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 her touch nor shoo her off, instead, he embraced her, wrapping his arm around Angelina.
“Are okay?” He asked her with a soft expression.
The scene angered Leonica as much as it hurt her. She clenched her fist, nails digging painfully into her palm as she tried to stop her anger from overflowing.
"Gabriel..." She asked again, face twitching in anger. "I'm asking why this woman is here."
"That's none of your business, Leonica," Gabriel replied, his expression turning frosty as soon as he took his eyes off Angelina.
None of her business? There it was again. He did have no other words to her other than that, didn’t he? Leonica started to feel like a joke. Mom was right, why should she waste her time on a heartless man?
"You're right." She squeezed a mocking smile as she nodded, "I have no interest in what you were doing together."
"But this is my house, " She added, trying her best to sound calm and composed. "And I don't want to see her here. Leave this house, right this instant."
"What if I refuse?" Gabriel countered, causing Leonica to flinch, her eyes widening. "If you can't treat my guest right, you can go back to your parent's house and spend the night there!"
"W-What?"
Was her husband really telling her to leave Their home for another woman?
The very same woman who had broken his heart and left him a ruined mess three years ago?!
Leonica was speechless.
"You heard me." He stated, his eyes challenging. "What are you waiting for?"
"No," Leonica said, surprising not only Gabriel but also Angelina who glanced up at her in shock.
"Why should I leave?" She objected, taking a daring step forward and looking straight at Gabriel.
"This is my home, not hers. I have the right to ask any stranger to leave."
The sternness on her face surprised him, after all, Leonica was always one to obey his words and seemed meek. She rarely ever retaliated or objected over anything he said.
"This isn't your house alone, Leonica. I own this house just as much as you do. I have the right to invite anyone I want here." Gabriel retorted, his jaw taut.
Leonica knew this was a sign of his anger, but at this moment she didn't bother to care.
"Now you remember it's OUR house." Leonica sneered, "Or should I remind you more exactly? It's under my name, alone."
Her gaze was so sharp that he was a little unaccustomed. Leonica didn't lie, the house was a wedding gift from Grandma to them. He didn't care much when Grandma decided to put it under Leonica's name. But now seeing such a forceful face of her made him even angrier.
Ignoring her words, Gabriel insisted. "Angelina isn't going anywhere. I don't care if you want otherwise!"
Hearing his nonsense and seeing how he cradled Angelina in his arms like she was his true wife, Leonica couldn't hold her anger anymore.
“Gabriel Bryce, how can you be so shameless?” She asked, staring daggers at her atrocious husband and his mistress. “Aren’t you afraid that would disappoint Grandma…?”
Leonica’s words remained unfinished as an enraged Gabriel swung his hand through the air, smacking his palm clean on her left cheek.
The sound resonated through the empty walls of their bedroom, surprising both Angelina and Leonica.
Never in her three years of marriage had Leonica expected Gabriel to raise his hands against her.
With a throbbing cheek and wide, disbelieving eyes, Leonica held onto her red cheek and stared at her husband who was glaring ferociously at her.
“The nerves of you to mention my grandmother. You have no right to do so!” He spat, taking a step forward and jabbing his index finger painfully into her shoulder, making her take several steps back.
“Bare this in mind, Leonica Romero, if not for the wishes of my late grandmother, I’d much rather be dead than *ssociate myself with somebody like you, talk less have you as my wife.”
His words were so cold and his eyes were so hateful to her that Leonica felt it like a bucket of cold water had suddenly been splashed on her, waking her up to the reality that she had been denying for the past three years.
She loved Gabriel, but it was clear he never loved her.
Without love, how would he give her baby a warm and loving family? What he really wanted would be a child with Angelina, right?
Leonica felt her chest heavy, like something had suddenly lodged itself in her throat and was blocking her breathing, and her eyes stung.
She was about to cry, she could feel the tears threatening to fall.
But she had to stop herself.
Since he had no heart for her, she could show even less weakness, especially when Angelina the home wrecker was still here, silently watching the whole fight raised by her.
So, biting down on her lower lip and blinking the tears away, Leonica lifted her head. She sighed as she armed herself with a sharp and fierce gaze.
There was no need to act and pretend coy anymore.
Mom and Dad were right, there was nothing worth keeping her in this marriage. So before then, why should she make it easy for them?
"You'd better not try me, Gabriel Bryce.” Leonica reminded him, “I, Leonica Bryce, am still your wife."
The way she looked at him was so calm and unfamiliar that took Gabriel aback.
And before he spoke, Leonica threatened, "If you really want that divorce, then get this woman out now."
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
It was currently 5pm and Leonica was seated in a restaurant, listening to the Noirette in front of her, namely Anastasia, her best friend, rain all heaven down on her.“I can’t believe you. You could you just up and pop without telling I, your best friend a single thing. You didn’t even dim it fit to say goodbye to me.” Anastasia scolded like she has been doing for the last hour.The following day after her returning to Norway, Leonica had gotten a phone call from Anastasia who had heard the news from Leonardo.To say she had been pissed was an understatement. Leonica had nearly lost her hearing the moment she answered the call.Fortunately, she had found a way to calm the Noirette down and proposed dinner while she explained her previous action.Anastasia accepted without a second to waste, thus the reason for the current situation.“I’m sorry,” Leonica apologized for the umpteenth time, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “But there was no other choice. The decision had been made on the