Paint Me Claimed - Book 2

Fierce, loyal and strong woman

Leonardo

Amara's custody trial for Faizy had always been the matter that pushed her over the edge. Always the calm and rational woman, when it came to her son Faizy's topic, Amara morphed into a reckless, mad woman.

Yes, mad. I had the sole experience of seeing her abuse the living hell out of her ex-husband when he first informed her about filing for Faizy's custody.

Things were never good between Amara and her ex- Holden. They met during a friend's wedding, got married at a whim and had a kid without first charting the direction of their relationship. When Amara got into the Army, she had lesser time to spend with her son. Adding to that, the difference which both Amara and Holden didn't consider before cropped up to separate them.

"It's gonna be fine," Amara said as soon as we got out of the car and walked the steps of the courthouse. "It's really gonna be fine."

She wasn't imbibing me with confidence. Those words were her affirmation. Her strength.

With the couple unable to find a common ground in Faisy's custody, the mediation failed. The trial was the last thing on Amara's mind but as was with most divorced couples, bitterness and resentment made Holden decide for it.

Amara was out, serving the country when she was informed of the news. She found the right timing to come back as my caregiver, resigning from her job to seek a more stable one where she wouldn't be away from her child.

The phone in my hand buzzed. Zem's name flashed up.

"Hello there," I answered, hearing her sigh on the call. Since the last time I heard her holding her ground against my father, I knew Zemira could tackle anything. What she couldn't handle was our distance.

"I miss you," her grumpy voice, annoyed grunt and another huff of air answered. "Come back soon."

"I will, baby." I smiled into the phone, stooping my head lower. Since Amara was wound up tighter than usual, I didn't want her to be annoyed, watching me act like a teenager while talking to my fiancée. "I'm at the courthouse."

The moment I said it, Zemira's tone hardened. "You know, they can dig up anything against you too."

"Don't you think I know that?"

"You do," a louder, more frustrating grunt emerged. "But all I'm asking is be prepared."

"I will, darling." My heart melted at her concern. Heck, everything about me melted at the way she loved me. Love me.

After we said our goodbyes, I walked up to Amara and her lawyer. That man in his early thirties looked too young to defend and win but he came highly recommended. Amara spared no expense in hiring him. For her, it was a matter of life or death.

If she lost, Holden would take Faizy out of the country, making her suffer every time she wanted to see her child.

Funny how love made us do crazy things. I was sure, when Amara and Holden got married, they must not have considered divorce or anything that could separate them. After all, love made everyone blind.

Only when they fell out of it, did reality hit them. Hard.

Stuck in a tug of war between two parents was Faizy. Sweet and innocent, I only had the privilege of meeting him once. Once was enough. In that one meeting, I realized why Amara was ready to drain all her resources on that kid.

Faizy's kind and empathetic nature astound me. He may have been away from Amara while she served in the reserves, he imbibed her true nature in almost everything. Even unrequited anger.