Gabriel shook his head. "For now, no.""Understood." Bill said, bidding His employer goodbye seconds before ending the call.Now standing alone in the hospital's hallway, Gabriel briefly replayed the entire day's event in his head and sighed. Twenty four hours and a whole Hella lot had happened.If his life were to be animated into one of those weird My story animated videos that Angelina forced him to watch almost weekly, Gabriel was a hundred percent sure that their viewers would call it a bluff, make believe even.The thought made him chuckle quietly to himself. However, the sound died amidst the sound of approaching footsteps. Turning his head gently to the side, Gabriel's expression quickly became dark the moment he spotted Arvan walking down the hallway, Daisy tagging along at his side."What are you doing here?" He questioned the male as soon as the duo of father and daughter had gotten within hearing range."Where's Leonica?" Arvan was quick to fire his own question, evading G
"What is this?" Plucking the extended envelope out of his hand, Leonica gently peeled the edges open, fishing out the white paper with printed black letters on it and reading it over.The very next second, her eyes shot open in disbelief and surprise as well. The content on the paper was a cooperation between her company Romero Empire and His family widely known own, Richardson Industries.It was the one cooperation she had been striving to get, not wanting to work with Gabriel's company after the entire commotion that had happened and after a whole month and a half, nearly two months, here it was... she holding it within her grasp.If etiquette allowed it, Leonica would have thrown her arms around Arvan's neck and pulled him into the tightest, happiest hug. However, etiquette didn't and speaking from a standpoint, her stand point of view, she and Arvan weren't that close, yet.But the smile on her lips, which grew wider as she spotted that Arvan had changed several of the original co
Waking up to a warm tucked in blanket was the last thing Leonica expected. Pushing herself into a seating position, she surveyed the room, looking around for the only culprit that could have tucked her while she had been asleep. Her eyes landed on Ashley's sleep form firstly, wires and wires connected to his arms and hospital machine humming softly.She smiled at his peaceful expression despite the pain he might be suffering. Next, she spotted the white nylon and plates on the table, making her brows raise in a questioning manner.Was that food? Bought by... Gabriel?As unbelievable as it sounded, the white-ette knew that was the truth, after all, the hospital didn't allow just anyone in. In other to see a patient you need to provide identification and authorization p*sses and so far, no authorization had been given, meaning that no one had stepped in. Which proved that Gabriel had indeed bought the food.As much as Leonica didn't want to admit it, Gabriel's action caused some sort of
Seating with his hand arranged on his laps, Gabriel tried to keep his cool. Although word on the street had it that Benjamin was weak and sickly, his aura had not wavered and he remained the same formidable for on the battle field. That aside, seating like this, steaming cup of coffee in between both males, was a rare occurrence for Gabriel.Even during his marriage with Leonica, he hadn't gotten the chance to seat with Benjamin this way, so today, was definitely something new.Taking a sip from his coffee, placing the cup down afterwards, Benjamin was the first to break the silence. "We're both business men so I'll be straight forward. What do you plan to do by coming back into my daughter's life?"Gabriel shook his head. "Nothing, Sir. All I want is to have legal rights to be in Ashley's life...to be his father?"His answer, earned a loud snort of mockery from Benjamin. Gabriel winced at the familiar sound, mentally noticing where Leonica had gotten it from. "You want rights, to be
"Alright Kiddo, that's a wrap." Packing up the last of his medical equipments, Doctor Bailey gently patted Ashley on the head, the boy reacting to the affection the exact same way he reacts to his mother's touch. "Everything is perfect, and you have your father to thank for that.""My father?" The boy perked up at the mention of his dad. "You know my father?" His eyes shone as he looked at the doctor who found his reaction rather cute.Holding the clipboard close to his chest, he nodded. "Of course I do. Mr. Bryce is your father, right?""Mr. Bryce?" Ashley questioned, looking more confused than a few seconds ago.At this point, Doctor Bailey wasn't sure if he should continue speaking. But nonetheless, he chuckled uncertainly. "Yes, Gabriel Bryce. That's your father, isn't he?" Immediately he asked that question, the doctor slapped his forehead. "Ah, how stupid of me. Who am I to ask a kid for such answers when the test proved that he is the biological father." He spoke to himself, ho
The first two words that registered in Leonica's brain was 'Conceive' and 'Baby' and best believe it, her brain hung, trying to reboot itself but always failing as the confusion she was experiencing acted like a bug.Unbeknownst to Doctor Bailey, he continued on, tone urgent. "Medically speaking, I advice that the child be conceived as soon as possible, because as it stands, he or she needs to be at least five years of age before they can undergo any form of surgery. And looking at Ashley's medical charts, he only has that long, no more, no less.""That...you have to be kidding me, right?" Leonica questioned, shifting in her seat as she felt prejudice against the doctors words.Much to her dismay, Doctor Bailey shook his head. "As a matter of fact, I'm dead serious. Ashley's life depends on that marrow transplant.""But...can't, can't they be another way? Must we...must it be him?" Gabriel's brows creased in a questioning and very much offended manner at the way she addressed him."Ye
Artificial insemination.Those words were like a grinding sound to Gabriel's ears."Artificial insemination?" He repeated, brows knitting together in a way that showed his disapproval.Well, not like Leonica cared. His opinion was the last thing she could care about and the first thing begin her son's wellbeing."Yes. Didn't think that far, now did you?" She tilted her head to the side, a satisfactory smile making it's way to her lips at Gabriel's puzzled Expression.Serves him right, Leonica wanted to say that much, but considering Gabriel's hot temper and the fact that they would get into yet another argument in front of Ashley's room, she reconsidered her options and for the sake of her son's sanity, remained silent.However, the words she had said was more than enough to blow the lid on Gabriel's anger. "Artificial insemination, what the F*ck Leonica? If you despise the idea of me so much, then why keep Ashley? Why did you keep my kid?""Is that even a question?" Pushing the hair
"Isn't this great, Gabriel?!" Angelina celebrated meekly. "This wouldn't have been possible if that night didn't happen. You called it a mistake but I call it a miracle, Gabriel. It's a miracle." She explained happily, ignorant to how Gabriel's face knitted together in confusion as he stared at the positive lines on the pregnancy test stick.Sure, under normal circumstances, this would have been a good news, great news even. But the circumstances right now, wasn't the best. Especially when Angelina explained that the child she was carrying, his child, was conceived by the night at Stellar's birthday party, they spent together. But he was d*mn sure that the person he slept with that night was Leonica!A hundred percent sure. His memory and all served him well. The bracelet he had found the following morning was even another piece of evidence. And he had no memory whatsoever about spending any sort of time with Angelina.Yet, here she was claiming to carry his child that had been concei