Filed To Story: Finding the Secret Daddy for My Baby Novel
“You only have a few days. If you don’t settle the issue by then, I’ll cause a stir at your workplace. Let’s see if you’re allowed to work still when the time comes.” He hurt her with mean words before terminating the call.
Ellen’s body trembled as despair surged in her. If Jessica were here, she would not have allowed such a thing to happen.
Knowing that the call had ended, Jared swept a glance at her only to see tears trickling down and wetting her grey dress. He sprang up and crouched in front of her. “Did something happen?”
She blamed herself for showing her forlorn side to him, so she quickly wiped her tears off. “Nothing. Something flew into my eyes. That’s why.”
Yet, the unbidden tears streamed nonstop. Those gorgeous, teary eyes could easily make one feel bad.
The weird sensation flooded Jared again as he watched her crying, stifling his chest so hard that he could barely breathe.
“You can talk to me about anything.” His voice sounded airy.
Ellen bit her rosy lip. “Wouldn’t that be annoying?”
“Not at all. Just feel free to talk to me.” He seated himself next to her as he was all ears.
She took a deep breath while thinking, Where should I start first? I think he should know the entirety of the situation, or he won’t be able to follow.
“My parents passed away when I was young, so my uncle fostered my elder brother and me, but my brother left because of a serious illness. I didn’t even get to see him in his last moments.” Ellen felt hot behind her eyes, and he drew a few pieces of tissue for her since it was close to him.
She wiped her tears while continuing, “Then, my uncle sent me to my aunt’s place. Jessica treated me like I was her granddaughter. We only had each other, but life was great. To me, she was my grandmother.”
At that point, another stream of tears ran down her cheeks, and she choked on her voice. “But she left me too. I’m all alone again.”
Jared sympathized with her past. “So, is someone giving you a hard time now?”
“It’s all because of my grandmother’s demolished house. She did not apply for adoption, so she’s not my official guardian. Instead, my uncle is the one on the papers.”
“Now, my relatives want their share of the demolition payment. I’m still new to the company, and there’s a lot for me to catch up with, so I couldn’t go to the authority to transfer my name yet. My uncle called because he’s angry that I went to work instead of solving the issue first. If I drag things out any longer, he said he’s going to make a scene at work so that I’ll lose my job. ”
Now that Ellen recounted the whole story, she felt utterly helpless. She had no intention to be all crybaby in front of such a handsome guy, but she could not help it. It hurt too much.
“How could they? They’ve seriously gone overboard.” Even Jared was exasperated as an outsider.
“It’s not like I’m doing it on purpose, but I can’t apply for leave when there’s a handover going on. Astoria is going to leave the company to get married soon. If I don’t receive training for my jurisdiction these days, I won’t be able to continue my work,” she explained.
“The payment is meant for only you. They don’t have the right to take it from you. You don’t have to split the money,” he reasoned.
“But I-I’m not Grandma’s family on paper. I won’t be able to get the money either.” Ellen was at her wit’s end.
“You can if you apply for an adoption certificate. No one can take the money away from you.”
“But my grandmother is not around anymore. Is it still possible?”
“Why not? You’ve been living under the same roof for sixteen years, and she acknowledged your relationship. Even if the law is dead, you can find something to prove it.”
“It’s not as easy as it sounds. I’m stuck at the procedure.” Ellen had no alternatives to solve the problem.
“I can help.” Jared could not resist the urge to intervene in the issue. Although he did not know why he could not bear the sight of her dwelling on sadness, it pained him to see her cry.
“Huh? You can?” As it was a situation where she needed help desperately, it warmed her heart to have someone offering help.
“Yes. I have a bunch of great lawyers who can help.”
“Really? That’s great! I can’t be any more grateful to you!” She expressed her gratitude vehemently to her savior.
The waiters began to serve the dishes just at the right time. Jared urged her to fill her stomach first and promised to seek help from a lawyer. “Ellen, you should keep the money for yourself. Don’t share it with others. They don’t see you as their family, so you shouldn’t mind them.”
“But—”
“As long as you become your grandmother’s legal adoptive daughter, it’s rightfully yours. No one can take them.”
Still, Garrett and the others’ forceful attitude seeped into her mind. “Got it.”
“Just tell me if you need anything.”
“No, you’ve gone out of your way to help me come this far. I shouldn’t trouble you anymore.” Ellen was grateful.
“Could you pass me your phone for a moment?”
She gave him her phone obediently, and the man frowned at the seriously damaged phone screen. Quietly, he dialed his number with her gadget.
“This is my number. Ring me up if there’s trouble.”
Sweetness and warmth sprang in her chest. She felt honored to have his contact number.
Following that, Jared even drove her home and eased her up by saying there was nothing to worry about regarding the demolition payment. His friend would be able to help her.
Despite the gratitude, Ellen felt sorry to have him take it upon himself. She made up her mind to do everything she could to repay his kindness in the future. If she did not have the chance to do so, she would remember everything he had done for her wholeheartedly.
At 9.00PM, she received a call from Connor. He heard of Garrett’s demand and assured her that he would meet Garrett to talk over it.
Ellen was aware that it would end up like water off a duck’s back to Garrett and the others anyway. They had proven their stance toward the situation and set their heart to get the money.
Now, she would be able to receive the money as long as she could receive an adoptive certificate to prove herself as Jessica’s granddaughter.
On the other hand, Connor was so livid that he lost his appetite for dinner. “How could they possibly do that? Who says that we must share the money with them?”
A guilty Olivia was standing behind him. “Probably because they’re jealous that Ellen will have the money all for herself.”
“What right do they have to demand the money? Aunt Jessica treated Ellen like her biological granddaughter, so she’s the only one with the rightful inheritance for that house.”
“That’s true, but Aunt Lilac is on the bread line. They won’t let such a chance slip through their fingers. Besides, Aunt Jessica didn’t legally adopt Ellen before she passed away.” She dared not reveal that she was the one who led Lilac behind the curtains.
After Connor attempted to pull some strings, he realized it was not something easy to be settled.
“Why don’t we give up on our share? I bet no one can stop Aunt Lilac.” Olivia was happy as long as Ellen would not get the money all for herself.