Light to Her Darkness

Chapter 8

"You're snatching Lily's guardianship from me?" 

I looked at him in disbelief unable to hide how my heart was shattering at his move. My knees became wobbly and my lips quivered as I tried to regain my posture but failed miserably. 

"Because you think I'm unfit for her." 

It barely came out as a whisper and by now tears were flowing out of my eyes. I couldn't believe he wrote this as a reason in the contract, for taking the guardianship from me. I don't know what hurt me more; him snatching the guardianship from me or calling me unfit for Lily.

"I'm not snatching the guardianship I'm taking over."

"Why?"

"Because you clearly can't take care of her Emma. Don't try to be oblivious about it. You and I both know you almost killed her."

Anger suppressed my feeling of devastation and my palms connected with his face before I could stop myself.

"You do not have right on my Lily. She is my sister. Did you fucking hear that? She is my sister, not yours. You can't take away the only source of happiness for your twisted way of taking revenge on me. No, I wouldn't let you do that. I wouldn't fucking let you take her from me." 

I pushed his chest attempting to make him believe how fucking serious I was. His gaze darkened and I could feel his anger to my bones. He was shaking in anger but I stood my ground looking him in his eyes conveying I'm not afraid of him. 

Within a blink of an eye, he grabbed my arm his finger digging deep into my flesh. He dragged me out of his office, and we became the center of everyone's attention.

Everyone in the office stopped working and looked at the scene we were creating. I was too stunned to be embarrassed about the situation right now. I was looking at Adrian, while he was staring straight, dragging me towards the main gate of the building.

His hold on my arm began to burn and I knew for sure that it would leave a nasty bruise. Once we reached the gate, he threw me out like I was mere trash or dirt... anything but a human. My knees scraped the ground while I fell on my side.

He looked at the guard and screamed, "If I see her anywhere near the building, you're gonna lose your job and I'll make sure you won't get a job anywhere else." 

The security man instantly nodded.

Adrian gave me one last glare before he turned and proceeded to enter his building.

"Adrian please, you're better than this. Don't take her away from me I would die without her." I cried while my voice was filled with pain and anguish.

He turned giving me his full attention, "Then die. You know what Emma, I was going to let you be part of her life but after the stunt, you pulled today, I wouldn't even let you see her." Pure hatred was pouring into his words and I cringed feeling every bit of his hatred.

He came towards me gripped my jaw and pulled me towards him until I was sitting on the ground.

He brought his face closer to mine and said, "After what you did, you had the audacity to come into my fucking territory and question me, question my relationship with your sister, question my love and adoration towards her. How. Fucking. Dare. You."

He released his grip from my jaw and went back inside his fucking territory leaving me there sitting on the ground. I was staring at the door hoping that he will come back and say this was a mistake but who was I kidding? This was never going to happen.

"Ma'am, you need to leave." A voice said from my behind said and I turned to look at the guard. I nodded and slowly got up but stumbled again due to the intense pain in my ankle. Maybe I sprained my ankle when I fell.

I looked around and realized I wouldn't be getting a cab as this was a private area and I couldn't bring my car as my license has been revoked.

I walked out of the area trying very hard to ignore the pain. As I was walking, I started making plans on what I should do next to ensure that I would remain her guardian. I fought for her guardianship from the moment I turned eighteen. Me and Lily... we had different fathers. My father was a great man, he loved me but he died of cancer when I was twelve.

That affected my mom so much that she got on the path of self-destruction forgetting that she had a child to take care of. Drugs, drinking, and the regular occurrence of drug dealer boyfriends at home became a regular in my house.

Keith Morrison a drug dealer became her one long-time boyfriend and therefore the father of Lily. When mom found out about the pregnancy Keith was the one who was happy and ready to take care of his child.

He found a job as a night security guard at some company and mum too found a job decent enough job as a salesperson or that's what she said anyway. During that time Keith... let's just say he did some questionable things which no one besides me knew about.

Once Lily was born everything went to normal. Everyone was happy but life took a 360-degree turn when mom was arrested for dealing. I was seventeen and came under the care of that horrible man. So, the moment I turned eighteen I could finally flee. But I didn't have the heart to leave Lily with that man. So, I was there with him for five more months enduring everything he threw on my face until I finally got the guardianship and fled from the place.

It's just been eight years and now I'm again at the point where I have to fight for Lily. To prove that I am perfectly capable of taking care of her. To love her, support her, and be a parental figure to Lily.

But this time I'm not so sure that I'll win. Because let's be honest, why would anyone let me a normal chef with no stable income have a child when there is a perfectly capable man, with a steady income, let's not forget he is one of the richest and most powerful men of America, is fighting for Lily. Why would anyone even give me a chance?

I sighed and hugged myself comforting myself and hoping that this will pass too. I rubbed my arms as a feeling of being watched crept up on me. I looked around to see a sign of anyone but found no one.

The pain in my ankle was increasing and so was the pain in my head. All I wanted was to go to the hospital to be with Lily.

Suddenly a car pulled over beside me and I felt terrified watching the person sitting in it. My eyes widened and at that moment I didn't care about my sprained ankle. I picked up my speed to try to get away from the person who scares me the most in this whole world.

When I came here to meet Adrian, I knew I would be taking a risk by running into him.

"Get in!"

***

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