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75 ~ Leo

Author: Ese Gwede
last update Last Updated: 2024-07-09 13:28:48

So many thoughts ran through my head at once. I was a father. What was I to do next? Who was I to call and tell this utterly stunning news.

I paced back and forth in my hotel room, wondering how I even made it there in the first place. I drove mindlessly the moment I stormed out of her home.

"I have a son," I finally said it aloud, letting my run through my previously well combed out mane. I wanted to look my best for her that evening but the way things turned out was not the what I expected.

"I'm a father," I said slowly, letting it sink in. "Oh my God." I said, still stunned by the revelation.

She was definitely not lying. I saw him, there was no DNA test needed. That baby she held was my blood and there was no two was no two ways about it. No one could deny it.

I garnered the courage to pick up my phone and the only number I could dial was Rick's. He was the voice of reason in times like these.

"Hey bro." His voice was cheery.

"Hey," mine wasn't.

"What's wrong? Aurora turned you
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  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   76 ~ Aurora

    "He sure loves being a father," River commented beside me.I looked up from my phone to glance at Leo and Dante who were knocked out on the couch that Saturday afternoon. They even slept alike, so peaceful. Dante was truly his father's son."He does," I smiled."You're still talking to Lucas?" She asked, seeing the chat head on my phone."That man would not let me be. He's divorced now." I told her with a stressed exhale."Ooh.""Yeah.""You should not have canceled on him like that though." She said."I know but I was in a bigger mess," I gestured at Leo for emphasis. I could not bring myself to go on a date with someone when I was stuck thinking about the fate of my son and his father. It gladdened my heart to see that he was easing into fatherhood and that Dante loved having him around. The excitement he showed whenever he heard Leo's voice was amazing to see.However all these fuzzy feelings did not change the fact that I would have to face our families sooner or later. Leo had ext

    Last Updated : 2024-07-09
  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   77 ~ Aurora

    "I'm so glad you finally agreed to meet up with me," Lucas said.I smiled, recalling how much convincing it took from River to meet up with him today. Sometimes I wondered what River wanted - me ending up with my baby daddy or just moving on to someone else.Maybe I needed to know what I wanted and stop letting other people make decisions for me."How have you been?" He asked."Good. I've been alright, not the same with your absence in my life." I swallowed. This was not how I wanted our conversation to start."How's your wife?" I asked to evade it."We're not together anymore. Our divorce was finalized a few months ago." He informed me, shocking me in the process."I'm so sorry to hear that,"He shrugged, "It was bound to happen at some point.""Hmm," I hummed absentmindedly. My mind kept trailing over to Dante. He was running a temperature when I left. I hoped River was taking good care of him even though I knew I could never doubt her ability to take care of my son in my absence.

    Last Updated : 2024-07-20
  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   78 ~Leo

    I was having dinner with my parents that evening immediately after my return from New York. I contemplated and pondered on how to break the news to them. I knew it could not wait so it was better to move with a sense of urgency."Dad, mom, I have something to tell you both," I piped up finally after fighting an internal battle.They both turned to me at the same time, even Natalie stopped in the middle of her meal."I have a child." I said after a few seconds of silence.My mom's eyes lit up, "Is Natalie pregnant? Oh my goodness!"Natalie looked perplexed and even stared down at her obviously flat belly.I shook my head immediately, "No no, that's not what I meant.""What do you mean then?" She asked, her smile dropping into a frown."I was in New York a week ago and I met Aurora,"My father's eyes lit up with interest. "Aurora? How is she doing?""She's doing really great. I'm so proud of her," I said with a proud smile."You went to see that girl?" My mom sneered. I ignored it and d

    Last Updated : 2024-07-20
  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   79 ~ Aurora

    I was stunned when he sent a private jet to come get us. I had no problem with flying business class with Dante but he insisted that I use the jet so I would avoid airport hassles. Leo sure knew how to go all out when he wanted to.The flight was smooth and Dante slept through most of it. This was his first travel and he did not cause any trouble. It was a proud mom moment for me."We're going to see daddy soon," I said to him in what I called my mama voice as soon as we landed.Much to my surprise, Leo was right there at the hangar awaiting our arrival. He pulled me into a tight embrace and took Dante out of my hands, obviously elated to be reunited with his son after a few weeks since he left New York."How was your trip?" "Smooth. Thanks to you," I said. "I'm glad it was."We got into the car and I just stared at the window while he played with Dante. It had been quite some time since I was last here in Washington. There wasn't a lot of difference in how it looked but there was s

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  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   80 ~ Aurora

    I shook nervously as soon as we drove into his parents estate. It had the same eerie that came with me returning to what it seemed was my prison when I first got married. And even after we moved out, the trepidation I felt whenever we had to come here and see my ex mother in-law never seemed to wane.Leo had called my parents and as we drove further in, I saw a car that looked so much like it would be theirs. I swallowed. "You'll be fine," he said, noticing my countenance. I nodded even though I hardly believed I would.He took Dante out of the back seat, while I got of the vehicle, ironing out the nonexistent creases on my black formfitting dress. I brought out my phone from my chanel purse and took one last look at my makeup. River had insisted that I look the part and as I glanced at my gold gladiator heels, I knew that I had dressed to kill. I fluffed my waves and even Leo could not take his eyes of me."You're gorgeous,""Thank you." I placed my palm on his arm in appreciation,

    Last Updated : 2024-07-26
  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   81 ~ Leo

    To say I was stunned at her actions was an understatement. I was staring at a very different Aurora from the woman I'd first married.Was I worried or even scared at the change? Absolutely. I wondered if I was man enough to handle the woman she had become. But I wanted her still and I was willing to work towards being a better man for her.~~~I was stunned to see Lucas seated in my living room when I came home that evening."Hello Leo," He said, getting on his feet to shake my hand. I did not lift a finger."What are you doing here?" I asked stiffly.He dropped his hand back, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'm here to see Aurora."Speaking of her, she came out of the kitchen with a glass of juice that was obviously for her guest."Hi Leo, I didn't know you were back." She said, flashing me her dazzling smile as she placed the drink on the coffee table."I just got in." I answered clippedly and briskly took the stairs. I opened her room and saw Dante in his makeshift crib. It eased m

    Last Updated : 2024-08-13
  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   82 ~ Aurora

    "When are you going back to New York?" "Pretty soon," I said, keeping my answer vague. I did not plan on letting anyone know when I was leaving. "Hmm," she said, carrying Dante and feeding him from her meal. I watched closely as she did. "Why did you call me here?" I asked. It felt weird to be seated on the backyard porch of what used to be my home for the first two decades of my life."I haven't seen you in a long time. Is it wrong that I decided to speak to my daughter face to face?" She asked, sounding offended."Now you care," I scoffed. "Aurora," She called out softly."I don't want to hear it.""I'm still your mother.""You let him disown me, you never called, not even once! What's worse is that you instigated my brothers against me. If not that Antonio cared to reach out, I would have been left all alone without family! Some mother you are..." I scoffed again in utter disdain.She was so overwhelmed by my outburst, she stayed silent. My son's eyes stayed on me, almost like

    Last Updated : 2024-08-13
  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   83 ~ Aurora

    It was so refreshing to be back home. Washington wasn't home anymore. I needed no further confirmation."I'm happy to see youuuu!" River looked she was going to cry as we hugged at the airport. "The house feels so lonely without you,""We missed you too," I said. Dante was fast asleep after singing and playing through most of the flight.The drive home was far from silence as we tried to catch up on how much we head missed in each others lives."No you didn't." Her jaw dropped when I gave her a more detailed narration of what went down with my parents and how I told Leo's mother off."I'm still shocked I did it." I said with a laugh. My smile dropped when I saw her tearing up. "Is something wrong?" I asked, immediately getting worried."No no," she waved me off. "These are tears of joy. I'm so proud of your growth. You finally stood up to that witch!""River!!!" I laughed even harder. She was so dramatic."I'm serious. She finally got what was coming to her. Now she knows she cannot m

    Last Updated : 2024-08-29

Latest chapter

  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   Epilogue ~ 2

    ~One year later~Settling into married life had been not much of a hassle. Lucas and I had become a team and were working on big projects together so we put childbearing on hold and focused on raising Dante as well as our various businesses.It was a year later. It had been a whole year of bliss being married to the best man God could ever give me. I had no regrets whatsoever.I looked at my son and grinned. My fast growing three year old who kept making a raucous at school. Being a boy mom to a hyperactive toddler was no easy feat."Mommy!" He ran to me, looking more disheveled than I remembered him being that morning. This was the story everyday. I drop off a prim and proper child and at the end of the school day, I was met with the exact opposite. Today was even more special because there were missing buttons on his shirt. I sighed. "My baby." I said, picking up his heavy self as I placed a kiss on his left cheek. "How was school today?""Fun." He showed off his little teeth with w

  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   Epilogue ~ 1

    ~Aurora~Exhausted after a hectic wedding day? Nah, not me. I had been celibate for as long as I could remember. There was no way I was going to miss out on any action that night.Lucas was just as energetic as me as we made out in the elevator, hardly waiting till we got to the penthouse suite where we would be staying for the night before flying out for our honeymoon.As intentional as he was, he had the whole place decorated for us. Oh it was about to a be a night!He had taken it upon himself to take out the many bobby pins that held up my updo hairstyle while I unbuttoned his shirt and pants in one swift move.At the tap of a button, the mood lights changed and the song played at our first dance came up, slowing things down. I leaned into his touch as we made it into the shower, briefly washing ourselves up from all the sweat and grime the busy day had brought with us. He carried me out of the bathroom after toweling me dry and gently placed me on the bed, caressing every side o

  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   92 ~ Aurora

    ~Three months later ~"I'm so happy for you Aurora. No I'm not trying to make you cry but girl you did that! Look at you. You're so happy. Aurora of a few years ago would be so proud."I grinned, ready to appreciate her for her kind words but she was not done yet. "I feel like a proud mom," she hiccupped, fighting back tears. "You are so strong, so resilient. Seeing how far you've come and you finally getting the love you deserve, makes me so happy.""Oh my God I'm going to ruin my make up.""Girl come on, you can hold it in." River immediately said, fanning me frantically.I looked up at the ceiling, the bulbs on the chandelier right in my gaze as I tried to chase the tears that were fighting to fall from my eyes back in."Okay, okay I'm good." I sighed. "Thank you River. I don't know what I'd have done without you throughout this journey. You've helped me become this version of myself. You've been here since day one, cheering me on and now we're here. You never got tired of me, neve

  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   91 ~ Aurora & Lucas

    ~Lucas POV~"Lucas!" I heard the all too familiar voice I had grown accustomed to. How did she know how to find me? I wondered. Then it clicked. She had obviously spoken to my mother."I know you're in there. I just want to talk please." I heard her voice from downstairs while I was stuck in my bedroom in my mother's house. I shut my eyes and groaned. I ached to see her but then again, I did not want get my heart broken yet again. What if she was here to return my ring and tell me she had chosen to go back to her ex? That would kill me."Lucas please!" I heard her yell again.Letting out a sigh of resignation, I decided to step out of my room only to be met face to face in the hallway as she found her way to me."Lucas." She breathed a sigh of relief as she fell into my arms. I held her tight and sniffed her hair. At least if she was here to break my heart, I would hold on to this tender moment."I'm so sorry." She said, breaking down in tears. "I'm sorry that I made you feel like a

  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   90 ~ Aurora

    Loud clattering ensued after that statement and it was none other than his own mother, proof that she was not aware of this stunt he just pulled prior to this time. From the looks of it, my mother and his father were aware. I fumed in my seated position, throwing a glare in my mother's direction, upset about her conspiring to throw me under the bus. What did she take me for? A fool?"Leonardo, what is the meaning of this?" His mother hissed harshly."Mom, please stay out of this." He said to his mother and turned to me."Aurora I know the reason you didn't accept my proposal is because of my mother and I'm here to promise you that she would never interfere in our union ever again, if only you give me another chance." Leo said like it was a necessary romantic declaration. Why did he not do this while we were married? This was simply medicine after death."Wait. He proposed to you?" Lucas piped up, looking appalled.I shut my eyes tight as I cussed under my breath. "Shit.""Lucas I can

  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   89 ~ Aurora

    Telling Lucas about my trip to Washington had begun to look like a hassle. I had pondered on it for a while and I kept rethinking if it was a good idea."Something wrong?" He asked me before chewing on the grapes I had gotten for our picnic. We were seated under a tree in the park that weekend, enjoying our day and I did not want to spoil it."I need to tell you something." I finally breathed out."What's up?" His arms immediately went around my hips. "I need to go to Washington."The concern on his face decreased a bit."Okay? You wanna see your family?" He asked."Something like that." I said after a bit of hesitance. He noticed."Aurora what's going on?"I sighed, figuring that honesty was the best foundation to lay our relationship on."Leo wants to see Dante and I and he's asked us to come." I said."For what reason?" He frowned."He did not say." I said with a shrug."That's odd.""Is it?""Yeah." He nodded, sitting back down and staring into the vast premises apparently thinki

  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   88 ~ Aurora

    It felt surreal when he slid the ring on my finger as I laid next to him. He had kept on with high hopes that I was going to say yes to him eventually. The heart shaped diamond glimmered on my finger so gracefully.I may have not been fully in love with him yet but I was sure choosing him was the best decision I was going to make."This feels like a dream." He said, bringing my knuckles to his lips. "I love you Aurora and I'm going to try my very best to love you the way you deserve."I was almost teary eyed at his confession. I just pulled him close and let my lips settle on his once again. When he dropped me off at home, I literally skipped into the house to see River and Dante, unable to contain my excitement."Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" She exclaimed on sighting me as my son jumped into my arms. If the incessant calls and texts were anything to go by, she was really worried. She even called Leo of all people."It's a long story. I can explain." I said almost b

  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   87 ~ Aurora

    "Aurora will you marry me?" My glass almost fell out of my hand as the question rang in my ears. "I know it seems too fast," He said nervously, picking up on my reaction. "It is. What happened to dating?" I asked, appalled by his forwardness. "We have been going out on dates." "What happened to asking me to be your girlfriend?" He chuckled slightly, "I don't want to wait any longer. You're the woman I want to be with and I do not doubt what I feel for you." I swallowed nervously, "Lucas I've been through so much. I'm not ready for any of this." "But you are over Leo, aren't you?" He asked, looking hopeful. "Yes I am but then, I have my son." I said, feeling my voice shrink in worry. "I'm more than willing to love Dante as my own and you know it." I let out a shaky breath. Why did he have to put me on the spot like this? "Lucas I need time. I need time to think about all of this. This is too fast." "I'm sorry for making it seem like I'm rushing you." He apologized, reachin

  • Aurora: Breaking Illusions   86 ~ Aurora

    We were planning Dante's first birthday.River had taken it upon herself to plan the small indoor party we were throwing to mark the celebration. I was thrilled. Every time that I looked at him, I reminisced on how fast the year had gone and how so many things had changed during the time period.Leo took it upon himself to pay for everything whilst, Lucas volunteered to present through the planning process, helping me run errands when necessary."This guest list is so short." River said and I almost gaped at her. "We have small circles and there's really no need for a crowd, don't you think?" I said to her as I set him down. The fact that he could walk did not make it any easier for him to sit still. Dante was all over the place, trying one thing or the other that could raise my blood pressure. Indeed, I was a boy mom."Mama." He called out to me, reaching for my hand."Yes baby.""Mama," he said again and I grinned. How I had always wanted to hear this and now that it was happenin

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