Leonica shifted in her stance, pushing her weight onto her non dominant leg and crossing her hand across her chest as she made up her mind.

She was going to tell him. To hell with whatever happens afterwards. All she cares about is knowing that she had gotten it off her chest, told him the truth and not lied to him. Not that it really mattered to her if she lies to him or nOL "He's my son...Our son." She confessed after a heartbeat, somewhat surprised when Gabriel didn't show any real emotion.

"Bill," He turned towards his assistant, watching as he became alert at the sound of his name. "Wait outside for a minute, would you?"

"O-of course." Bill stuttered, as usual, not used to Gabriel's less mean way of speaking. He wasn't exactly polite, but compared to the Gabriel Bryce of a few weeks back, a month at tops, this Gabriel was far way more polite, more Tolerable. But Bill really didn't have the time to think all that over. Bowing at his employer's instruction, he exited the room, giving them the privacy that had been demanded of him.

Once alone, Gabriel turned his gaze back on Leonica, but much like the angered or frustrated gaze she had expected, Gabriel had a calm xpression on his face and for the briefest second, she was reminded of how calm he used to be when Lila had first introduced them. So, we have a son?" Gabriel's question sounded more like a speech directed towards himself, rather than the female in front of him." How old is he?"

"Five." Leonica answered after swallowing her saliva.

She watched as he went silent after her worse, gaze casted towards the picture on the table while he played with the tips of his finger, something she knew he did each time he was trying to concentrate on one too many things. After a while, he asked the question on his mind. "How how long were we married?"

And Leonica was not expecting that. Heck! She hadn't expected all that had happened here today, Gabriel tinding the picture, his almost lifeless reaction, like he had long knew and accepted the fact before she sprung in and dropped the bomb, and lastly, this damn question

And all of his behavior today, in such a short time span, made Leonica wonder, who really was the man in front of her. He was different to be her Gabriel.

star too

No, he wasn't far too different from her Gabriel. He was her Gabriel, the Gabriel she had tallen for close to a decade ago, not the monster he had become during their marriage. Perhaps she had gotten too used to that him, the Gabriel she hated, that she couldn't even recognize the man whom she had actually fallen for

er has

Perhaps that's it, Leonica thought as she moved and settled in the chair across from Gabriel, surprising him as she placed her down and arranged her hands on her laps.

"Two years, you and I were married for two years." She honestly answered his question, waiting for the ones that were to come.

Two years? Gabriel pondered. If they were married for two years, how come Ashley was Five?

"We got married seven years ago, divorced five years ago." Leonica confidently answered his question as if she was able to read it off

his face

Ah, that made more sense, Gabriel thought.

Another few seconds passed before he asked. "And why did we get a divorce?"

Now that, Leonica couldn't answer confidently.

Because you were an asshole. Because she fell in love with a witch and neglected your family, or perhaps you were just too stupid

She wanted to say all those words, but kept her mouth shut and instead, stared blankly at him.

Gabriel more than got the memo. It was his fault.

Nodding his head, he moved onto the next question, not bothering to press for answers on the previous one.

"Do we live together? You me and... Ashley?" He asked.

When Leonica shook her head, get felt a weird sense of disappointment wash over him. "No, we don't. Ashley stays at mine, sometimes at my parents." She informed. When she said nothing about the child staying with him, Gabriel narrowed his eyes. "Your place wasn't the best. Fancy and all, but not suitable for a growing child." She said and gave a nonchalant shrug to cover up the shivers that had washed over her body at the thought of the numerous chances Angelina would have had to hurt Ashley had he actually stayed at Gabriel's place.

Gabriel wondered how his place wasn't suitable for Ashley, Was it because the child would be living far away from his mother?

Despite the thoughts in his mind, disapproving of the fact that Ashley didn't for once stay with him, a sense of fatherly instinct causing a sudden spike of anger towards rise in his chest, Gabriel calmly asked. "Where is he, now?"

Leonica was quiet for a few seconds before she gave the best answer her mind could conjure. "He's safe." She has unlanowingly smiles when answering aa thoughts of Gabriel's sacrifice flashed in her mind. However, the smile disappeared as soon as it had come, but as fleeting and short lived as the smile had been, it had caused weird heart palpitations in his chest the moment Gabriel spotted it.

Seconds later, he was left with a new feeling of emptiness in his chest after her smile disappeared.

He managed to push the weird feeling aside and asked. "Can I see him?"

Now she felt a small sense of guilt having to watch a father ask to see his own son. However, in this case, there was nothing she could do. It was either she bend to Gabriel's whims and see Ashley get hurt or she kept him away from Gabriel, hopefully he couldn't feel pain towards someone he couldn't even recall.

...No."

*Her answer has Gabriel furrowing his brow and demanding for an answer seconds later. "Because you'll only end up hurting him. Ashley's a very sensitive child, he takes the simplest of things to heart, now imagine how he'd feel if his own father doesn't even remember him?" Came her answer as she glanced at her watch and proceeded to stand up. "As much as I hate to admit it; that boy loves you far too much, something like that would only break his heart. And I'm not ready to see my son cry over someone who isn't worth it." Gabriel's eyes darkened at her words. "I'd watch my mouth if I were you. He warned.

"Or what?" Leonica challenged, taking a step towards him. "Huh?"

It seems like when she had advanced towards Gabriel, she hasn't phantom that he'd instantly stand up from the chair he had been seating in.

"If I were you, I'd watch my mouth, Leonica." He warned again, taking each word slower than the previous and dragging their syllables

Now, perhaps it had been because of the way he spoke, or the way he called out her name, or maybe both, but Leonica telt her confidence steamer downs a bit, along with waves of shivers that made her very much aware of the fact that they were now standing really close in each other.

Instinctively, she took a step back Gabriel followed her, taking one of his own forward and staring down at her. "Now, give me a damn good reason why I shouldn't see my son, or best believe me when I say I will find him..." He allowed the rest of his words trail off and Leonica hoped that they weren't what she thought he was going to say.

"So don't test my patience, Leo and tell me where I can find my son." He cooed.

The shivering has increased now, but Leonica was more than certain it wasn't fear. She had known Gabriel long enough to know when his words were actually threats. He was using a trick she had been so very accustomed to, a trick she had used multiple times in her own life, and one she could easily spot in someone else.

Her lips formed a straight line and she tilted her head up to meet Gabriel face.

With a smile, she spoke.

"I preferred you so much better when you were an asshole." She whispered and stepped back, allowing their closeness to end and her smile to disappear, a frown in its place as she finally got tired of playing the game of cat and mouse, before it even began. "I love my son, enough to make sure nothing makes him sad. I'll have a talk with Ashley after school, explain the situation to him as best as I can, the rest is up to his reaction. If he's ready, fine. If not, you're not seeing him." Gabriel's eyes were on her the entire time she had spoken. His jaw was clenching and unclenching, the same way it did every time he was angered, something that she had become familiar with.

"I have a meeting to attend to, so I'd be taking my leave if that's all." She said and turned around, about to leave when the feeling of the keychain in her pocket stopped her. She reached into her pocket and pulled it out. She stared at it for a moment, and then, turned around, catching Gabriel's attention, who had been staring at her as she moved. "You might want to take this. Ashley got it for you." She held it out for him.

Gabriel took a glance at the object and felt his lips pull into a smile. "He did?"

Leonica nodded and grabbed his hand, putting it in.

"I'll let him know you like it." She said as she stepped back, Then, without another word, she turned and headed for the door.

Act Fast Free Borus me is Running Out!

Clalm

Owen's Predicament.

The moment Leonica had left, Bill stuck his head through the door, testing the water whether or not it was okay for him to step in

"Sir?" He called out, snapping Gabriel out of whatever he had been thinking about at that moment. "May I step in?"

Gabriel waved his hand at his assistant's question, indicating that he could do whatever he pleased. Tentatively, he stepped in while Gabriel returned back to the chair he had been seating in, grabbing the photo he has found in the process.

his mind replaying Leonica's words, something that had somewhat become

wondered, had he really been that much

he the reason their marriage ended? The reason why Ashley was forced to live with

how much the child must suffer from having a broken family, result of his own action, weighted heavily on Gabriel's chest. But not heavier than the fact that he couldn't remember a thing. His memories and actions,

forced to learn

the picture "Mr. Bryce, is everything alright? Do I need to call the

assistant's concern, but in that moment, he recalled something. "That wouldn't be necessary," He said. "But if you do see him,

He said and hurried out of the room, leaving Gabriel

raised the key chain Leonica

favorite flower which had been carved into a

his lips when remembering that

with

watching as the sun descended on the

one thought flashed in his mind; he wanted his memories back. Both the bad one and the good ones, he

for certain, Gabriel didn't intend on stopping until his memories were fully back, even

he saw nothing

to time, seemed like a nice person. He had

made or how many people he has

time they meet, he'd know the full truth and would be able to apologize properly, for whatever it is he seemed to have done to

can be on his way to fixing things, regaining his memories and having the right to see

a sudden surge of determination rush through him. He didn't

And then, he'll know

Everything

sat in the parking lot of the supposed restaurant she was meant to meet Owen and his manager, but had arrived way earlier than

at him one third of the way here, the rest she had spent

up with a solution. Which was reasonable as it wasn't everyday one would expect to have to explain to her child that

against the chair

about everything was making ber

then again, thinking and complaining over the matter wasn't going to help her

the

tapped on the call log and looked for the contact

phone, nothing fancy, just something she could use and keep

minutes to spare before the meeting and Owen's company car didn't seem to be anywhere in the vicinity, so Leonica dialed the number and

Ashley's voice filled the

He happily greeted, and even though Leonica couldn't see his face, she was certain her little

back. "How was school

and she could hear the sound of him moving, followed by a few muffled words before he spoke again." I'm waiting at the play

cancelling again?" He guessed and his

10

After today,

what you said the last time." Ashley argued and she could almost see the pout forming

hit close to

sighing "We've talked about this. Your dad is in no condition to take care of you

want to see him." He argued. "I'm not asking to stay with him. Just a visit, that's all.

"I know, but..."

""Please mom?" He pleaded.

decision about whether or not he'd get to see his father, but she

and talk things over with him, in the simplest and

chat after I pick you up. We can go somewhere nice, like the park

two of

...Fine." He hesitantly answered.

praised. Up head, her eyes caught

It wasn't long be

Alistair, stepped out and rushed to

later, so until then, don't be too hard on your Aunty. And no playing with strangers "Olcay mom." He

She called again, and be

too, mommy" He replied and Leonica felt

the phone into her purse and exited the car, locking the door as she

greeted, catching both male's attention, who stopped and waited until she had

Owen was the first to greet her back, with a

his hand, all the while scolding Owen about how he cared so little

an idol.

of scandals would break out if someone were to take a picture of you two

scandal?" Owen asked, almost too innocently for

mumbling underneath his breath. "I'm already dealing with one problem. because of your recklessness,

something, manager?"

at all, Ms. Romero, shall we head in?" Alistair

to her as

are you doing,

small physical contact, but keeping their hands

by her answer.

fine. Just a bit stressed." She answered again, offering

about

head. "Not now, perhaps another

alright. If you're sure." Owen said, and gave her hand

could act so carefree like they hadn't ended things on

awkward around her because they had know each other

mind, she decided not to dwell on the matter and instead, allowed herself to ease into the comfortable feeling that the male was bringing They didn't talk much, just a few comments here and there about the decor

this meeting be set up is

beside her. He had a nonchalant smile on his face, which only grew

"Which is?" Leonica asked.

his throat. "Owen was spotted a few days ago, in a café with you. And as usual, it didn't take the media long to make a scandal out of the whole thing. However, the company took care of it all before it had become something global, but that didn't restrict a few

"Oh,

gaze downwards. She hadn't been aware of

up, trying to reassure her as he gently places

nothing." Alistair argued, "Your career, the one you've built for so many years, the one I've spent the last three years building

and withdrew his hand. "Don't tell me

now," He paused and turned towards Leonica. "No offense Ms. Homero "When she slowly nodded her head, he

Owens Medicament

Owen ordered, and for once, his tone sounded

a bit at the

"I'm only worried for you, and now I've got the board breathing down my neck. All because you couldn't curtail your feelings right. Do you really have no respect for the job you do?" "Okay, hold on," Leonica finally spoke up, raising her hand to gain the attention she needed. "This is looking more like an argument than a meeting to me," She pointed out. "If this is what is going to be

Alistair agreed and took a deep breath. "I apologize

his apology and settled her hands on the table. "Now, can you explain what this meeting is

said, letting a moment pass, in which he glanced

Higher ups at SG entertainment have demanded that Owen set things right and off all contact with you,

terminated instantly."

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

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