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 and suddenly collapsed to the floor, pretending to faint.
"Angelina!" Gabriel called out, alarmed and worried, as he rushed to her side.
When his words failed to bring a reaction from her, Gabriel quickly picked her up in his arms, turning around, and shoving Leonica out of his way as he rushed out of the room.
Leonica who was still blankly rooted in her spot, watched her husband hurry out with his mistress. There was nothing but sadness in her heart. Gabriel had never cared for her like that.
The last of her will for trying to make the marriage work, dying out like a dimming candle.
Placing her hand on her stomach, she lowered her voice and quietly apologized.
"Little one, I'm sorry I won't tell your father about you. When you come into this world, please don't be too angry at Mommy."
** **
After leaving the house, Garbiel had rushed to the nearest hospital and had Angelina admitted and checked up on. Only after hearing that she was in good condition did Gabriel relax.
Taking one last look at Angelina's sleeping form, Gabriel exited the hospital.
The doctor said Angelina seemed to be over-stressed and needed a good rest and to stay in a good mood. Gabriel knew he'd better accompany her for the night, however, Leonica’s face kept flashing in his mind and he just couldn't stop it.
d*mn! When it was clear that Leonica was the one who fooled Grandma and forced Angelina to break up with him, how dare she still try to fool him with that feigned innocent face?
He needed a drink, a stiff one.
A couple of minutes later, he was in the usual place he went each time he needed to forget about his married life. The bar was filled with loud voices. Gabriel had sat in a dark corner, silently nursing a gl*ss of whisky as he stared off into the distance. No one knew what he was thinking but his uninviting aura signaled not to mess with this guy.
"Hello, Gabriel." Sebastian, one of his circle friends, greeted with a slight wave, turning seconds later to order his drink before fixing his attention back on the man who had only acknowledged him with a nod.
"I see you're here drowning yourself in alcohol again." He commented, watching his friend swirl his drink in the gl*ss, then bringing it to his lips and downing it. "What's the occasion this time around? Failed business plans? Family issue?"
"Wife issue. Well, divorce issues to be more specific." Gabriel responded.
"Whoa, you're getting a divorce?" Sebastian raised his brows, a bit shocked at the revelation.
Gabriel nodded with an expressionless face, but why the heck did he hear excitement in Sebastian's tone?
"d*mn man. I would have never imagined you being the one getting a divorce." Sebastian mused, a small grin pulling the corner of his mouth. "So does that mean Leonica's gonna be back on the market?"
At the mention of his wife, Gabriel's expression darkened and he turned to look at Sebastian, "What?"
"Don't look so surprised. Leonica is a wonderful woman, but you only have Angelina in your heart. Tough marriage, isn't it?" Sebastian took a sip as he blinked at Gabriel, "Since you're getting a divorce soon, I don't have to be concerned anymore."
"Though Leonica looks a little nerd, she’s got a d*mn hot body. No man would miss that. I should court her, maybe see what she's made of in bed." Sebastian chuckled, unaware of how his words had angered his friend.
In a split second, Gabriel was up from his chair, knocking it over as he suddenly threw a swift punch at Sebastian's face, not waiting for him to recover before he grabbed Sebastian by the collar and lifted him up from his own seat.
"Gabriel? what the h*ll?!" Sebastian exclaimed, struggling against Gabriel's hold.
"You'd best watch your mouth, Sebastian. Leonica is still my wife!" He growled.
"Man, you need to calm the F*ck down." He huffed, finally freeing himself from Gabriel's hold and strutting away, muttering underneath in the process.
It was obviously Gabriel who first mentioned their divorce and he had just been kidding about Leonica, but why the hell was Gabriel suddenly reacting so hostilely?
Watching him walk away, Gabriel's chest still heaved violently. He had no idea why he was so overreacted.
He must have consumed too much alcohol tonight.
“Take me back to the office.” Gabriel instructed his driver as he stepped out of Club Parish and entered his car.
His driver bowed wordlessly, following his command.
Half an hour later, the driver parked the car in the driveway of his house rather than his office.
"Mr. Bryce, we've arrived."
Gabriel who had temporarily fallen asleep due to the alcohol, opened his eyes at his driver's announcement.
"Why are we here? I remember I said the office." Gabriel asked, rubbing his brow.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Bryce." The driver bowed his head and explained, "I heard you calling the name of Mrs. Bryce, and I thought you wanted to go home."
Gabriel paused his hand and said coldly, "You heard wrong."
"And you're dismissed." He instructed, and without another word, walked into his home.
Stumbling up the stairs, he pushed the door to his bedroom open and walked in, stopping when he saw Leonica peacefully sleeping on the bed.
He was so messed up by the events of the night, while she was sleeping so well!
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
The next day at Bryce Empire, all the major employees of the Media team had been gathered in Gabriel’s office.The man himself was in front of the small crowd, leaning against his table. With a darken atmosphere behind him, it made all the employees present cower all the more.What had they done wrong this time around?!“I’ll only ask this once, who amongst you is responsible for the engagement post released by the media department?” Gabriel asked and soon, all heads turned to face an impish looking brunette.The male flinched under all the eyes and slowly raised his hand, announcing. “It…it was me S-sir.”Gabriel’s brows twitched at the answer.This man, what was his name?Ah, yes, Kelvin.He was the manager of the media department, but more importantly, the one responsible for the engagement announcement that had caused him so much trouble.Gabriel sighed, running his fingers through his hair.What had made him think that hiring Kelvin was a good idea?“So,” he began, taking a deep