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

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.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

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.

Taking the opportunity, she turned around and walked off, leaving him in her dust.

"Where are you going?!" Gabriel called after her.

"That's none of your business!" Leonica snapped over her shoulder and disappeared into the crowd, not bothering to glance back.

As soon as she was far away from Gabriel, Anastasia suddenly ambushed her, grabbing her by the arm as her eye shone with mischief.

"Leonica," She began, surprising the said woman. "You won't believe me if I tell you that I've just found you, the best partner for the night." She teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

Leonica's brows creased. "What?"

Anastasia wagged her index finger in her front while her other free hand was busy dragging her towards the dance floor where people were getting in place for the music that was about to begin. ""Not what, who."

"You know that I'm not interested in anything like that right now, Annie. So stop it." Leonica

tried to reason.

"And you know very well that I'm not gonna let you escape that easily."

"But, I-"

"Nuh-huh, no excuses." Anastasia stopped her and pulled her towards the center.

Leonica opened her mouth to protest once more, however, a certain someone's presence caught her eyes and her words died down, mind swirling in confusion.

Christian? Why was he here?

Anastasia who noticed her gaze, announced. "Ah I see you've spotted your dance partner."

Leonica's eyes creased, her mind finally processing the words her friend had said.

"Dance partner?" She questioned, turning her eyes back to her. "You mean he's my...no way.

"Yes way." Anastasia gave her a small shove in Christian's way, causing her to stumble ever so slightly, luckily, Christian caught her, his hands wrapping around her waist. "Are you alright?" He asked, his voice gentle.

"Yes," Leonica quickly stepped out of his grasp. "I'm fine, thank you."

She turned back to glance at Anastasia who gave them both a wave, pointing towards the speakers which were now subtly playing a slow music, before rushing off.

Leonica couldn't 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 'dance partner'.

"Shall we begin?" Christian offered, a hand out for her to take.

Leonica glanced at his outstretched hand, and then around her to see all the eyes which were on them, wait for her to take his hand and for their dance to ensue.

Sighing, she gently placed her palm in his and whispered. "Sure."

At 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 each other at the hospital and now, here they were, supposed dance partners.

'How awkward. She thought, trying to avoid his eyes but in the process, she missed a beat of the music and nearly messes up the entire dance.

Fortunately, Christian saved her in the nick of time, pulling her close.

"Relax," He whispered, his face a few inches away from her's. "There's no need to be nervous, is there?"

"I'm not nervous dancing."

"That's a

Leonica denied, getting back into the song's rhythm. "I'm just not good at

Christian pointed out, flashing her a smile that said he didn't believe her. "I've seen you dance a couple of times, you could out dance Shakira if you put your mind to it." Leonica intended to scoff, however, the sound that came out of her mouth was more of a

chuckle.

"You're exaggerating." She retorted with a small smile on her lips.

""Am not."

"Are too."

Christian shook his head and rolled his eyes in a playful manner. "Fine, have it your way. I'm not gonna push the issue anymore."

1. QUINE OEM, CHI

"Let's do just that."

The two continued their dance, falling back into a silence once again, except this time, it was more comfortable, as the tension from the previous moments had eased off.

While both of them danced, they were unaware of the pair of dull grey eyes that had been watching them for the past couple of minutes, and right now, said pair of eyes were narrowed in annoyance, as his fist was clenched tightly.

Gabriel had returned to the dance floor to find Leonica, only to see her beginning a dance with Christian. What's worse, their interaction seemed far too comfortable with one another.

Not even Christian's bed partners could interact freely with him like that, heck, they didn't even have the right to approach him in public, talk less dance with him during a formal event...

But Leonica had broken that barrier.

'Just what the fuck were those two doing together?' He wondered, a vein threatening to pop on his forehead as he saw Christian spin Leonica and pull her back to him, ending things with a dip as the music ended.

As the people who hadn't taken to the dance floor, the spectators, clapped their hands, Gabriel moved from his spot, approaching Leonica and Christian who had just finished with their

formal bows.

"Thank you for the dance," Christian said, placing a light kiss on the back of Leonica's hand.

"No problem." She replied, a smile on her lips, and that's when Gabriel's patience snapped.

Grabbing Leonica's hand, pulling it out if Christian's hold.

It startled them both.

When had he gotten here?

Christian thought, eyes glancing between His best friend and Leonica.

"What is the meaning of this?" The latter hissed, yanking her hand out of Gabriel's grasp at

once.

"You danced with him, so I can at least dance with you, can't I?" He retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm and his brows raised in a challenging manner.

"I'd much rather eat dead worms than have you touch me." Leonica snarled, turning to walk

away.

Gabriel, however, wasn't ready to give up just yet. He reached out and grabbed her arm. "We're not done talking." He growled.

Leonica was taken aback by the aggression in his tone, her lavender eyes widened, but her expression soon turned into one of annoyance.

What right did he have to act this way? Requesting for a dance? How laughable.

"Gabriel, take your hands off me." She demanded, her tone icy.

"Not until you talk to me."

"I've no reason to talk to you.

"Damn right you don't!" He snapped, his hold on her arm tightening and causing her to wince.

"Gabriel, I think that's enough. You're going to hurt her." Christian spoke up, trying to defuse the situation, however, this only earned him a deadly glare from Gabriel. Adding more fuel to the situation.

"Why don't you just get the hell out of here. This doesn't concern you." He spat.

Leonica who felt it was unfair for Gabriel to speak to Christian that way when he was only trying to help her, spoke up. "Hey, watch the way you speak to him."

Gabriel chuckled at her words, finding it both pissing off and funny, how they were defending each other like teenage lovers.

Guess they were closer than he thought.

"Oh, is that how it is? I didn't realize you two had gotten close enough to have the right to defend each other."

"What?"

Leonica and Christian chorused in confusion, eyes narrowing in even more suspicion when Gabriel stepped back, a side smile on his lips as he turned to fix his gaze on Christian.

His next words, however, was nothing Leonica had expected.

"You seem to really be enjoying her company. Too bad, Christian, she's not one of your toys, but the mother of my child, so leave her alone."