After Divorce Billionaire Ex Found Me Pregnant (Leonica and Gabriel) novel Chapter 206

“Oh Leonica, you did wonderful!” Cassandra exclaimed the moment she laid her eyes on her daughter for the first time in two days. “You handled those reporters like a true Romero.”

“Thank you mother,” Leonica soaked in her mother’s praise, pulling her into a tight hug before facing her father. “Hi dad.”

“Leonica,” Benjamin walked up to his daughter, placing his hand on her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry for having put you through something like this.”

Shaking her head, she offered him a smile. “Don’t be dad. And besides, I choose to handle the press conference, it’s the least I can do during this situation.”

Hearing her words, Benjamin couldn’t help but mirror his daughter’s smile. “Thank you.”

“What’s family for. Shall we?” She pointed towards the door which led to a hallway leading to the main Hall where the party was being held.

As they walked, Leonica asked. “How’s Irene fitting in?”

Cassandra scoffed. “That child is proving to be more of a pest than you’d think. Just the other day, she came back with a dozen shopping bags, and began ordering the maids around like she owned the place.” Shaking her head, obviously not trying to hide her displeasure with Irene’s existence, Cassandra added. “Why again are we letting her stay at OUR house? And why the need for this introduction party?”

"Mother," Leonica began, patting the woman on her shoulder as a sign to calm down. "You need to calm down. Besides, we discussed this, Irene needs this introduction party as a way to make her debut, thus helping us spread the news that the Romero family has finally welcomed their illegitimate child. It'll help clear any doubts the press may have had and furthermore, it'll help the Romero's gain some of the respect we've lost during this whole shenanigan."

"She's right." Benjamin agreed as they got closer to the entrance, spotting Melvin who had already been waiting for them. "This is the best way to handle this. Now, let's drop this matter. How's Owen and my grandson?"

"Owen's in Germany for movie shooting," Leonica answered as she waved at her brother. "And Ashley's doing fine."

"His health?"

"...Doctor Bailey said it had improved." She lied. Seeing her parents get worries over Ashley's health right now, with everything going on, is the last thing she wanted.

"That's good. But don't lower your guard. You and Owen should start making preparations for the wedding and another child as soon as possible." He said, but when Leonica remained silent, he glanced above his shoulder and added. "That is if you're over that ex husband of yours."

Leonica chuckled. "Things with Gabriel is in the past, father." She turned to Melvin who was walking beside her and asked. "Where's Leonardo."

"The Philippines," Came his answer. "He's there for a research."

"I see,"

The moment they stepped foot in the Hall, the people gathered turned their eyes towards the Romero's and began to murmur.

"Mr. Romero has finally arrived."

"Along with the First Lady, their son and daughter."

"Isn't that Leonica Romero, I heard she's the one who helped her family accept the illegitimate child."

"Ms. Romero has such an amiable personality."

"You're quite popular," Melvin whispered just before he parted from them, having his own set of guests to greet.

Leonica paid him no mind, surveying the interior of the room as she took a glass of white wine from a nearby server. Then she spotted Gabriel and it was clear he had spotted her.

"Benjamin!" The sound of Noah's voice, a long time business partner of her father's, had her looking away and watching as he approached them with a wide smile on his lips. "Ever so popular, even during times like these." He teased in Danish, his native language.

"Hello Noah," Benjamin responded in Danish as he shook the man's hand and smiled. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Of course. I'd never miss a Romero party, especially one where something hot is happening," He turned his gaze to Leonica and Cassandra, the former giving him a court nod of acknowledgement. "Cassandra, looking as beautiful as always and Leonica, you've grown into a fine woman."

“Thank you,” Cassandra offered him a gentle smile, equally responding in the man’s native language.

“Of course, but,” Noah scanned the empty space behind them. “I don’t see the star of tonight, where is she?”

Cassandra’s smile visibly dropped at the question, but Leonica stepped in before it could be noticed. “Irene,” She scanned the crowd, finding the girl quickly. “Ah, she’s over there.”

With a smile on her lips, she tipped her glass in Irene’s direction when their eyes seemed to meet.

“Ah, I can see the resemblance. A beauty she is. Call her over Benjamin.”

The said man hesitated, glancing in his wife’s direction, but a nod from her was all it took to have his lips moving.

“Irene!” He called out to the child, beckoning her over when she noticed his hand raised in the air.

With poised steps, Irene approached, a forced smile on her lips.

“Hello…” She paused not sure if she should call Benjamin father.

He caught onto this and briskly cut in. “This is Mr. Larsen, a business partner of mine. Say hello.”

Irene turned to him. “Hello, I’m Irene Rosewood.”

“Rosewood? Does she still go by that name?” Noah asked in Danish, confusing Irene.

“We’re taking things slow for now.” Came Benjamin’s reply, not bothering to translate for Irene who looked like a lost puppy as they conversed in the North Germanic language.

“She seems lost, does she not speak Danish?” Noah finally caught on.

“Of course not,” Leonica replied without hesitation. “My sister’s education wasn’t good, so she didn’t get the chance to learn such things.” This, Leonica said in English.