Chapter 21 - 21

21.

"Finally. This is over and I can get on with my life now" Benjamin said as he stepped out of the court with Gabriel beside him.

"Did you inform at home?" Gabriel asked

"No. Let me" Benjamin said and dialed Isabella's number.

"Benjamin?" Isabella answered the call on the second ring.

"Bella. It's over" Benjamin said

"In our favour right?" Isabella asked anxiously.

"Of course. Where is Sapphire" Benjamin asked

"Here. With me" Isabella said

"Give her a loud kiss from me" Benjamin said and Isabella chuckled.

"Will do. Are you coming home now?" Isabella asked

"Yes. There are certain formalities left. Some papers to be signed. I will be home after that" Benjamin said

"Was Lillian there?" Isabella asked

"I didn't see her Bella. She knew she wouldn't be winning the case. So she bailed out" Benjamin said with relief. He honestly do not want to see that woman's face again.

"Okay then. Come home soon. We are waiting for you" Isabella said as she caressed little Sapphire’s head

"Soon. Tell mom and dad also" Benjamin said and hung up the call

***

"Finally. You are ours forever" Isabella said cuddling little Sapphire to her bosom.

"Sapphy Out" Sapphire demanded pointing at the rose garden from the bedroom window.

"Sapphire wants to go out. Then we will go out" Isabella said and made Sapphire wear her little hat and took her out.

On the way out, Isabella informed William and Elizabeth about what Benjamin told them and they took their turns cuddling and kissing Sapphire.

"Ellie nooo" wiggled in their arms and let out a loud wail, eager to get out of their hold and go out.

"It's her play time I guess. Not in a mood to be pampered it seems" Elizabeth said letting Sapphire down on the floor.

As soon as she was kept down, Sapphire toddled over, on her chubby little feet, to the French doors that leads to the garden.

***

Lillian was driving at reckless speed towards the Lockwood mansion.

There had to be some way to make Benjamin pay her that money, Lillian fumed frantically.

She had been so sure that he would buy her off! That was the whole reason she had threatened to lay claim to Sapphire. The last thing she wanted was a dependent child.

The new watchman, not knowing the evil she was, let her in. Lillian stopped the car as she saw Benjamin wife with Sapphire in the garden.

"Give me my grandchild" Lillian demanded the moment she reached them, stationing herself strategically in front of Isabella and reaching swiftly down, lifting Sapphire up before Isabella could stop her.

At being handled by a stranger whose touch lacked the loving tenderness she was used to, Sapphire immediately started to cry, her distress adding to Isabella anxiety.

"You’re frightening her" she cautioned Lillian protectively.

"She isn’t used to being held like that. Look let me show you what she likes…" Isabella tried to stall the woman from whatever she was planning, hoping that somebody would come out and see them.

"I don’t give a damn what she does or doesn’t like" Lillian retorted unpleasantly, breaking off to give a small angry scream and quickly hold Sapphire at arm’s length as the baby reacted to her roughness by sicking up some of her food.

"Don’t you dare be sick on me, you little brat" Lillian told her furiously, shaking her so hard that Isabella immediately tried to remonstrate with her.

"You don’t like what I’m doing. Tough!" Lillian told Isabella contemptuously. "She’s my grandchild and she’s coming with me."

Isabella couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Lillian couldn’t possibly just walk off with Sapphire like that.

Lillian was now turning round, still holding Sapphire, without any concern for the baby’s comfort, and heading for the car, opening the driver’s door, and for the first time Isabella realised that the engine was still running.

Panic filled her. You only read about such things—children being abducted in custody wars—but she had never for one second imagined that it might happen to Sapphire.

"You can’t take her! Please…" she protested, her throat dry and raw with fear. She wanted to scream for help. But fear held her voice captive.

"She’s just a baby! She doesn’t know you. Soon she will be hungry and she’ll need a feed and…" Isabella tried to reason with the woman.

Frowningly Lillian hesitated.

What Isabella was saying was true! She thought quickly, her eyes narrowing with concentration.

"Well, if you’re so concerned about her, you’d better get in the car as well. Who knows? Perhaps Benjamin will be prepared to pay double to get the pair of you back!" Lillian said evilly.

Isabella stared at her. Lillian was kidnapping Sapphire in order to make Benjamin pay to get her back?

Frantically she searched the other woman’s face. Everything she could see there confirmed all that Isabella felt about her, and her fears for Sapphire grew.

Lillian was carelessly bundling Sapphire into the back of her car.

"Wait!" Isabella demanded as Lillian started to get into the car, ignoring Sapphire's wails of protest. "I’m coming with you. But we need to take the stroller…it turns into a car seat and—"

"No way! Either get in now or I’ll leave" Lillian told her grimly.

What real options did she have? Isabella asked herself.

None! Shakily she got into the back of the car and tried to comfort Sapphire as Lillian proceeded to drive off at such a high speed. Thank heavens she had Sapphire wrapped protectively in her arms.

By the time William and Elizabeth came out hearing the loud cries of the child, all they could see was a car speeding out their driveway.

William hurried towards the security guard.

"Who was that?" William asked frantically

"That was Isabella Madam and the baby" the security guard said

"Who was driving the car?" Elizabeth asked

"The woman who came here last week. The one wearing flashy dresses and all" the security said

"Damn it. How could you let her in?" William asked furiously

The security guard stared at them in fear. He wasn't aware that the woman shouldn't be allowed in.

"We didn't tell them to William . We never expected the woman to stoop this low to kidnap the child. Inform the police and Ben. Hurry up" Elizabeth said

Benjamin was driving home when he got a call from his father. All blood leached from his face when he heard what his father had to say

"What??"