Hospital Emergency.

Leonica remembered that day like it was yesterday.

It was spring in Denver, Colorado, a month or so after Ashley had been born and she discharged early. She stood in front of the kitchen island, staring down at the cup of juice lased with insecticide and trying to think of a damn good reason why she shouldn't pick it up and chug the whole fucking thing

downL

Motherhood was a pain and as a child Ashley had not hesitated to express his anger towards her for taking him away from his father. He cried at every given time, even when Leonica tried to sooth him lovingly, the child just didn't want to hear it.

And then her parents, as loving as they were, her mother especially, they had their own bad traits, one of which was when they constantly reminded her that they had warned against her one side unrequited love. At first she had shut up and taken their words, because why not, they were her parents,

they had fucking warned her the very moment she walked to them in on them ten years ago and confessed her feelings for Gabriel to them. But she hadn't listened and now she understood she was paying the price for that. But at some point, she couldn't help but just have snapped at her parents.

"You don't have to rub it in. I was an idiot and I'm paying the price, don't you think what I've suffered is enough already!" She had said charing their last heated argument right before she ended the call and approximately a week later, she went into labor. Her parents had made it for her delivery and in that moment, seeing their faces Made Leonica wonder, was she that much of a horrible person? Was that why Gabriel never loved her? Those thoughts made reality hit all the more. So, then and there, clearly under the influence of postpartum depression, she tried to think of reasons or at least one reason not to chug down the juice.

That's when it came, a voice message from the one person she hadn't talked to in a yea

1-Leonica, hey, it's me, Leonardo. I just wanted to check up on you because mom and dad said you had given birth. I'm so proud of you and really can't wait to meet my nephew. I'll be done with my research in a month? A month, let's try and meet then. Until then, keep safe and give my nephew lots of sweet kisses for me. And oh, don't hesitate to call me if you need something I love you Leo, Bye-]

By the time the voice message had ended, Leonica was crying. The tears had streamed down her face so suddenly that it caught even her off guard. But she didn't try to deny or bury her feeling any longer. For the first time in a year since she moved to Colorado, she cried and let her feelings out.

Her actions were stupid, naive and inconsiderate and they always ended up hurting more people than intended to help. And here she was again, but to do the same selfish thing all over again. All because she didn't want to open up and share her pain and give her emotions the right to be let out, even when she had one of the best people in the world, constantly on her side.

A few more minutes were given to let her emotions our and by the time Leonica felt like she could no longer cry, she felt much better. Who knew crying could help so much, she thought as she walked towards the sink and emptied the glass of juice, watching as the weird colored liquid drained down into

the sink

She was not going to do something stupid, not because of heartbreak, little family issues or selfishness. She was going to stay and she was going to face it all, because she had someone she could depend on

In the background, Ashley's cries rang out, most definitely woken from his slumber by the sound of her sobbing minutes ago. As she sighed out and walked in the direction of his room, Leonica could recall her last thought.

Romance is shitty and kids are baby demons, but even at that, she loved Ashley dearly and was going to do everything in her power to make sure he grew up better than she did.

The sound of the elevator door dinging open snapped Leonies out of her trip down memory lane. She blinlood and watched the lift doors slid apart before she stepped out and walked down the halls leading to her office, Kennedy beside her.

Her mind had just about cleared up halfway from Gabriel's confession yesterday, but her heart was a different case. That darn accursed heart of hers. She really wished she could rip it out and toss it aside, but well, everyone know that wasn't possible She liked Gabriel, but not to the point of death.

If it came to death or forgiving Gabriel, regretfully, Leonica would pick the latter.

Chuckding at the thought, she opened her office door and instantly came to a halt. Kennedy who was focused on his tablet, building schedule for the day nearly bumped into her, fortunately he had looked up and stopped a foot from her body.

"Ms. Romero? Is everything alright?" He asked. When she didn't respond, he perred over her shoulder to look into her office space. "Oh," He mused, now understanding the cause for her action.

There were three huge baskets of flowers placed in her office, chocolates, wines, huge human size teddy bear and jewelry boxes to accompany e

each of the flower baskets, Andeach one was sent from a different person

Leonica knew this because of the different names written on the gift cards after she examined the flowers.

The first basket that she approached belonged to Gabriel. Seeing his name alone had Leonica's heart speeding up but also weirdly aching. She casted her feelings aside and went through the gift he had sent. A basket of pink Daffodils, A bottle of French 75, and a box of jacques Torres. All her favorite things if she must admit. Next to his basket was Arvan's. A bouquet of Irises, lavender jewelry set matching her eyes and a signed copy of the romance novel they had once discussed about together. The book caught Leonica's eyes out of everything

She picked it up, flipped through it and chuckled at the fact that he still recalled a discussion that had taken place when he had been hospitalized. If he His was his way of courting then, simple gifts with big messages, then he'd be happy to hear that it was a brilliant idea. The next and last basket after that was Owen's basket. It was huge, simple and lavish. A basket of Purple Daltodils, Bew romantic scented candles and a

huge freaking white teddy bear that was the size of a freaking human!

Shocker, who gave him that idea.

"You never told me you wanted to turn your office into a flower shop, Ms. Romern." Kennedy finally commented on the situation.

"That's because I don't..." She shook her head and sighed, "Why do I bother? Help me get these off my table."

Chucking quietly, Kennedy did as he was told. Once the flowers along with the gifts and huge ass Teddy bear was arranged carefully in a corner, he turned back to his employer. "You really got popular Ms. Romero." "With everything happening lately, I'm not surprised." Leonica said as she turned her system on, intending to start work, but Kennedy remained where he was glancing from the gifts to her. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I just couldn't help but wonder who the lucky winner would be, or rather, whose gift you're going to accept. Tell me Ms. Romero, I promise It's only going to remain between you and use."

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