Chapter 4

The humiliating memory of the wedding night came back to her when Leonica caught Angelina sitting comfortably on her matrimonial bed like she was the real hostess. "Y-You! How did you get in here?" Leonica hissed, anger rising to the surface of her visage as a glare formed on her eyes. Angelina didn't say anything, instead, she just looked at Leonica provocatively. And the next second, the bathroom door opened from behind and Gabriel stepped out, with a bathroom towel wrapped around his waist as his wet hair clung messily to his face. Leonica's heart shattered into pieces at that moment and her eyes were filled with betrayal, hurt, and annoyance, especially when Gabriel's facial expression turned into disdain after spotting her existence. "Gabriel, what is she doing here?" Leonica demanded as she balled her fists. Angelina wasted no time in scurrying over to Gabriel and shamelessly burying her face in his bare chest, acting like a scared cat. Gabriel made no effort to withdraw from her touch nor shoo her off, instead, he embraced her, wrapping his arm around Angelina. “Are okay?” He asked her with a soft expression. The scene angered Leonica as much as it hurt her. She clenched her fist, nails digging painfully into her palm as she tried to stop her anger from overflowing. "Gabriel..." She asked again, face twitching in anger. "I'm asking why this woman is here." "That's none of your business, Leonica," Gabriel replied, his expression turning frosty as soon as he took his eyes off Angelina. None of her business? There it was again. He did have no other words to her other than that, didn’t he? Leonica started to feel like a joke. Mom was right, why should she waste her time on a heartless man? "You're right." She squeezed a mocking smile as she nodded, "I have no interest in what you were doing together." "But this is my house, " She added, trying her best to sound calm and composed. "And I don't want to see her here. Leave this house, right this instant." "What if I refuse?" Gabriel countered, causing Leonica to flinch, her eyes widening. "If you can't treat my guest right, you can go back to your parent's house and spend the night there!" "W-What?" Was her husband really telling her to leave Their home for another woman? The very same woman who had broken his heart and left him a ruined mess three years ago?! Leonica was speechless. "You heard me." He stated, his eyes challenging. "What are you waiting for?" "No," Leonica said, surprising not only Gabriel but also Angelina who glanced up at her in shock. "Why should I leave?" She objected, taking a daring step forward and looking straight at Gabriel. "This is my home, not hers. I have the right to ask any stranger to leave." The sternness on her face surprised him, after all, Leonica was always one to obey his words and seemed meek. She rarely ever retaliated or objected over anything he said. "This isn't your house alone, Leonica. I own this house just as much as you do. I have the right to invite anyone I want here." Gabriel retorted, his jaw taut. Leonica knew this was a sign of his anger, but at this moment she didn't bother to care. "Now you remember it's OUR house." Leonica sneered, "Or should I remind you more exactly? It's under my name, alone." Her gaze was so sharp that he was a little unaccustomed. Leonica didn't lie, the house was a wedding gift from Grandma to them. He didn't care much when Grandma decided to put it under Leonica's name. But now seeing such a forceful face of her made him even angrier. Ignoring her words, Gabriel insisted. "Angelina isn't going anywhere. I don't care if you want otherwise!" Hearing his nonsense and seeing how he cradled Angelina in his arms like she was his true wife, Leonica couldn't hold her anger anymore. “Gabriel Bryce, how can you be so shameless?” She asked, staring daggers at her atrocious husband and his mistress. “Aren’t you afraid that would disappoint Grandma…?” Leonica’s words remained unfinished as an enraged Gabriel swung his hand through the air, smacking his palm clean on her left cheek. The sound resonated through the empty walls of their bedroom, surprising both Angelina and Leonica. Never in her three years of marriage had Leonica expected Gabriel to raise his hands against her. With a throbbing cheek and wide, disbelieving eyes, Leonica held onto her red cheek and stared at her husband who was glaring ferociously at her. “The nerves of you to mention my grandmother. You have no right to do so!” He spat, taking a step forward and jabbing his index finger painfully into her shoulder, making her take several steps back. “Bare this in mind, Leonica Romero, if not for the wishes of my late grandmother, I’d much rather be dead than associate myself with somebody like you, talk less have you as my wife.” His words were so cold and his eyes were so hateful to her that Leonica felt it like a bucket of cold water had suddenly been splashed on her, waking her up to the reality that she had been denying for the past three years. She loved Gabriel, but it was clear he never loved her. Without love, how would he give her baby a warm and loving family? What he really wanted would be a child with Angelina, right? Leonica felt her chest heavy, like something had suddenly lodged itself in her throat and was blocking her breathing, and her eyes stung. She was about to cry, she could feel the tears threatening to fall. But she had to stop herself. Since he had no heart for her, she could show even less weakness, especially when Angelina the home wrecker was still here, silently watching the whole fight raised by her. So, biting down on her lower lip and blinking the tears away, Leonica lifted her head. She sighed as she armed herself with a sharp and fierce gaze. There was no need to act and pretend coy anymore. Mom and Dad were right, there was nothing worth keeping her in this marriage. So before then, why should she make it easy for them? "You'd better not try me, Gabriel Bryce.” Leonica reminded him, “I, Leonica Bryce, am still your wife." The way she looked at him was so calm and unfamiliar that took Gabriel aback. And before he spoke, Leonica threatened, "If you really want that divorce, then get this woman out now."