with the crowd.

Close to an hour had gone by when Leonica finally excused herself from the center of the crowd and headed for the restroom.

Quickly, she fixed her hair, make up and did a few prep talk to her reflection, reading herself to head back into the crowd of socialite m, before stepping out of the restroom. However, she hadn't taken more than a step out of the restroom when the build of a familiar figure suddenly blocked her way.

Leonica took a step back, as to avoid bumping into the figure. In the process, she allowed her lavender eyes wander up to the face of the person blocking her path,

The moment her eyes landed on the face in front of her, they widened along with her breath ceasing.

Even after five years, with his ashy black hair, dull grey eyes and pale complexion, Leonical could instantly recognize the man in front of her

Her ex husband, Gabriel Bryce.

She's The Mother Of My Child.

If one word could accurately describe the way Leonica was currently feeling, that would be,

Breathless.

Seeing Gabriel up so close after five years and not even having been mentally prepared, shook

her to some extent.

What was he doing here?

Forego the fact that this even was especially meant to business attendants, Anastasia had sang it like a lullaby in her ears about how he had quit attending social activities, and as a result, she had let her guard down and attended the annual banquet without a worry in the world concerning running into him.

Shit, she cursed in her head. How had she been so careless?

Taking another step back, she tried to put some much needed distance between them, while schooling her expression.

There was no need to have any sort of expression that would show that his presence was getting to her.

As a matter of fact, there was no need remaining within the same space as him.

She needed to leave.

With that passing thought in her mind, Leonica lowered her gaze, seemingly attempting to ignore his presence and walk away. However, she had not taking more than a few steps pass him when she felt a stern grip on her wrist, pulling her back. "Leonica-" Gabriel began, the sound of his voice calling her name after five years sent shivers through the white-ette body. However, she harshly interrupted him before things could go any further.

"Get your hands off me." She sent a glare in Gabriel's way.

Her words, contrary to what she had expected, caused Gabriel's grip to tighten around her wrist. "All these years...where the hell have you been?" He demanded.

'Ever so rude.' Leonica chuckled inwardly at his behavior before responding.

"That's none of your business." She stated, her tone cold and flat.

"None of my business? What the hell are you saying?" Gabriel growled. "You suddenly disappear off the face of the earth for five fucking years and now you're telling me I shouldn't bother asking you where you've been?" "Exactly. After all," She paused and abruptly yanked her wrist out of his grasp, surprising Gabriel. "I'm a stranger to you, correct? We are divorced, so what's there to care about the location of someone you don't even know?" Leonica's words struck Gabriel like a sharp knife and he felt a knot in his chest tighten, unbeknownst to him, his emotion was also displayed on his face.

Speechless.

Seeing the look on his visage, a feeling of satisfaction wash over Leonica.

turned around and walked off,

going?!" Gabriel called after

of your business!" Leonica snapped over her shoulder and

away from Gabriel, Anastasia suddenly ambushed her, grabbing her by the arm as her eye shone

you that I've just found you,

Leonica's brows creased. "What?"

free hand was busy dragging her towards the dance floor where people were getting

like that right now, Annie. So stop it."

tried to reason.

know very well that I'm not gonna let you escape

"But, I-"

excuses." Anastasia stopped her and pulled her towards

to protest once more, however, a certain someone's presence caught her eyes and her words died down, mind

was he

who noticed her gaze, announced. "Ah I see you've spotted

processing the words her

She questioned, turning her eyes back to her.

causing her to stumble ever so slightly, luckily, Christian caught her,

stepped out of

them both a wave, pointing towards the speakers which were now subtly playing a slow music, before rushing

understand why the sudden feeling of being pushed under a bus washed over her, however, she quickly shrugged it off and turned back to face her

we begin?" Christian offered, a hand

her to see all the eyes which were on them, wait for

placed her palm in his and whispered.

first, the dance was quiet, with no words spoken between the two of them, as Leonica's mind raced, thinking of what to say and how to act. She had after all, deliberately tried to ignore him when they ran into

his eyes but in the process, she missed a

in the

a few inches away from her's. "There's no need to be nervous, is

"I'm not nervous dancing."

"That's a

into the song's rhythm. "I'm just not good

out dance

chuckle.

with a small smile on her

""Am not."

"Are too."

rolled his eyes in a playful manner. "Fine, have

1. QUINE OEM, CHI

"Let's do just that."

dance, falling back into a silence once again, except this time, it was more comfortable, as the tension from the previous

of the pair of dull grey eyes that had been watching them for the past couple of

her beginning a dance with Christian. What's worse, their interaction seemed far too comfortable

even have the right to approach

Leonica had broken

doing together?' He wondered, a vein threatening to pop on his forehead as he

clapped their hands, Gabriel moved from his

formal bows.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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