After Divorce, Billionaire Ex Found Me Pregnant-Chapter 122 Gnawing Realizations.

The first thing Gabriel noticed as the door came open was Leonica’s brightly flushed cheeks, followed by her causal top that had one edge hanging off the side of her shoulder, exposing more skin that he was used to and finally.

But as tempting it was to stare without much words, or any words at all, Gabriel reminded himself why he had driven for half an hour and stormed his way up her porch, permanently fixing his eyes on her face.

"What are you doing here?" She sharply questioned, clearly still bitter about their encounter earlier. "Ah," She held up her finger, stopping him just as his lips parted. "And if you’re here to say ’we need to talk’ then unfortunately for you, you’ve not only wasted your time and effort, but also your petrol, because I am not in the mood to talk to you."

"If you weren’t in the mood to talk to me, then why didn’t you tell me about the aftermath of Ashley’s accident? IVF? Bone Marrow transplant? Nothing." He listed, drilling his gaze into hers when she clammed her eyes shut, for a moment, forgetting that she had not informed him of all that.

"I forgot." Her answer came so plain and simple that it seemed like she wasn’t going to tell him in the first place.

"You forgot?" Gabriel parroted. "To inform me, his father, about my son’s well-being? How?"

"Because it was clear to me that you wouldn’t care-"

“No, you don’t get to decide that for me.” Gabriel seethed, taking a step forward. “Don’t I have the right to know? I’m his father, and yet, I had to learn all that from a Doctor.”

Doctor Bailey, you snitch, Leonica thought.

“Alright, well now you know. Hope doctor Bailey filled you in on everything.” She said and grabbed the handle, intending to close the door.

Gabriel inserted his foot in the way before she could do so.

“We aren’t done.” Gabriel objected but Leonica insisted.

“We are Gabriel, now leave.” She demanded.

“Not until we talk about this.” He responded.

“Talk about what?!” Leonica snapped, catching him off guard. “Haven’t for once, thought that I kept it from you on purpose?”

“And why would you do that?”

“Because. I. Don’t. Want. You. Part. Of. My. Son’s. Life.” She uttered, loud and clear. “With all you’ve done, you really don’t deserve a spot in his life.”

Her words were meant to hurt, they really were, but for some reason, Gabriel found himself chuckling at them.

“You’re honestly still hung up on the past?”

Leonica’s eyes narrowed as soon as she heard those words. “What?”

“You’re not letting go, not even after all these years.” He repeated with confidence.

“Let go? My pain and trauma should be overlooked because of what? A better feature with the same person who inflicted those wounds?” Leonica asked and watched as he remained silent. But the expression on his face, filled with confidence in all he had just said, said all there was to say.

“Wow,” Leonica muttered, taking one step back as he gaze fell to the floor, yet another wave of realization washing over her.

Memory or no memory, Gabriel would forever be a dick!

Now Lila may have used the Trump card of, ‘he’s emotionally unavailable due to the neglect he received from his parents as a child’, but that was bullshit.

The her of five years ago would have bought it, but after patiently loving and caring for him for so long, she had come to realize that Gabriel was never going to change.

“Memory or no memory, you’re really a dick, Gabriel.” She muttered but Gabriel was close enough to hear.

“Not a surprise, seeing as people don’t change by a snap of your finger, nothing ever does.” He retorted.

Leonica chuckled. “You’re right and thanks to that, I’ve gotten yet another reason to stop being an idiot, and move on.” She smiled, not a real one, but more like an amused one. “Thank you for making me see the light, Gabriel, I’m truly grateful.”

“You’ll still get to see Ashley, weekly, or whenever your schedule allows it, but anything past that,” she shook her head. “No. Not this time around, Gabriel.” She said and began closing the door when he once again put his leg there.

“Wait. Wait.” He stopped her, and she looked at him, her gaze piercing and her patience running thin. The look in her eyes, coupled with her words was enough to snap Gabriel out of whatever anger frenzy he had doused himself In while driving to her place.

He swallowed thickly, suddenly feeling like he had realized his audacity, no, not feeling. He had realized his audacity. “Look, I know I am an asshole and I sometimes-“ Suddenly, he pauses midway in his speech as Owen’s voice interrupted him.

“Leonica, who is it?” The male walked out of the kitchen, a bowl of popcorn in his hand. His steps ceased the moment his eyes landed on the person in front of her.

Both males exchanged eye contact, Gabriel being the first to speak. “What’s he doing here?” The question was directed towards Leonica.

“It’s my house, I can have who ever I want over.” She responded, crossing her arms.

Feeling a surge of jealousy, Gabriel’s eyes travelled back to Owen once more. He bit the inside of his cheek before scoffing, loudly. “I should have known.”

Leonica frowned at his words. “What?”

Gabriel gestures towards Owen at her question. “I may be stupid, but not blind. The articles and supposed rumors, you’re fucking him, aren’t you?”

Leonica’s expression remained neutral at his accusations, but her body language said it all, she was disappointed in him. A new height of disappointment.

And seeing that look was once again enough to snap him out of his jealousy induced state.

“Leonica-“

“Get out.” Her voice was low, calm, but her eyes were saying a different story.

Gabriel didn’t respond immediately, and that only irritated her even more.

“Out, before I call the police.” She said and reached for the door handle.

Gabriel however, wasn’t ready to go, not without settling things.

“Leonica, listen to me would you?”

“Gabriel Bryce, I said get the hell out of my house before I call the police!” She snapped, her gaze cold and her voice hard.

Gabriel opened his mouth, about to speak, when Owen appeared beside Leonica.

“I think it’s best if you leave.” He said.

Gabriel’s jaw clenched, and he stared at the younger male for a few seconds, seriously contemplating his next move.

He wanted to argue it out with Owen, but little movement from behind them caught his attention and without second thoughts, he knew what he had to do.

“Fine,” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, his gaze going back and forth between the two. “I’ll leave. But Leonica, someday, you and I are going to seat by a table and this is going to be a long conversation.” He said and walked away.

Leonica closed the door, not caring about what he had just said, or rather, ignoring him.

“Are you okay?” Owen asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She nodded her head and sighed, looking back at him. “I’m fine.” From the corner of her eyes, she caught tiny movement followed by the small, almost inaudible sound of sobbing.

She and Owen shared one knowing glance before rushing towards the direction of the noise, a corner leading to the backyard, only to find Ashley seated on the floor, kneels pressed tightly to his chest while the palm of his hand tried to cover his ears.

“Ashley.” She rushed to her son, kneeling down in front of him. “Honey, what’s wrong?” She cupped his cheeks and lifted his face, her heart breaking at the sight of tears in his eyes.

“Mommy.” He sobbed, throwing himself into her embrace, wrapping his hands around her waist.

“Why are you crying, Ashley?”

The five year old sniffled. “You and daddy keep arguing.” He whispered, his voice low and cracking.

Leonica’s heart ached. “I’m sorry you had to see that, but I promise you, we were just having a discussion, not an argument.” She tried to explain, not wanting to tell him the whole truth.

“I didn’t know,” Ashley started. “That grown-ups discuss using such scary voices.” He explained.

Leonica pulled back, holding his shoulders and offering him a smile. “Well, not all grown-ups discuss using scary voices, and not all discussions have to end up that way.” She explained.

“They don’t?”

She nodded her head. “Mm hm.”

“So is everything going to be alright?”

Leonica’s gaze shifted for a few seconds, before her smile reappeared. “Of course, honey. Everything will be alright.”

“Promise?” Ashley held out his pinky.

Leonica stared at it for a few seconds, hesitation flashing in the bright lavender of her eyes before she hooked her finger with his and smiled. “Promise.”

*~*

Standing outside, not too far away from Leonica’s house, Gabriel watched the silhouette of Leonica and Owen and Ashley in her arms, through the window binds.

The scene made him feel jealous, and he wondered if this was how Leonica felt when she had seen him with Angelina.

But then, his mind drifted towards the topic of IVF and bone marrow transplant and the more he thought about it and Leonica’s bitter response, the more he realized how much of a terrible person he really was or had turned out to be.

She hated him that much and that alone angered him for reasons unknown.

Love, the voice at the back of his mind whispered, bringing his moment of rumination to a halt.

Love? He loved her?

That much would make sense considering he got jealous because of those stupid article and rumors and now, when seeing Owen in her house, taking a spot that should have belonged to him.

He should be there, comforting Ashley, and talking to her, but instead, Owen was doing all that.

“Fuck,” He cursed under his breath and walked away, not realizing how close the word ‘she hates me’ was gnawing at his insides, tormenting him.

He needed a drink.

Or maybe, an entire bottle.

~•~

Due to Gabriel’s interference, Movie night had ended sooner than planned for and each individual had retired to their beds, earlier than usual, but surely tired.

Waking up the next day, Leonica felt more clear headed and realized the first step she needed to take in other to sever ties with Gabriel.

After dropping Ashley in school, she headed straight for the company.

“Morning, Ms. Romero.” Kennedy greeted as she walked into her office. He took a sip from the coffee he had brewed and grimaced at how awful it tasted.

Had the coffee beans gone bad?

His thoughts were interrupted by Leonica’s words.

“Take this down to H.R and have it processes immediately.” She said, handing him a familiar file.

The stern tone in her voice had Kennedy curious about the files content, so after dropping off a cup of coffee for her, he peaked into it, surprised to see that she had already signed the termination contract for Bryce Empire that he had given her the last time.

“Finally decided on signing the contract, huh?” He muttered to himself and went on to H.R to have the process completed.

Leonica heard his words, but before she had the chance to respond, her intercom began ringing.

With a sigh, she picked it up, placing it close to her ear. “Romero speaking.” She greeted blandly.

“Ms. Romero, you have a visitor here waiting to see you.” The receptionist informed.

Visitor? Leonica thought, groaning at the thought of Gabriel dragging his ass to her workplace and finding herself surprisingly content at the thought of either Arvan or Owen, Owen more than Arvan, showing up.

But before she jumped into conclusion, she decided to ask. “Who is it?”

The line was silent for a few seconds before the receptionist spoke again. “She says her name is Irene Rosewood, Ma’am.”

Irene Rosewood, Leonica narrowed her eyes at the name. What was she doing here?