After Divorce Billionaire Ex Found Me Pregnant (Leonica and Gabriel) novel Chapter 202

A few hours before Irene's arrival.

Leonica, along with her parents, we're both gathered in Benjamin's study. After Cassandra's tantrum, the air surrounding them seemed thick, but Leonica didn't care about that, no, rather she couldn't bring herself to care about it at this moment.

"If you study all these articles well, you'd realize that they all have one thing in common," She explained, using the huge television set in her father's office as a viewing board. Her parents listened intently, eyes scrolling through the articles their daughter had briefing brought up, before continuing. "The fact that they are all crafted to sound like a prompting note. This, this and even that, all have an ending sounding like they expect father to do something."

"No Leonica, you're simply thinking too much into it." Benjamin shook his head with a sigh as he spoke. He should have known that the news would also affect Leonica this way.

Who wouldn't be affected.

"No, father," Leonica objected. "I know what I'm saying. Look here," She pulled up the only article that seemed different from the ones she had read last night.

The article had the same contents as the previous ones, explaining the situation that was happening, and as usual, not mentioning Irene's name, but there was one thing different about it; rather than the usual suggestive ways, it ended with these few words.

'Could this be it for The Romero Family and how would Leonica of the Romero family, famous for handling matters in brutal ways, respond to this?'

"This is different. The person who wrote this didn't add any suggestive ending to it. They weren't even focused on you."

Once Leonica had pointed this out, her mother and father realized quickly realized it.

"So what are you saying? This is a planned attack to force my hand?" Benjamin questioned.

"From the looks of it, yes. And that's where my plan comes in. If anyone, whoever wrote this articles, is expecting a late response from you, mother anger, internal family crisis, things like that that can act as a form of delay, giving them the opportunity to capitalize on it," She glanced between her parents as she added her last point. "So we're going to beat them to it."

"How?" Cassandra asked.

Leonica held up three for her fingers. "Firstly, we're going to bring Irene home-"

Before she could complete her words, Cassandra interrupted. "That's got to be a joke?"

"Mother," Leonica gave her a stern stare. "What did I ask of you earlier? To trust me, right?"

Cassandra pressed her lips into a thin line at this, silently showing that for how, she was going to agree and watch on.

Facing her father, she continued. "Secondly, we're going to release a press conference, addressing the tabloids, explaining that Irene now lives in the family mansion and has been accepted as a Romero. However, I'd be the one speaking at the conference."

"What? I can't allow you do that, Leonica." Benjamin rejected, not liking the fact that he'd put Leonica in the spotlight over someone he should have handled correctly years ago.

But Leonica had another thing in mind. "Father, do you trust me? If you do, allow me do this one thing."

Of course he trusted her, but didn't want to see her under heat for something that was his doing.

But even if he wanted to object further, the look of determination in Leonica's eyes made it hard for him to utter another word.

He sighed. "Alright." He agreed. "And what's the final thing?"

Leonica looked at her hand and smiled. "Simple, it's waiting and see. If after all this things we've done, coincidental things still continue to happen, then I'd be convinced that someone's pulling the strings and Irene, she's just a puppet."

~•~

Present time.

Leonica stood up the window of her father's study, watching as Alan and a few other maids welcomed Irene into the mansion.

There's no turning back no, she thought, stepping away from the window just as Meredith, another maid of the house came up to inform her of Irene's arrival.

"Thank you Meredith," She said with her usual kind smile, before proceeding to ask. "Did you prepare the room I asked for?"

The maid nodded her head. “Yes madam.”

“Thank you once again,” Leonica gently patted her shoulder. “Please take care of Irene while I’m not around.”

“Madam,” Meredith was moved by her words. Not everyone had the heart to accept the sudden appearance of an illegitimate child, but Leonica had done just that, with open arms. “I will do just that.”

Leonica smiled at her once again, before leaving the room and making her way downstairs, where Irene had been led to the living room.

“Welcome sister,” She greeted the moment her eyes met Irene’s. “We’ve all been expecting you. Hope the ride was luxury enough to your liking.”

“You, what are you doing here?” Irene questioned, looking irritated by her presence.

“This is my parents house, yes?” Came Leonica’s simple answer. “Just like you, I have the right to come here.”

“Right, of course,” Irene chuckled sarcastically. “I should have expected this much, seeing as the world basically revolves around you.”

Leonica offered a tight lipped smile. “This is Meredith,” She pointed towards the lady beside her. “She’d be taking care of you for as long as you stay here.” Turning around, she beckoned. “Follow me, I’ll show you to your room.”

With that, Meredith was gone, giving Irene the opportunity to look around the room. It was empty, but spacious and very neat.

Just thinking about all the things that she’d fill the room with was enough to excite her.

However, her excitement didn’t last long as she recalled she had to call Jamil and update him.

Swiping open her phone, the one which Leonica had effortlessly referred to as a disgrace, she called the male.

“I didn’t expect you to call so soon.” Jamil’s voice sounded out as soon as he answered. “Are you there?”

“Yes, I am. But…” She couldn’t complete her words as the image of Leonica’s face appeared in her head.

“But what?”

“I was welcomed, but not by father, instead, it was by Leonica.”

“Ah,” Jamil mused in surprise, for the second time today. The first time was when Irene called to inform him that the Romero family driver way here to pick her up and now being the second time. “That’s interesting, but it hasn’t affected our plans.”

“No, but it is unsettling, Leonica’s sudden kindness and all.”

Jamil chuckles. “You’re reading too much into it. Put your rivalry for Leonica aside, for now. The real order of business now, is getting into Benjamin’s good books, understand?”

“Yes,” Irene muttered, not liking his words. She didn’t like the fact that she’d have to put aside her rivalry with Leonica, but he was right.

For now, she should focus on the bigger fish, her father.

“Father’s attention first, Leonica next.”

~•~

“Is that so?” Leonica hummed as she watched Irene from the spy cam she had installed in her room. “It seems like I was right.”

Locking the screen off her phone, she pulled her earbuds out and pushed her weight off the wall she had rested on.

“Now,” She began with a heavy sigh. “How should I deal with this without drawing her accomplices attention?”