After Divorce Billionaire Ex Found Me Pregnant (Leonica and Gabriel)
Chapter 11

Signing, Anastasia was about to easily give into Leonica's face when her attention was diverted by a small figure barreling down in her direction.

"Aunty Annie look!" Ashely exclaimed happily as he stopped in front of Anastasia and held up the golden crispy croissant he had gotten from the pastry section. "The cook said I could have this."

Anastasia's mood visibly brightened at the sight of the younger boy. Reaching down, she patted his head.

"That's nice." She said, a warm smile on her lips. "You should thank him for it. Did you do that?" She asked. Ashely shook his head.

"Well then, why don't you go thank the cook, huh?"

Ashely nodded his head, his blonde locks bouncing. "Okay!" He chirped and was about to head off when he remembered something and quickly turned around. "Oh mommy, can I also get a glass of orange juice?"

"Sure sweetheart," Leonica replied, reaching into her bag for her purse and later handing him

a five dollar bill.

"Thanks mommy," Ashely thanked, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he headed for the pastry section once again, leaving Anastasia and Leonica alone.

o to the

Anastasia watched as the child ran pastry section, conversing with the cook. A few seconds of silence had gone by before she peeled her gaze away from Ashely's figure and looked at Leonica, who upon sensing her stare, looked her way with a smile.

The former pressed her lips into a thin line. She had so much question to ask her best friend. after seeing her after five years, and one question in particular was nagging at her to be asked.

Gabriel was the father of Ashely, wasn't he?

Although it was a given, seeing as the child took more of his features than Leonica's. It was like he was a mini molded version of Gabriel, save for the blonde locks.

Leonica's hair had always been blonde during her childhood, it was no wonder Ashely would

inherit the color.

And the eyes...they were grey and sharp just like Gabriel's, there was no doubt about that. However, even if all the clues were pointing in that direction, Anastasia couldn't bring herself to directly ask Leonica that question.

She didn't want to risk reopening her friend's wounds for something as trivial as curiosity.

Sighing, she settled on a different question. "Just for clarity sake, that Child doesn't have a godmother yet, does he?"

"He doesn't." Leonica answered.

Anastasia smiled. "Then does that mean I get to be his godmother?" She asked, however before Leonica could respond, she added. "Before you even think of saying no, don't forget the promise we made in college." "And what is that?" Leonica asked, her head tilted and feigning confusion.

Anastasia's expression darkened.

"That if any of us were to have a child, the other person would become the godmother or godfather."

Leonica paused, pretending to try and recall the memory.

"That sounds so familiar," she said and Anastasia rolled her eyes.

"Leonica, you best remember, else..." She warned.

"Alright, alright. You can be his godmother." Leonica laughed, holding her hand up in defeat.

"Good." Anastasia grinned in triumph, soon joining the laugh with Leonica.

After their laughter died down, Anastasia's face grew serious as a memory flashed in her mind and she clicked her tongue in distaste.

Even during their college days, Leonica had been part of Gabriel's fan girls, loving him longer than most of the girls that were currently vying for his attention.

Yet he dare treat her uselessly.

"Unbelievable," She tsked, shaking her head. "How truly ungrateful is Gabriel Bryce."

Leonica immediately, or rather instinctively clenched her jaws and fist upon hearing the name of said man she had a bad past with.

Anastasia who was unaware of her friends reaction, continued on. "Is he blind or is he simply stupid. How can he choose that scheming witch over you who unconditionally loves him and even saved his life..." "Anastasia," Leonica cut her friend off before she could speak much further. The look in her eyes wordlessly told the Noirette not to speak anymore on the tople

"That's enough. Leave the past in the past."

"Right," Anastasia sighed looking else where as she realized how much her blabbering might have upset Leonica. "I'm sorry."

Leonica nodded, accepting her apology and they both fell silent.

After a minute, Anastasia, thinking it would be best to change the topic, opened her mouth to ask about Ashley's new school preparation, when the beeping sound of her phone interrupted. her.

Reaching into her hand bag, Anastasia pulled her phone out and unlocked it. Her brows furrowed when she read the message notification on her screen.

"Is something the matter?" Leonica asked, her tone gentle and filled with concern.

"Hmmm." Anastasia hummed in reply, her eyes still glued to the screen as she scrolled. through the link attached to the notification she had received, more accurately, the notification that had been recommended to her. "Annie?" Leonica called out again, noticing her friend's unusual silence. "What's wrong?"

Against her better judgement, Anastasia places her phone on the table and gently slid it towards Leonica who picked it up and calmly read the headline of the article her friend had been staring at. 'Gabriel Bryce and Angelina Fernandez's engagement announcement."

The headline read in bold letters.

Leonica felt a familiar butter feeling pool in the pit of her stomach and she clenched her jaws.

Watching her friend stare at her phone with a somewhat strained expression, Anastasia's anger towards Gabriel rose.

How dare he?

How could he move on with his life like that and act as if Leonica was never even present in his

life.

It was a slap to the face.

Leonica had left because of him, and yet here he was, living the perfect life with the very same woman who had schemed and ruined their marriage.

And he even had the audacity to openly post about their engagement!

Anastasia balled her fist. If Gabriel and his mistress plan was to hurt Leonica any more than they already have, she wasn't going to allow it.

She was going to show them that just like them, Leonica could also move on with her life, and even without Gabriel.

She was going to help her friend replace someone who was better for her than Gabriel and they would show the world.

But first, she needed to pick a dress for Leonica that would stun the world the moment she steps foot in the venue of Norway's biggest social event.

The annual business banquet.

Unexpected Encounter.

The next day at Bryce Empire, all the major employees of the Media team had been gathered in

Gabriel's office.

The man himself was in front of the small crowd, leaning against his table. With a darken atmosphere behind him, it made all the employees present cower all the more. What had they done wrong this time around?!

only ask this once, who amongst you is responsible for the engagement post released by the media department?" Gabriel asked and soon, all heads turned to face an impish looking brunette.

The male flinched under all the eyes and slowly raised his hand, announcing. "It...it was me S- sir."

Gabriel's brows twitched at the answer.

This man, what was his name?

Ah, yes, Kelvin.

He was the manager of the media department, but more importantly, the one responsible for the engagement announcement that had caused him so much trouble. Gabriel sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

What had made him think that hiring Kelvin was a good idea?

"So," he began, taking a deep breath and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Tell me, who gave you the orders to make that announcement?"

Kelvin hesitated, his Adam's apple bobbing. "It...it was madam Fernandez." He admitted.

As if on cue, the small crowd parted to reveal the said brunette who had leisurely been seating on the couch, not expecting her entire plan to blow up so easily in her face. "Angelina," Gabriel called, his voice firm and commanding.

Said female bit on the inside of her cheeks, cursing her choice of having picked the media team manager that had no backbone.

She should have picked some other person who could handle the pressure.

"Angelina." Gabriel repeated, his voice slightly louder, causing Angelina to snap out of her thoughts and rise to her feet, smiling innocently "Is this true?"

"Gabe, I can explain," Angelina began, taking a step towards him.

Seeing the look of displeasure on Gabriel face, Angelina knew that she quickly had to fix the

Manager's blunder, else it would be detrimental to the way Gabriel viewed her.

"Gabe I'm sorry." She quickly apologized, tears replaceing their way to her eyes and soon running down her cheeks.

The feeling of displeasure Gabriel had been feeling began to disappear as he saw Angelina crying. Quickly he dismissed the employees in his office, who gladly scurried away. Angelina took another step

With them out of the way, forward, allowing her waterworks fall all the more.

"I'm sorry Gabe, it was a small mistake. I got too excited and got ahead of myself." She sobbed.

Gabriel didn't say anything, he merely stood silently and watched her cry, his expression unreadable.

He wanted to be angry at her and at least scold the brunette, however, he recalled the doctor's

words.

Ever since Angelina had fainted five years ago, her health had deteriorated and the doctor had advised she remain in food moods, takes things slow and avoids stress.

He had agreed, so why was he about to scold her?

Angelina took another step closer and started. "Gabe, you're not mad, are you-ah!"

Her words were cut off half way as she pretended to lose strength in her legs and collapsed into Gabriel's arms.

Gabriel, having seen the action coming a mile away, managed to catch her and help her regain balance.

"I'm fine, just a bit weak." She whispered, her face close to his chest, her breathing uneven.

"Do you need a glass of water?" Gabriel offered.

She quickly shook her head. "No, I'm fine. But Gabe, you know I'll never do anything that would hurt you right. I did what I did for our.. your benefit."

Gabriel's eyes narrowed, his hold on her loosening. "Mine?"

"Yes," she confirmed, pulling away from him and looking into his eyes. "For the past year, you've been complaining about how the company's board has constantly been on your neck regarding an heir," she explained. "Now, you have a fiancée, an heir would follow along and the board can stop pestering you."

Her explanation sounded valid.

Indeed, for the past year, the board has been pestering him about an heir.

And it wasn't as if he didn't want one.

In fact, the idea of having a family had always been appealing to him, but after his divorce with Leonica, he hadn't been in a good enough mood to consider a new relationship.

His love life and sex life were on a standby, so the idea of a serious relationship like his marriage with Leonica, hadn't really appealed to him.

Gabriel's straying thoughts were intruded as he felt Angelina's fingers travel across his chest.

"Gabe, can you please forgive me." She whispered, her finger trailing down his shirt.

"Please." She whispered, looking up into his grey eyes and batting her lashes in a seductive manner. "Or, would you like me to appease you...in another way?"

Her last words were husky, and the look in her eyes and her body language gave Gabriel an idea of the 'appeasement' she had in mind.

He immediately tensed, his hand reaching up to grasp her wandering ones and pulling them

away from him.

"Stop

"Stop Angelina," he said.

Angelina looked up at him, her eyes showing confusion.

"Your health still isn't at its best. You should take it easy." He reasoned.

"I'm fine," she reassured him, trying to move closer, but Gabriel's hold on her wrists kept her from getting close.

"Gabe." She called his name.

"Go home and rest," he commanded, his voice final and left no room for arguments.

He couldn't do it.

He just couldn't bring himself to touch her, not like this.

Sighing, he let go of her wrist and side stepped. "I have work to take care of, so you go home and rest, Angelina."

Angelina, not expecting his reaction, was caught off guard.

He didn't want her?

But, why?

Was she not beautiful enough for him?

Grinding her teeth at her once more failed plan, she watched his step out of the office, silently vowing in her heart.