a few steps from Gabriel, she acted wobbly
Gabriel tugged his tie loose as he walked over to the bed. The duvet had rolled down to the edge of the bed, exposing the lacey nightgown she had worn to sleep.It was a s*xy lingerie that accentuated her breasts and the curve of her hips, showing just enough skin for any man to become tempted.[She’s got a d*mn hot body and no man would miss that. ]Sebastian's words came back to his mind again, making Gabriel more annoyed. Why should she dress so s*xy when her husband is not at home? Was she expecting any other man to spot this? No wonder so many men were lusting after her, huh?Slowly, Gabriel stalked towards the bed, his body moving on its own accord.His eyes were clouded with a strong lustful desire, and his pants were starting to feel uncomfortable as his hard-on pressed against the zipper.[I should court her, maybe see what she's made of in bed.]Those words were like demons to his ears. The more he imagined how other men would court her or even have s*x with her, the more he
Leonica was sitting upright on the bed, staring emptily into the space.The hickeys Gabriel left on her were still fresh, yet instead of excitement like anytime before, it only made her shudder and sick.She hated him.Hated him with a new growing p*ssion.When he was the one who asked for the divorce, the one who brought his mistress home regardless of her opinions as his wife, the one who said he'd rather die than marry her, how the hell could he do all that to her last night?In order not to hurt the baby, she dropped all her pride to beg him yet he still cared about his feelings only. And after all this, he stepped out of bed before she could wake up as if nothing happened.what the h*ll did he think she was? A free wh*re at his beck and call? Gabriel Bryce that b*stard surely had no heart for her!Leonica didn't know how long she kept this position until the doorbell rang.She had planned on ignoring it, but the person on the other end was persistent and rang the bell repeatedly,
Gabriel shot up from his seat after Christian’s words, startling both his friends.“Whoa!” Lloyd exclaimed, nearly spilling his drink on his dress.“I’m leaving.” Gabriel announced and without another word, walked out of the club room.He made his way towards his car, entered and began driving towards his and Leonica’s shared Villa.Throughout the drive there, Gabriel’s mind wandered, pondering the many possibilities of what would happen if Leonica was indeed pregnant.That would mean he was about to become a father.The p*ssing thought caused a fluttering feeling to erupt in his chest. However, he discarded the feeling as quick as it had came, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel.Before *ssuming things, he needed to speak with Leonica and have her confirm it herself.After an hours drive, Gabriel finally pulled up in the driveway of their shared Villa and stepped into the house.“Leonica,” He called out, his voice echoing off the huge living room that barely housed furni
Five Years Later.The warm sun. The sound of joyous children as they ran around the park, playing and Blooming cherry blossom.It was the start of spring, Leonica’s favorite season.Staring out the gl*ss window of the shop she was standing in, she admired the beautiful scenery of spring in Colorado.It has always been a sight that marveled her ever since she settled in Colorado. It was a peaceful neighborhood that had become her home ever since five years ago.Smiling warmly at the sight, Leonica’s attention was drawn away by the sound of approaching footsteps.“Ah, this should do the job. It’s the cutest one I have.” Marcus, the shop owner, spoke as he approached her, holding a cute black bunny toy.Leonica smiled brightly and reached her hands out, taking the plush toy and admiring it.Marcus had been a long time friend of her, having met him two years ago. She had walked into his toy shop one day, looking for a gift like a lost soul, when he spotted her.After helping her, they beg
The next day, in the affluent district of Norway city, a meeting consisting of Romero Empire’s main shareholders was ensuing.Voices bounced off the four walls of the conference room, growing louder and rowdier by each p*ssing second as one shareholder over another, had something more important to voice.“The presidential seat has been vacant for far too long,” Rodrigo began, opening his argument for the meeting. “Romero empire needs a capable president that can lead us to prosperity.”“I agree.” One of the shareholders present concurred, nodding his head at Rodrigo’s statement. “But the question is who?”“Perhaps the eldest son of the Romero family, Leonardo?” Another shareholder spoke up, however, instantly regretting her words when Rodrigo sent her a sharp glare.“Impossible.” He objected. “Leonardo is not fit to be the president of Romero Empire. He may have graduated with a business degree from oxford, but he’s still too inexperienced to take over a company as successful as this.
Gabriel laid motionless in his bed, eyes glued blankly on his white ceiling. He had just woken up an hour ago, however he hadn't moved from his current spot as his mind recounted the dream that he had.He had been dreaming.A dream of the past and a future that would never happen, one that felt vivid and almost too real.The dream had started off being about the first time he had met Leonica.He remembered her clearly, the young woman with yellow hair, dressed in a beautiful white dress and a warm smile on her face.In the dream, Gabriel was sitting on a sofa with his grandmother when Leonica, along with her father and mother were introduced to him.Their first meeting.However, the dream quickly took a different turn and they were in an open field with beautifully planted irises and Leonica was standing in the center, but she was not alone.Held in her embrace was a small child, who slept peacefully on her chest.He remembered watching her cradle the child in her arms as they slept p