Filed to story: Offered to the Lycan King Novel by Misha K (River & Hunter)
William walked back to his chair and sat down awaiting Judge McDonell’s judgment.
Judge McDonell flipped through the pages fast. He looked up and said, “I reserve my judgment. Come back at 11 AM tomorrow to hear it.”
Rest of the day it was impossible for Shawn and Lena to stop fretting. The judge had reserved his judgment and they didn’t know in whose favor it would go.
There was an unusual silence in the house. Fiona was with Jack as Reeves went out with Jane and Lia to play in a nearby park. Hunter and River had gone to the main market to buy toys for their pups.
When Jane returned, she went straight to Lena and said, “Garry was watching us while we were at the park. I saw his police car standing near the park.”
Lena took Lia from her. “How can you say that?”
Jane looked nervous. “He came inside the park but he was not in uniform. He was watching us like a jackal ready to strike at the least commotion. I stayed quiet and didn’t let Lia go to anyone. I asked Reeves to come back soon although he wanted to play more.”
Lena took a ragged breath. It was 5 PM and she was getting mentally tired. She k*issed Lia on her head. The baby was sleepy and cranky. “Forget about him. But don’t get out of the house till tomorrow. I don’t trust him or his girlfriend.”
“I won’t!” Jane said. “But after William slayed Natalie in the court, don’t you think that Garry should distance himself from her?”
Lena rocked Lia in her arms. She chuckled. “It’s not that easy. They both wanted the money for child support from the social agency. Garry is pretty greedy and Natalie is no less.”
Jane laughed a little. “Yeah! The two are made for each other.” She patted Lia’s back. “I am getting milk for her.” Lena went to Shawn and related Jane’s incident to him. Shawn tried to take Lia from Lena’s lap, but she didn’t budge. Instead she cried loudly and curled her arms around Lena’s n*eck, refusing to leave her. Shawn commented, “She has grown so close to you in just a few days.”
Lena smiled and caressed her back. “Hmm… I love her.”
Jane brought milk for Lia. Lia drank milk from the bottle in Lena’s lap and went off to sleep as both the parents looked at her with affection and admiration.
At 8 PM, the doorbell rang. When Shawn opened the door, he was thunderstruck to see Natalie standing on the porch. “Why are you here?” he spat. “You can’t meet us like this without your lawyer’s presence!” He started dialing William’s number.
“Shawn, wait!” she pleaded. “I came here for a different purpose. It’s not about Lia.”
Shawn c*ocked his head. “What is it about?”
Natalie peeped behind him and then fidgeted. She moved on her feet uncomfortably. Lowering her eyes, she said, “Shawn, I don’t know how to start, but after I saw you in the courtroom and studied you there, I feel I have made a big mistake.” She lifted her face and he could see tears in her eyes. “I shouldn’t have left you. I miss Lia and you. A lot.” She shook her head as her tears rolled out. “I am terribly sorry for all that occurred between us. I just hope that things go smoothly now.” She fidgeted more. “I was just wondering-” she wiped her eyes and lifted her teary gaze at him. “I was wondering if we both can get together for the sake of our baby? I know that you are a wonderful father and with the hotel you own, you can easily support me and Lia…”
Shawn stared at her not with anger but with pure amusement. He had given her ample chance to come back to him but she chose to ignore him. And now she wanted to come back to him not because of Lia. He realized that she wanted to get back because he owned a hotel. He chuckled and then he did what he had wanted to do for a long time. He slammed the door close on her face and brushed his h*ands off. “Greedy much!” He took a deep breath of relief and turned back only to find Lena standing with a grin. “That was dramatic,” she teased.
He chuckled and winked. “High time to remove the skunk from my life!”
Next day when they were entering the courtroom, they were stopped by Garry. “You think that you can get away with this?” he growled at Lena. “I saw that you had sent the nanny with Lia to the park, which means that you aren’t taking care of her. So stop showing that you want the baby and give her up. Else I am going to expose your deceit to the court.” He took an intimidating step closer to Shawn. “You think I don’t know that Natalie went to your place yesterday? She went to apologize and you slammed the door on her face to insult her.”
Shawn lifted his chin up. “I was trying to save you. She wanted to come back to me.”
Garry’s m*outh dropped to the floor as Shawn winked at him and holding Lena’s h*and, he walked inside the courtroom. Fiona, Jack, Hunter and River followed them, giving a cursory smile to Garry.
The courtroom was filled with people which was strange because yesterday it was pretty empty. Natalie went to sit with Melissa. She had scolded Melissa yesterday for not being able to stall the hearing. Melissa had shot back saying that she had asked her to stay quiet and not prepare for the case. Right now they weren’t talking to each other.
As soon as the judge came, they all rose to their feet. Judge McDonell sat down and the case started. He said, “I read all the documents related to this case and I have to say that-” he gave a long and harsh stare to Melissa. “You haven’t prepared for it at all. Do you think that this place is a joke? How could you take up a case and come to the court without preparation?” Melissa shifted in her chair, petrified as hell. Then the judge turned his attention to the audience. “It was proven that Natalie doesn’t have money to support her child and that she presented fake documents to the social worker. This court gives custody of Lia Mendez to her biological father Shawn Mendez.” A wave of excitement ran over Shawn and Lena and both of them stifled their smiles.
“As for Miss Natalie, the court slaps a penalty of $1000 for producing fake documents to the social worker and misleading this case,” McDonell continued. “Miss Natalie will not be allowed to contest for Lia’s custody. The child may go to her when she is eighteen.” He slammed the gavel on the table saying, “This case is adjourned.” Shawn let out a silent prayer as Lena jumped up and squealed, hugging him t*ightly. They all came out shouting and cheering, happy that it was over so soon. Without even looking at Garry and Natalie who stood quietly in the corner, they drove back to the cottage where a celebration sort of took place.
“Thank you, Hunter!” Shawn said as he grasped his forearms. Hunter gave him a soft smile.
When they sat down with drinks, Shawn said, “Had you not exposed Judge Ferdinand to the FBI, things would have gone the other way round.”
Hunter and River had gone around snooping about Garry. He had called his contacts in the business world to dig up all information about Garry and Judge Ferdinand. When he came to know that Ferdinand was an occasional womanizer, he contacted Asher to hack Ferdinand’s phone. Once the video surfaced, there was no going back. It was easy to connect him with Garry. Garry had used his contacts to get Ferdinand to preside over the case. However, Hunter sent the information about Ferdinand to his contacts who in return sent it to the FBI anonymously. Ferdinand was caught a night before in a clandestine operation.
River squeezed Hunter’s h*and for helping her best friend. “I think we have to take your leave now!” she announced.
“When do you plan to come back?”
“We are coming tomorrow morning!” Shawn replied. “I don’t want to stay in this place even for a minute!” Lena chuckled as she rubbed his upper arm. “Yes, we can’t wait to get Lia back!”
Hunter and River left soon after while Shawn and Lena came the next morning with Lia after completing the court formalities.
Maria and a few cousins had come to bid them a farewell. “There is a rumor going on!’ Maria chuckled as she whispered to Lena who was with Lia. “Garry has asked Natalie to leave him!”
Lena couldn’t help laughing quietly. “I don’t care what they do, Maria. I am leaving with Lia and that was what I wanted.”
Maria hugged Lena t*ightly. “You are the best that Shawn could ever get. He loves you a lot. Please don’t think of leaving him. He will…”
“I won’t!” Lena rasped. “Ever.” How could she say that he was her mate? Giving her a peck on her cheek and thanking her for all her help, Lena went to where her parents were standing. They were talking to the pilot of the chopper. As soon as they saw Lena and Lia, they grinned, feeling very happy for their daughter. Inside the chopper, Shawn was talking to Reeves while Jane was watching them with interest.
The ride back to the Crescent pack was full of happiness and cheerful conversation. They didn’t talk about Natalie or Garry. It was as if they had cut that part of their life and left it in Middleton.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
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