Angling the gun, she found it feeling weird in her grip. It was obvious the toy gun had been designed to be easy for children to use, but for her, a grown woman who had never played one of those games, she had a hard time getting used to it. “Need some help?” She heard Gabriel’s nice and felt his warmth as he moved behind her, his hands guiding hers.
“play” Leonica mombled, feeling a bit awkwant with their proximity.
“Holding in like this in best,
She could feel hischest against herback and the warmth his body radiated, the warmth hasherath ander skin gave her and for a secust, she couldn’t run, beran thrown off and she ended up missing the target
“rial’s not good mommy,” Ashley shook his head, while Gabriel decided to take a step bark, giving her much needed space.
“Sorry,” She apologized, feeling slightly rebarassed.
“Don’t worry.” Gabriel said. “You’ll get it the next
Leonica didn’t give any too of avartion to his words and focused on hitting the target and that she did.
“Mommy got it!” ashleycheered.
“I did.” Leonica laughed.
“Now you have to do it two more times.”
And sure enough, she did tr
“We did it.” She announced
“Ikawwmommy could do it.”
Leonica smiled. “Now, which one would you like.”
Ashley pointed at the tall white Bear stutty and the stall manager wasted no time in plucking it off the shelf
“Congratulations ma’am,” He said as he handed it to Leonica. “You and your husband are the first ones wina price today
At his words, Leonica felt a defensive side of her coming up and she stuttered. “He-he’s not my
“Thank you.” Gabriel interrupted her, taking the bear and handing it over to Ashley, who gladly took it.
H
“Thank you.” Ashley thanked and hugged the bear.
“You’re welcome.” The stall manager offered them a wave. “And I hope you enjoy the res
rest of your time bere.”
Gabriel and Leonica exchanged a look before he led the way
The next few hours were spent on the rides, and they all had a great time, even Leonica gradually became more relaxed around Gabriel.
At some point, Asley became tired and they had to seat by a river view to allow him st
As they chose a spot, some couple other people present glanced their way, whispering incoherent words while obviously pointing at them Leica didn’t like that.
“I guess here’s okay.” The sound of Gabriel’s voice had her looking away.
He set Ashley down, the young boy’s face flushed from the rating around he had done, the exhaustion evident on his face..
“you really exhausted yourself Ash,” Lesnica commented as she joined them, rubbing her son’s hair.
He offered her a toothy smile. “It was too fun, couldn’t stop.”
“Yeah?” She mused, watching as Ashley shot up the second at the sound of an ice cream truck.
He stared hard at before asking. “Can mommy?”
tranica glanced at the distance, it was less than five feet away. “Sure, let’s go.”
As she tried to st od up. Ashley stopped her “No! 1-I’ll go alone!”
Leonica’s brows dipped. “What?”
Without answering his mother’s question, Ashley turned to Gabriel and stretched his handout Daddy, please give me some money
Gabriel hesitated, glancing at Leonica for a rond before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ten dollar bill
“You sime you want to go alone?” He cautiously asked, eaming sehemented from the child. “Alright, just be careful and be back here, Last” “Vendaddy!” Ashley said as her took the money and rushed in the directions the ice cream track. “Don’t in, Addey” Bronica called out to him.
The watched him for a seconds before her attrition was once again-capturd by the people staring and discussing amongst themselves.
ne almostmal it got. Normally, she was used to people staring and talking, but this, this was something else
Sourthung wong, the coedd tell by the look in theit eget.
“Hey, you okay? Gabriel whispered, gently tugging on her finger to get her attention.
Without taking her eyes off her latest targets, she answered. “They’re staring, whispering? Why are they doing that?”
Gabriel followed her gaze and he too soon became aware of how people stared at them.
Was it because they were together?
People knew all about Leonica and Owen’s relationship. It was hot topic, so perhaps seeing her with him was…confusing them? Misleading them, maybe?
Ah, what it a scandal were to originate from this?
Leonica and Owen’s relationship was sure to have a tall because of it, but as tempting as that offer sounded, Gabriel didn’t want it.
He didn’t want to win Leonica’s heart by going low and creating a misunderstanding in her current relationship and be sure as hell didn’t want to see her hurt from said Misunderstanding.
“I think we should leave,” He said after pretending to peak at his watch. “It’s getting quite late and with winter approaching, it isn’t advisable for Ashley to stay
out that late.”
Leonica found reason in his words. They indeed needed to leave, not because of the growing stares, but because of Ashley.
He was more important.
Peeling her gaze away from the staring figures, she found Gabriel standing in front of her, offering a hand to raise her up.
She took it and he pulled her up, a little to hand. They were inches apart Close
Too close.
Leonica was the first one to break the silence that had descended on them.
“Thank you,” Her voice was a mere whisper as she stepped back and wiped her hand on her trousers, finding them more moist than they should be
She didn’t wait for his response and instead, focused her attention on her son, who was heading towards them with a popsicle in hand.
“Mommy, daddy, I bought it!” He announced happily once in front of them
Leonica smiled. “That’s good.” She took his free hand. “Come on now, let’s go to a different place.”
Ashley looked between his mother and Gabriel, who offered him a convincing smile.
“Let’s go Ash.”
“Alright.”
After he agreed, Leonica began leading them towards the exit, however bumped shoulders with someone.
“Ah, I apologize.” The individual who had been glued to his phone, stopped to apologize, but upon looking at the p “Huh, it’s you.”
person he had bumped into, his brows furrowed.
“It’s me?” Leonica questioned in confusion, tilting her head to examine the person speaking. “Have we met before?
“N-no, not at all?” The males face flushed at her action. “We haven’t met before, but you’re pretty popular. Everyone’s talking about your family news”
“My family news?” Leonica was even more confused.
Seeing the look of uncertainty on her face, the stranger asked. “Are you not Leonica Romero?”
Before Leonica could respond, Gabriel stepped protectively beside her. “What’s going on here?” He asked in an intimidating manner, slightly scaring the stranger, who was later surprised to see him look at Leonica with a softer expression. “Is everything alright, Leonica?” “Y-yeah. But,” She was now curious. “What did you mean by ‘news about my family?”
She asked and the stranger didn’t hesitate to raise his phone, showing Leonica the article he had just been reading.
“This.”
A few seconds later, a wave of shock and confusion washed over her when she read the Article’s headings, which were written in bold letters, “SCANDAL UNFOLDS RETIRED BUSINESS MOGUL’S SECRET LOVE CHILD SHOCKS THE NATION!” Enjoy Ad Free Reading
Unsettling News.
“Is this true?” The stranger asked, glancing, from Leonica, who had a nestral expressionan het lace despite the wave of confusionenmming amuck inside, and his phone which still had the article open on display.
“I mean, you don’t have to make an official statement or amething like that. I know how you rich people are, reputation and all, but
“That’s enough,” cabriel interupted him, pushing the phone away from Leonica’s path of view. “It’s very node to question someone over a falsely witterianticle.” *Well, how can you say for stir that it’s false?” The stranger retorted.
“And who are you to say it was written based on the facts? Lreoica ashed, sally regaining bet.composine after the tabloid she had real
What a load of bullshit, she thought as she shook her head, prople sure were thirsty for her tasnily’s downfall to have enough time to create a bulloca nemur like
But then again, the shouldn’t be surprised, it was expecteil.
“I’m just saying-
g him to shrink back and step away, then she sailed. “Please learn to mind your ownbusiness from now on
“Nothing.” Leonica shot him a glare, causing I
With that, she turned arose and picket Ashley up, not talling to notice the way a couple other people looked at her once they recognized her, Some even pointed and whispered.
Now it was crally starting to make her feel uncomfortable.
“Let’s go Ashley,” She said and walked away from the stranger, Gabriel following along
The atmosphere was filled with silence until they hail reached the parking lot and cabriel was the one who book the silence.
“Leonica,” He called out as he gently held her v
of confusion that gathered across her face
wist and pulled her in the opposite direction of her car. “I’ll drive you guys home.” He added upon seeing the look
“No, that won’t be necessary.” She rejected without a second thought. “Thanks for the offer though.”
In normal cases, Gabriel would have backed off, allowing ronica to wall away, have her way, but not today.
Today was different because he could tell how unfocused she was. The way her eyes seemed to flicker back and forth, the way her fingers twitched, the way she bit berlips, he could tell she was over thinking, probably in to make heads of the article she had seen, along with those people’s stares.
No matter how unique Leonics is, she was just like every other elite, caring greatly about her family’s reputation and an article like that, true or false, was sure to leave a temporary dent.
He could tell she was feeling unsettled
So, rather than allow her to drive home with her mind clouded, most likely put her, along with Ashley in danger, he held hertighter.
“insist.” He stated and continued leading the way to his car
“Really, there’s no need “Leonica said.
“”But I’m taking you.”
“Thave my own car.
“cetum it tomorrow.” He pulled open the passenger door to his car after unlocking in “jast let me daive you home, okay?” Leonica was
was conflicted. A part of her wanted to reject him and go home with her own car, while another part of her was too tired to argue. “Fine,” She eventually agreed and placed Ashley in the backseat, before settling in the passenger seat.
As soon as they were buckled up, he started the engine and they drove off, the silence between them remaining However, Gabriel was the one who decided to breakti
the same
“Talk about what?” Leonica asked in a nonchalant manner.
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