After Divorce Billionaire Ex Found Me Pregnant (Leonica and Gabriel)

"Oh Leonica, you did wonderful!" Cassandra exclaimed the moment she laid her eyes on her daughter for the first time in two days. "You handled those reporters like a true Romero." "Thank you mother," Leonica soaked in her mother's praise, pulling her into a tight hug before facing her father. "Hi dad."

"Leonica," Benjamin walked up to his daughter, placing his hand on her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry for having put you through something like this."

Shaking her head, she offered him a smile. "Don't be dad. And besides, I choose to handle the press conference, it's the least I can do during this situation."

Hearing her words, Benjamin couldn't help but mirror his daughter's smile. "Thank you."

"What's family for. Shall we?" She pointed towards the door which led to a hallway leading to the main Hall where the party was being held.

As they walked, Leonica asked. "How's Irene fitting in?"

Cassandra scoffed. "That child is proving to be more of a pest than you'd think. Just the other day, she came back with a dozen shopping bags, and began ordering the maids around like she owned the place." Shaking her head, obviously not trying to hide her displeasure with Irene's existence, Cassandra added. "Why again are we letting her stay at OUR house? And why the need for this introduction party?"

"Mother," Leonica began, patting the woman on her shoulder as a sign to calm down. "You need to calm down. Besides, we discussed this, Irene needs this introduction party as a way to make her debut, thus helping us spread the news that the Romero family has finally welcomed their illegitimate child. It'll help clear any doubts the press may have had and furthermore, it'll help the Romero's gain some of the respect we've lost during this whole shenanigan."

"She's right." Benjamin agreed as they got closer to the entrance, spotting Melvin who had already been waiting for them. "This is the best way to handle this. Now, let's drop this matter. How's Owen and my grandson?"

"Owen's in Germany for movie shooting," Leonica answered as she waved at her brother. "And Ashley's doing fine."

"His health?"

"...Doctor Bailey said it had improved." She lied. Seeing her parents get worries over Ashley's health right now, with everything going on, is the last thing she wanted.

"That's good. But don't lower your guard. You and Owen should start making preparations for the wedding and another child as soon as possible." He said, but when Leonica remained silent, he glanced above his shoulder and added. "That is if you're over that ex husband of yours."

Leonica chuckled. "Things with Gabriel is in the past, father." She turned to Melvin who was walking beside her and asked. "Where's Leonardo."

"The Philippines," Came his answer. "He's there for a research."

"I see,"

The moment they stepped foot in the Hall, the people gathered turned their eyes towards the Romero's and began to murmur.

"Mr. Romero has finally arrived."

"Along with the First Lady, their son and daughter."

"Isn't that Leonica Romero, I heard she's the one who helped her family accept the illegitimate child."

"Ms. Romero has such an amiable personality."

"You're quite popular," Melvin whispered just before he parted from them, having his own set of guests to greet.

Leonica paid him no mind, surveying the interior of the room as she took a glass of white wine from a nearby server. Then she spotted Gabriel and it was clear he had spotted her.

"Benjamin!" The sound of Noah's voice, a long time business partner of her father's, had her looking away and watching as he approached them with a wide smile on his lips. "Ever so popular, even during times like these." He teased in Danish, his native language. "Hello Noah," Benjamin responded in Danish as he shook the man's hand and smiled. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Of course. I'd never miss a Romero party, especially one where something hot is happening," He turned his gaze to Leonica and Cassandra, the former giving him a court nod of acknowledgement. "Cassandra, looking as beautiful as always and Leonica, you've grown into a fine woman."

"Thank you," Cassandra offered him a gentle smile, equally responding in the man's native language.

"Of course, but," Noah scanned the empty space behind them. "I don't see the star of tonight, where is she?"

Cassandra's smile visibly dropped at the question, but Leonica stepped in before it could be noticed. "Irene," She scanned the crowd, finding the girl quickly. "Ah, she's over there."

With a smile on her lips, she tipped her glass in Irene's direction when their eyes seemed to meet.

"Ah, I can see the resemblance. A beauty she is. Call her over Benjamin."

The said man hesitated, glancing in his wife's direction, but a nod from her was all it took to have his lips moving.

"Irene!" He called out to the child, beckoning her over when she noticed his hand raised in the air.

With poised steps, Irene approached, a forced smile on her lips.

"Hello..." She paused not sure if she should call Benjamin father.

He caught onto this and briskly cut in. "This is Mr. Larsen, a business partner of mine. Say hello."

Irene turned to him. "Hello, I'm Irene Rosewood."

"Rosewood? Does she still go by that name?" Noah asked in Danish, confusing Irene.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

"We're taking things slow for now." Came Benjamin's reply, not bothering to translate for Irene who looked like a lost puppy as they conversed in the North Germanic language. "She seems lost, does she not speak Danish?" Noah finally caught on.

"Of course not," Leonica replied without hesitation. "My sister's education wasn't good, so she didn't get the chance to learn such things." This, Leonica said in English. Irene's eyes twitched, clearly offended by the older female's words, but she couldn't do anything, seeing as Benjamin had a look of shame on his face.

"Ah, I see. What a pity."

"Indeed, it is." Leonica agreed, flashing Noah a smile, which he returned. "But worry not, I'm here to teach my dearest sister the ropes, even if she was previously a commoner." "Well, isn't that a blessing." He commented, laughing heartily. But it was different for Irene who looked like she was burning from head to toe with embarrassment.

Snap, Leonica thought, it was just what she wanted. Because the moment Irene makes a mistake and messes up, her accomplice was sure to show some type of reaction. That was her goal behind her constant taunting words and actions.

"Then I assume I should speak in English until then."

"Please do."

"Then Benjamin, what is the plan

after, Irene was it?" The girl

managed anod. "After Irene is brought into the fully brought into the family? Word has it that she had been married to Senator Richardson before he became Senate and had set up a few businesses for her. Surely you have plans to push some clients to her side, yes?"

"That is still being discussed but of course, we'll do our best to assist her. She is, after all, my child."

Benjamin's reply had a smile gracing Irene's lips. He was going to aide her, she thought and glanced at Leonica, did she hear it? She wasn't so special after all!

That smile however, disappeared the moment she saw Leonica chuckle.

What? Who was she to laugh?!

"It was nice talking with you, Benjamin," He shook his business partners hand. "Cassandra lovely seeing you," Pecked the lady on her cheek. "Leonica, continue to impress me, I look forward to the day when you'll stun the world once again, and of course, Irene." Noah turned his attention towards the girb "I hope we can work together in the future. Now, please excuse me."

They bowed, wishing the man a good night before he disappeared into the crowd.

"I'll go greet some other guest." Benjamin announced.

"I'll join you." Cassandra offered.

"Leonica, I'll see you in a bit," He patted her shoulder and paused beside Irene. She looked up, expecting words just like Leonica's, but much to her dismay, he said, "Please, don't disgrace the Romero name." And walked off. Irene was frozen in place, her eyes glued on her father's retreating back, a hand clutching at her dress at the side while her heart thundered in her chest.

"You heard what Father said, Irene" Leonica spoke up, catching her attention. "I'll also take my leave now."

Leonica attempted to walk away but was stopped by Irene's grip on her hand. "This is all you fault, you know." "Excuse me?" Leonica raised brow, staring down at the hand holding hers and waiting for it to let go.

"All the ridicule and humiliation," She clarified. "And what did you mean by those words? My education is lacking because I was a commoner?"

"Exactly, did I stutter?" Leonica shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm which Irene found more irritating than the condescending smile she gave her. "How dare you!" She snapped, but just as quickly, Leonica had quieted her.

"Keep your voice down. Or don't you remember what father said."

Taking a quick look around, Irene notices that people were indeed staring, whispering underneath their breaths. All bad things, she could tell by the way their eyes compared her to Leonica. Fuck, it was so annoying how they all thought she was the bad one, all because she was an illegitimate child and Leonica, being the legitimate child, was automatically painted the saint.

She fucking hated it and wanted nothing more than to prove them wrong, strip Leonica of the reputation she had built on lies.

And with all these people watching, she kind of got the perfect idea on how to do that.

Leonica stared at Irene, watching as the wheels in her head spun, formulating a plan she had already anticipated.

So when the older female suddenly stepped forward, it was no surprise to Leonica, but she still acted surprised.

"A commoner you called me, but I'll have you know, our roles are only reversed because your whore of a mother decided to steal what rightfully belonged to my mother." She said in a low tone, smiling at the face Leonica made.

Now, even though Leonica had planned for something like this, she knew that if Irene couldn't get to her through petty means, she was going to get verbal, she still couldn't help the way her lips twitched upon hearing the title Irene addressed her mother with. "Yeah, think about it," Irene taunted.

"Mind your words, Irene." Leonica warned, sounding more grim than she had intended.

"Or what? You're going to show everyone that you're a bitch just like your mother? Go ahead." She looked Leonica in the eyes and boldly added. "I dare you."

She had almost been too sure that she'd get away with her words, or at least, Leonica would hit her and get tagged as the bad egg, but oh, had she not expected Leonica's next move.

From a table beside her, the youngest Romero grabbed a bottle of wine and without so much as a hint of hesitation, poured the entire thing above her head.

The red liquid drenched her, staining her white gown and causing her hair to stick to her skin.

The room went quiet, everyone was shocked, but none dared speak.

"I told you to watch your words, and

you chose to ignore me." Leonica calmly said, putting the bottle back and stepping forward to look her straight in the eyes. "Game or game, don't you dare open that

mouth of yours and insult my mother, else I'll make you regret the day you were born."