He was jealous


    "Nothing important," She brushed it off. "Anyway, mough about me, how''s your trip goingText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Ownshrugged. "Same as usual, boring and firing. Although the shot is meant to wrap op next week


    "I see," Leonica hummed as she reached out and grabbed herptop. "So, you should be back home by next week, right? Wanna get dinner with me when you''re back? "Would love to lucemia. I have rehearsals to get back to, but


    the sure to call me if you need anything."


    "Will do." Leonica said and reached for her phone, about to end the call when Owen spoke up


    "Do me a favor, hoce mia?" when she hummed, giving him the green light to continue on, Owen added. "Please be careful around jail. He''s up to something, I can tell."


    Leonica smiled. "I know, but don''t worry. I can handle myself."


    "I know you can, but I can''t help but be conceed. After all, with everything going on, he can suddenly decide to capitalize on the opportunity."


    *Capitalize on the opportunity?" Leonica repeated more to herself rather than asked a question, as a bunch settled in.


    "Yeah is everything alright."


    "Yeah, I just.chought of something. I''ll talk to youter."


    *Sure hace mia. Good luck at the party."


    "Thanks, Bye." She said and hung up, instantly proceeding to flipping herptop open and pulling up one of the articles concerning trene''s appearance. Then she checked the IP address from where the article was sent andpared it to the other IP addresses and all of them lead back to one single culprit. Herox Media Company''s IP address


    "Damn it, Vanadas." Leonica mumbled to herself. "You''re just too desperate, aren''t you?


    The more she thought about it, the more her anger boiled


    It was just too obvious. Jamil''s been using Florence and his mediapany as a way to smear her father''s name and make it so that the public would turn against The Romero''s


    But what did he hope to gain from this?


    Her affection? Surely he didn''t think that if her family suffered such a tiny blow he could show up as her light in shining armor, save her and have her falling into his arms, begging for his love


    Ha, just the thought of that was fucking revolting!


    But thankfully Leonica didn''t have the attention to ponder all about her scummy ex boyfriend, instead, she wondered; just how many people were in on Irene''s appearance.


    After the security fred she had watched, it was obvious that trene had an aplice, so just who were they?


    And what was famil''s involvement in this entire thing? Was he a pawn like me? Manipted like she was to release all those posts?


    Leonica sighed as her brainstared to hurt. So many things were going on, and it was hard for her to keep track of everything.


    She really hated it when things got out of hand like this.


    "Ah, I just want peace already she thought as she closed herptop and tacked herself underneath her duvet.


    Fire aplices, tem, oreventwenty, all of them would be the same.


    As long as she had the means to take them down, then that''s all that mattered.


    And she did have the means,


    So all shhad to do was wait patiently for them to slip up


    And her target imparticr was their lose end, en osewood.


    The day of the introduction party had arrived in the blink of an eyes. The venue, arge manor built on the hills in a farer of Norway, was beautifully decorated and big enoughto amodate all the guests and reporters that had been invited. It was a sight that would have made trene feel like a fish out of water, if not for the fact that she had been getting a taste of this sort of life while being married to


    However, het mood wasn''t as bright as her soundings. She had a scowl on her face, the moment she spotted Leonica wallding through the entrance double door, Benjamin and Cassandra both at her side, smiling lovingly at their dangghter. Their legitimate daughter.


    Although she had test entered the Borero family with intentions of pulling Benjamin clown, which hadn''t changed, Irene couldn''t help but feel of the family Leonica had


    They seemed, no, they were perfect. Too pr


    perfect.


    And that, was supposed to be hers, the thought once again crossed her mind, blooming like a rose in its blooming season.


    she, along with her mother, was the one meant to have such a happy life. So what right did Leonica and her mother, have toe and steal that away fr Her hands tightened. She wanted it back, all that belonged to her and she was going to get it back. from her


    "Miss Irene, are you alright?" Meredith, who had been standing beside her, asked after having watched her expression of hatred directed towards Leonica "I''m fine." Irene replied, her wordsing out harsh as she turned and noticed a few people whispering and pointing at her.


    F


    the resemnce is evident, I''m sure she''s the illegitimate child. One of the elites closest to free, said


    "I dont know," Another shook their head, giving trene a look of scrutiny that she did not miss. "She''s not as pretty as their original daughter"


    "Oh please," The aristocrat who had started the conversationughed loud enough for her to hear. "No one canpare to Ms. Romero, especially an illegitimate


    The conversation, or rather the insults, had her blood boiling and her hands shaking


    Illegitimate child. Falur. A child born out of wedlock.


    The words were endless, and all of them were thrown at her at her very own weing party!


    Inne was buming from head to the with embarrassment. So much so, that she had to chug down an entire ss of wine to calm herself down.


    But even that, the aristocrats found fault in


    was just a few meters away from her. She drinks wine like a barbarian.


    "New unctured" Another woman mustered under her breath, not knowing Irene was "It''s not surprising, seeing as she didn''t get a good education, much unlike Leonica Romero." Aman, a noble from one of the big families, spoke, causing others tough. tene felt humiliated and enraged. The nerve these people had, talking shit behind her backwhen she was just right there!


    And the cause of it all, the person they were constantlyparing her to, was Leonica


    The


    As it once with her thoughts, Irene''s eyes scanned the crowd and found Leonica, except she was a bit taken aback when the younger female was already staring at her, asmickying on her lips, almost as if she knewall that was being sold. No, she knew all that was being said!


    And to make matters worse, she gently raised the wine ss in her hand and gave it


    gave Irene a toast


    This act caused a nerve to snap in Irene''s brain, tipping on a switch that gave only onemand at the moment,


    To get back all that Leonica had stolen from her. Her perfect family, reputation, daughter''s attention and even her ex husband, all of which Leonica had taken away from her to brown pleate


    she was not going


    to let Cronica will. No, not again.


    It was her tum to shine. To have it all while Leonica was left with none.


    Act Fast Fire Bonys Time is Running Cut!


    Stripping Her Of The Reputation She Had Built On Lies.


    sen her daughter for the first time in two days. "You handled those reporters


    50h Leonica, you did wonderful!" Cassandra eximed the moment sheid hereves en like a true Romeco


    "Thank you mother," Leonica soaked in her mother''s praise, putting her into a right hug before facing her father: "Hidad."


    "Leonica,"Benjamin walked up to his daughter, cing his hand on her shoulder and giving in a protle squeeze. "I''m sorry for having put you though something


    Shaking her head, she offered him a smile. "Don''t be dad. And besides, 1choose to handle the press confere


    Hearing her words, Benjamin couldn''t help but minor his daughter''s smile. "Thank you."


    e, it''s the least I can do during this situation."


    "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 helit.


    Asthey walked, Leonica asked. "How''s brene fitting in?"


    Cassandra scotted. "That child is proving to be more of a pest than you''d think. Just the other day, she came back with a storen shopping bags, and began ordening the maids around like she owned the ce." Shalding her head, obviously not trying to hide her displeasure with Irene''s existence, Cassandra added: "Why again are we lening 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 preds introduction party as a way to make her debut, thus helping us spread the news that the Romero family has finally weed their illegitimate child. It 11 help clear any doubts the press may have had and furthermore, it''ll help the Romero''s pain 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?"


    TH


    "Owen''s in German 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 thest 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 nced above his shoulder and added. "That is it you''re over that ex husband of yours."


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


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


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


    "Mr. Romero has finally arrived."


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


    *t that Leonica Romero, I heard she''s the one who helped her family ept the illegitimate child


    "Ms. Romero has such an amiable personality."


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


    Leonica paid him no mind, surveying the interior of the room as she took a ss of white wine from a nearby server. Then she spotted Gabriel and it was clear be 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 popr, even during times like these." He teased in Danish, bis nativenguage. "Hello Noah," Benjamin responded in Danish as he shook the man''s hand and smiled. "I''m d 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 tormer giving him court nod of acknowledgement. "Cassandra, looking as beautiful as always and Leonica, you''ve grown into a fine woman


    "Thank you."Cassandra effered him a gentle smile, equally responding in the man''s nativenguage.


    "Of course, but," Noah scammed the empty space behind them. "I don''t see the stat of tonight, where is she?


    Cassandra''s smile visibly dropped at the question, but Leonica stepped in before it could be noticed, "sene," She scanned the crowd, finding the gif quickey, Pah she''s over there."