“I didn’t give you the gift of life, but life gave me the gift of you.”
–Unknown
Shawn POV
The heartbreak that I felt while I was holding Camila was indescribable. First of all, because I couldn't watch Camila breaking down knowing that I am useless and I can't do anything about it, second of all because they took Riley away and I can't protect her anymore and third of all, because that idiot hit Camila without hesitation. All this made me so sad, but it made me more angry. It made me so angry.
How dare he hit Camila!? How dare he touch a woman at all!? I don't know what I was going to do about the first two things, but I knew that that man is going to pay for what he did. That punch was the least he could get for what he did.
Mila and I have been sitting in the same spot since they took Riley away and that was probably an hour ago. I told Mrs Harrison that she should go home and she did.
Our phones were going crazy, but neither Mila or I wanted to talk to anyone at the moment.
Suddenly Mila stopped crying and broke the hug. I looked at her and her facial expression wasn't sad anymore. All I could see in her eyes was anger and hate.
,,I’m calling Melanie. I won’t let Riley spend even a night away from us." She said and her voice was breaking after every word. I nodded and she reached for her phone and called Melanie.
She ignored all the missed calls and all the messages and just called Melanie.
,,Camila! I know what happened, you don't have to tell me. I just found out. I'm going in a meeting with the boss and I'll make everything good again. I promise! I have proof that Mrs Geller isn't good for Riley and I have something in the hand against Mr Delope. I'm gonna call you afterwards and tell you how it went, but I've to go now." Melanie said on the phone before Camila could say anything.
,,Okay." It's all Mila managed to say before Melanie hung up. ,,Let's go." She said and stood up, but I was confused. Go where?
,,Where do you wanna go?" I asked and followed her.
,,I'm not gonna wait here and cry my eyes out hoping that Melanie is successful. We are going to the agency's office and see what we can do." She said and I knew she was right, so we just left and I drove us to that office.
The ride was silent and neither of us had the urge to say something. We both wanted the same thing and we knew that. At a red light, I looked at Camila and saw how a bruise started forming on her cheek and that made me soooo angry.
She noticed the way I looked at her and she knew why and where I was looking, but I couldn't help it. I was angry about so much stuff, but that man hurting women and being allowed to be around children made me sick.
,,It doesn't hurt anymore." She said.
,,But it did hurt. He hit and hurt you! And that man is allowed to be around children!? Hell no! I don't care how, but we are getting Riley out of there tonight." I said and she nodded.
As the light turned green, I tried to drive faster, but we are in fucking New York. Driving fast here it's impossible.
We arrived at the agency's office after a while and I parked the car, locked it and then we ran in there as fast as we could.
We walked directly to the reception, but as we were looking around all the kids were staring at us.
,,May I help you?" The receptionist asked.
,,I wanna see my baby. Her name is Riley Cabello." Camila said and I saw the way she started biting her lip and the way she was moving her index finger on the back of her other hand.
I took her hand in mine and left a kiss on it to calm her down. She gave me a soft smile and stopped biting on her bottom lip.
,,She just got here and she already has a visitor. May you want to see another-"
,,Who is the other visitor?" Camila asked interrupting the woman.
,,Her grandmother. Her name is Mary Geller." She said and we both rolled our eyes.
,,I don't care what you do, but you are getting her out of there and you let us see our baby." Mila said and before the woman could say another word, we were surprised to see Melanie.
,,Camila? I told you I'm gonna call you." Melanie said.
,,We weren't going to wait until you are calling and do nothing. I can't do nothing! I want her back! And I want her protected not with that aggressive and abusing coworker of yours!" Mila said and I pulled her closer as I heard her voice breaking.
I wished this day was just a bad dream. Just a nightmare because seeing Mila like that killed me in a way that made my heart ache in the worst way possible.
,,Camila, I was about to give you good news, but who are you talking about!? And what happened to your face!?" Melanie said in shock.
,,The guy that was with that jackass of Mr Delope slapped Mila. I punched him, but he deserves more then just a punch in his face for slapping a woman!" I said angrily and Melanie's eyes widen.
,,That doesn't matter anymore. What are the good news?" Mila asked, but I didn't want to drop the theme. It was important for that man to pay for what he did.
,,I'll tell you and I'll also make sure that the boss finds out about the incident." Melanie said as she saw my worried facial expression.
,,Go on! Tell me! Please!" Mila said impatiently.
,,Mrs Geller is saying goodbye to Riley. The boss gave me right with the fact that they can't just rip a contract. Riley is yours." Melanie said and we both let out a relieved breath.
,,That means we can take her home!?" Camila said with tears in her eyes.
,,You can take her home." Melanie said and Camila jumped in my arms while she started crying again, but this time it was from happiness.
,,Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Mila said while she hugged Melanie afterwards.
,,No problem. It kinda was my fault..." Melanie said with a light guilt in her eyes.
,,You made it right again and for that I thank you!" Mila said and broke the hug with Melanie as suddenly Mrs Geller entered the reception.
Camila glared at her and she glared back. It was official who won the battle and got Riley, but it looked like Mrs Geller didn't want to accept the defeat.
,,I'm not forbidding you to visit your granddaughter. That was never my intention, but I told you from the beginning you won't be able to take her away from me." Mila said with a serious facial expression and Mrs Geller just left without saying another word.
That confused us all, but at the moment we didn't care. Mila ran in the room Mrs Geller was in before she left and I walked after her.
The receptionist shouted something at us, but Melanie assured her it was okay. As we entered the room, our eyes fell immediately on Riley who looked terrified.
Mila ran to her and picked her up. Riley started crying, but it was the kind of relieved cry. She pulled into Mila's shirt to held her closer and that was the most heartbreaking and at the same time heart warming thing I've ever seen.
,,Shhh... You're okay, baby. You're with us now. Okay?" Mila said while she rocked Riley lightly in her arms and stroke her head and her back lightly.
I looked at them and let out a heavy breath that I seemed to hold in for the past hours.
Mila looked at me and streched her arm for me to take it. I did so and she pulled me in for a hug.
I held both of them protectively and knew that I will never let something like today happen EVER again.
,,I wanna go home." Mila said into the hug and I nodded.
,,We are going home." I said, broke the hug to wipe a few of her tears away and look at Riley.
Riley was holding so tight onto Camila like if she'd let go of her then Camila would disappear. I kissed her head lightly and she looked at me softly. The look on her face made my knees feel so weak. I saw so much of Camila in her. Her eyes were like a mirror of Camila's eyes and that made me love Riley even more if that's even possible.
She wasn't my blood, but I'm gonna protect and love her like she is. That was for sure.
No matter what will come and what will happen in the future, but I want Riley to know that she has a father she can always count on. The fact that her father doesn't want her that doesn't mean no one wants her.
This day was probably what Camila and I needed as a confirmation for our love to this one baby. Riley was loved. She was loved by us and she will always be loved by us.
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Okay, I'm soft! Don't touch me! 🥺😭