Chapter 4 Custody

• Ethan's POV
• I watched as the slender lady entered my office with my receptionist, her face filled with determination, even though I could easily tell from how swollen her eyes were that she had been crying. I remembered her. I remembered the night we spent together. I also remembered how I missed her terribly, but she didn't seem to want anything to do with me. Eventually I gave up on her to focus on more important things.
• I dismissed my receptionist and invited Chloe to come sit in the chair facing me, and she readily did.
• "I am sorry for causing you trouble this morning at your..." She began, but I cut her off.
• "You mentioned that you have a child with me." I went straight to the point, and she nodded.
• "A beautiful little girl, full of light." She said, and from the glimmer in her eyes, I could tell that she loved her daughter so much.
• "And you are certain that this daughter of yours is mine?"
• She nodded. "She is."
• "If it is true, shouldn't I sue you for keeping her away from me?"
• I saw her shift uncomfortably in her seat, and she rubbed her palms together. I could tell that I just struck a nerve.
• I suddenly stood up, and her gaze followed me, as I walked to her side. "What if you are just lying to me? You are a hooker, aren't you? Or did you stop because of your daughter?"
• She clenched her fist by her sides. "Just because I allowed you to touch me, does not give you the right to call me names. If I was a hooker, so were you. I slept with you without knowing who you were, and you did the same." She suddenly yelled at me, letting her frustrations out for a moment.
• My gaze narrowed as I looked at her. She knew that I could help her, and that I could also decide not to, and yet she yelled at me. I kind of admired that part of her. She would not let other people walk over her, even if they were more powerful.
• "Take me to the hospital she is in. I want to see this daughter of yours."
• "Huh?" She responded in shock, but she quickly recovered and stood up abruptly.
• I walked to the door, taking long strides, and Chloe walked briskly behind me, almost running. I went to my secretary who's office was just outside my own.
• "I am leaving. Clear my schedule for the day."
• "But sir, you can't leave. Not today. Your father..."
• "Do you like working as my secretary?"
• She caught her breath and nodded. "Yes sir."
• "So sit here and do your job."
• She nodded. "Yes sir."
• I could see the wonder in Chloe's eyes as she looked between my secretary and I.
• "I was made the CEO today, I am not supposed to leave. I just cancelled many important meetings for this. I do hope it is worth it, or you will not like the consequences."
• She nodded her head, unable to say anything.
• When he got down, I waited for her to lead me to her car, but it seemed she was waiting for me as well.
• "Your car, where is it?"
• "Oh, you want to use mine?" She asked, seemingly surprised. But then she just walked to it without waiting for my response. Then she drove us to the hospital.
• We entered the ward where the little girl was, and I saw a lady talking and playing with her. She got up immediately she noticed us.
• "Are you leaving, aunty Bonnie?" She asked the lady in a weak tiny voice, and I couldn't deny that I felt a sudden pang in my heart. Perhaps it was the innocence in her eyes that got to me.
• "Don't worry, you mommy is here." The lady she called Bonnie said, before she placed a kiss on the little girl's head, then gave Chloe and I a curt nod, before leaving the room.
• "Meet my daughter, Ariana." Chloe said, and I walked to the girl.
• "Who are you?" She asked, curiously staring at me. "You are... Familiar."
• "I am Ethan." I answered her, my voice coming out softer than I intended.
• "Hi, Ethan. Are you my dad?" She asked again, tilting her head to the side as if she was studying me.
• "What do you think?" I find myself asking, and I was surprised to hear my heart beating so fast.
• "I don't know. My mommy said I have a dad like other kids, but she refused to show him to me. Will you sit and play with me?"
• Play?
• I found myself nodding. "Sure."
• She began to tell me stories, mostly about herself and her mother. In fact, she could not make a complete sentence without mentioning her mother. In the end, she grew tired and fell asleep.
• I turned to Chloe who had been sitting there, watching us all along with her expression blank.
• "Come with me."
• She got up and followed me outside the ward.
• "I want to run a DNA test on her before I proceed with anything. And if I find out that you are lying to me..."
• "Fuck it, Ethan! She's your..." She noticed that she was loud, so she lowered her voice. "She's your fucking daughter."
• "And I need proof. Like I said before, she could be the daughter of the other men you have slept with."
• "We don't have time for that, Ethan. Please." Tears clouded her gaze, and she stared at me pleadingly.
• "I want her moved from here. She will be transferred to a better hospital, and she will be well taken care of there."
• She was about to argue with me, before I words sank into her. "What?"
• "You heard me. We will be transferring her tomorrow, and I will take care of her bills and every other thing she might need."
• Her eyes went wide. "Really? Thank you, thank you. Does this mean you believe she is your daughter?"
• "No. The test will still be carried out, and heaven helps you if I find out she is not mine. You are going to pay back every dine I will be spending on her."
• She nodded. "And if she is yours? Do I get some kind of compensation for all the names you have called me?"
• "If she tur
• ns out to be mine, I will be keeping custody of her. I don't think you are capable of raising my child."