Isabella: Our Adopted Baby

Chapter 18

Giovanni didn't set me down until we were in my room. He put me down on the changing pad instead of the floor. He dodged my attempts to kick him yet stayed close enough that he was able to push me back down when I tried getting up. He was smart. Clearly, he'd been through this same scenario before.

"Isabella, enough. The more you fight this, the more difficult this is going to be. Just use the diaper and we'll get off your back."

"No, you won't. It'll be something else. You'll find some other way to torture me and punish me and hurt me."

"We don't mean to hurt you." His tone was softer when he spoke, like he was trying to defuse me with just his tone and volume.

It wasn't going to work.

"Don't lie to me."

Giovanni went to grab another diaper but stopped as his eyes scanned over the trash can. He picked up one of the used diapers and held it up for me to see. "You know these are our rules. Why are you fighting us on it?"

"It's embarrassing," I said through a hiccup of a cry.

"There's nothing embarrassing about using diapers. You're a baby, Isa. That's what babies do."

I shook my head. I wasn't a baby and that's not what I did. I used the bathroom like a normal person.

He put the dirty diaper back in the trash and grabbed one of the clean ones from the pile. He turned back to me and lifted my dress up all the while ignoring my pleas. He pulled off the diaper I was already wearing and folded it up. He tossed it in the trash before unfolding the new diaper. He slid it under me and taped it up quicker than I could whenever I tried.

As he taped it together, he looked up at me. "You have to make sure it's taped up enough or else it could come loose or come apart completely."

"It wouldn't be a problem if you didn't force me to wear them."

"It's part of the contract, Isabella. You signed it so you have to follow our rules."

"You didn't give me a choice," I pointed out.

He sat back on his heels, giving me room to sit up. "You were referred to Adult Surrogacy because you were struggling. Your test results proved that to be true. The point of the program is to find someone like Quinn and me to take care of you and make sure you're doing okay. By completing the application, you signed over your rights to us. The contract was only to legalize things."

My eyebrows furrowed. "So you tricked me into signing the contract?"

"I would say I intimidated you actually."

I kicked his leg with my foot. I was surprised he let me do it. "You're the worst. I can't believe this. I'm suing ASI."

"You signed the contract so you can't sue them. You can't sue Quinn and me either."

The more I found out about the situation, the worse it sounded. All of my rights were taken from me. It really did make me feel like a baby. Babies were vulnerable and relied on their parents and loved ones to care for them and their every need. That's what my life was turning into.

I wished I'd never looked into ASI.

"You need to use your diaper, Isabella. The right way. Not behind our backs."

I backed up on the mattress until my back hit the wall. I pulled my legs up to my chest as tears filled my eyes. I felt like I was backed into a corner with no way out. Everyone was against me and I could either continue fighting a useless battle or give in and let it happen.

It was only 30 days. How bad could it really be?

"Quinn's making us lunch. Let's go wash your hands before we go back down."

"I'm not hungry anymore," I whispered.

Giovanni sat down and scooted back until he was beside me. "I know this is overwhelming for you. We're trying to make it less so. Our rules aren't meant to be harsh or unfair. We know that they're different than most but sometimes change is good. That's what you wanted when you called ASI, isn't it?"

I paused for a few seconds before I nodded.

"Just give it a try. That's all we're asking for. When the first thirty days are up, we can take a look at the contract again. If you want to move on from us, you're welcome to do that. We won't force you to stay."

I sniffled and wiped my nose with the back of my hand.

Giovanni leaned over me and grabbed a pack of baby wipes. He pulled one out and turned so he was facing me. He wiped my nose for me before telling me to blow into the wipe.

He wadded up the dirty wipe and then got another one from the pack. He wiped the tears from my face and brushed my hair behind my ears. "All better."

I rubbed my eyes with my fists. "Do I have to eat lunch?"

"Quinn would be upset if you didn't. She's a really good cook, you know."

"Is she gonna be mad at me?"

"Only if you don't eat. Anything else is water under the bridge."

"I can try."

"That's all we're asking for."