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Give me my Baby

Author: Jade Lane
last update Last Updated: 2025-07-02 10:14:24

Anthony

“A-Anthony…what are…where have…you have to go!” Simone sputtered, attempting to close the door in my face. I wedged my cane in the door, refusing to leave as she demanded. “You need to leave before I call the police.”

“What are you going to tell them? That you stole a baby from the hospital?”

She wrenched the door open and confronted me, giving me enough room to force myself in.

“No! Get out!” she shouted as she followed me through the apartment. I moved fast with my cane; the constant pain seemed to ebb away the closer I reached my daughter’s nursery. I stopped outside the door that was decorated with a pink and gold glittered wooden ‘N’ hanging from it.

N. I wonder what her name is.

“You forced yourself into my home. I’m calling the police.”

“You do that,” I said, ignoring her empty threat.

I entered the nursery and almost considered turning back around. The room was decorated in soft pinks and lilacs, fitting for a princess. I was drawn to the white crib nestled under a sheer white canopy.

“You can’t just show up after a year and take her away from me after you abandoned her!”

Simone’s accusations didn’t sit well with me. Anger and bitterness roiled inside of me chaotically. I was always present for Simone and my child—every appointment, maternity clothes shopping, the occasional late-night craving, and the intimate baby shower we had for my daughter—just the two of us.

How dare she?

I whirled around and confronted her. “I did not abandon her!” I seethed angrily. “The driver of an 18-wheeler thought it was a good idea to take a nap behind the wheel and t-boned me. I was in a coma for over a year. That is why I missed her birth, but I swear to you, I made plans to find her as soon as I woke.” My confession softened her hard features as she took in my injuries for the first time. “I don’t have to ask you for permission, but if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to meet my daughter for the first time.”

The soft light from the nightlight illuminated the fresh tears in her eyes. Surely, my presence was unsettling and unexpected. Over the nine months, I’d gotten to know Simone on a personal level. She was kind, sweet, and nurturing—everything a mother should be. I had no doubt that she bonded with my child, and it was clear she took excellent care of her as if she were her own. But…she wasn’t hers…she was mine. Some might say I was cruel and heartless for what I was about to do, but I had no choice.

“Please…take a seat,” she whispered, pointing to a rocking chair in the corner of the room. I responded with a gentle nod and limped to the chair. The sound of my daughter babbling filled the bedroom as Simone gathered her from the crib. My heart swelled and galloped in anticipation. I recalled how nervous but prepared I was as Simone entered the final stretch of her pregnancy. She teased me about my “nesting.” She could be a wise-ass joker sometimes, but it was endearing.

“What is her name?” I asked, clearing the emotion from my throat.

“Nori…Nori Livingston.”

I chuckled ruefully. “Livingston, huh?”

“What else was I supposed to do? I couldn’t put your name on the birth certificate without you being present. It was either that or foster care.”

Simone held Nori close to her chest and buried her nose in a mop of black curls that were similar to mine. She closed her eyes and inhaled, most likely committing the scent to memory. I’d yet to see my daughter’s face, but I was already in love. It took everything in me not to make impatient grabby hands at her, but I had waited long enough. Simone kissed her head reverently and handed her to me. My outstretched hands shook nervously but ceased as soon as they made contact with her.

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  • The Cruel Millionaire's Surrogate   A Mother's Despair

    SimoneThe air kicked on, automatically cooling the small apartment to a crisp 68 degrees. I detested the cold, but Nori couldn’t sleep if it was too hot. I’d turn the thermostat up; however, I didn’t have the energy to move. I’d already called in sick, and my boss warned me that I couldn’t take any more days off without penalty. I whispered that I understood and hung up. I was about to toss my phone when I realized I had missed a call from Anthony at 4:18 in the morning. I listened to his voicemail more times than I cared to admit, trying to decipher if I should hate him more or a smidge less.I still hate him. Giving me an update on Nori feels like he’s taunting me, even if that isn’t his intention. Was it really that hard to grant me joint custody? Nori wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me. Hell, I would’ve taken a weekly supervised playdate if that meant I could see my daughter.I rolled over and realized my mistake when my red and puffy eyes landed on a pink and white 3-in-1 bab

  • The Cruel Millionaire's Surrogate   The Letter

    AnthonyIt was 4:00 in the morning, and Nori had finally exhausted herself from all the crying and fell asleep. I read to her, rocked her, gave her a bottle and her pacifier, played a cartoon on TV, and bathed her in lavender-scented soothing baby wash—nothing helped. For a moment, while she cried for her Mama, I considered letting her go. I nearly packed up my daughter and drove her to Simone’s place, but I felt that if I did, I’d be admitting defeat, and that I was never meant to be a parent if I couldn’t handle a night of crying.I want to be happy with my daughter, but what if I’m hurting her?I was on the edge of sleep when my eyes focused on the little white purse Nori had earlier carried. It hung from a knob of her white dresser drawers. I had to settle my curiosity. I opened the purse and found two folded letters: one for me and one for Nori.Anthony,I was prepared to curse you in this letter as no one has ever been cursed before. I wanted to call you every nasty name in the

  • The Cruel Millionaire's Surrogate   Father and Daughter

    Anthony“Nori, honey. Please settle down,” I whispered, damn near on the verge of crying myself. The child had been crying nonstop since we left the courtroom, and that was hours ago. She’d long ago ripped the white bows out of her head, leaving her ponytails wild and skewed. Her face was red, splotchy, and streaked with tears. I tried feeding her, and she swiped the bowl of spaghetti off the high chair table with a forceful backhand, sending sauce and noodles splattered against her pretty dress and the pristine white walls. She flopped over like a fish in the highchair and cried out the only word I assumed she knew…Mama.The more I told her to calm down, the worse it got.“You should give Simone a call. Maybe if Nori heard her voice, then she’ll settle down,” Jonathan suggested.“No, I got this.”“I think you were too aggressive. You could’ve done a gentle transition. You know, spend a few months getting to know Nori before taking her from Simone.” I ignored him and pulled a sauced no

  • The Cruel Millionaire's Surrogate   She's Gone

    SimoneMy baby is gone. I’ve lost her, but she isn’t dead. She still exists. I just…can never see or hold her again. It’s true. Every moment with your child is precious. Life is unpredictable—here today, gone tomorrow.Where do I go? Home? Back to the place with her nursery and a reminder of her first dentist appointment on the refrigerator? Somewhere else? A place where a memory of her doesn’t exist?I checked the time on my phone, but my lock screen was of her. I swallowed around the lump in my throat and questioned if I should remove it. The constant reminder of the love lost would be torture.“Ma’am, you have to leave. We’re locking the courthouse for the evening,” I heard from a gruff voice above me.“I’m sorry,” I whispered, standing to my feet.“I’ll escort you to your car.”“That won’t be necessary,” I refused. I left the courthouse and found my sedan in the parking lot looking as lonely as me. My breath caught in my throat when I eyed Nori’s car seat in the back.She will not

  • The Cruel Millionaire's Surrogate   The Verdict

    Simone“I’m sorry,” Anthony murmured as he sat beside me on a bench while we waited for the verdict.Sorry? I scoffed in my head while Nori sat on my lap, playing with a doll.“About which part? Trying to take my daughter? Refusing to split custody? Or was it bringing up food stamps or the fact I was a day or two late on my rent a few times—”“Six,” he reminded me, setting his cane across his lap.“You didn’t need to clarify,” I snapped.Heartless bastard.He cleared his throat, and his gaze locked on Nori. “I’m sorry…for all of it. Believe me, Ms. Livingston, it was not supposed to be this way. I didn’t want to do this.”I smiled ruefully. “Oh, let me guess…this hurts you more than it hurts me?”He pursed his lips before allowing his expression to even out. “Perhaps not more, but I’m hurting too.”“Not even getting hit by a truck hurts more than this.”His lips turned up softly. “You haven’t been hit by a truck yet.”“Yet?” I scoffed with a shrug. “You might as well, at this point.”

  • The Cruel Millionaire's Surrogate   A Father's Plea

    AnthonyI anxiously tapped my cane against the tile floor and stared at Judge Wallen. Her poker face was top-tier—she didn’t give the slightest hint of emotion as Simone expressed how she should retain parental rights of Nori.“Judge Wallen, I implore you to do the right thing. It’s regrettable what Mr. Powell went through, but I’ve been Nori’s everything since she was born. While he may be her biological father, he’s still a stranger.”“Do you have anything else to add before Mr. Powell speaks?”“I…I’ve loved Nori since I felt her first kick; however, I told myself not to get close to her because of my obligations and duty to Mr. Powell, but all bets were off when we left the hospital. It’s me and Nori against the world, and she’s mine. I’m not heartless, Judge Wallen. I propose joint custody if Mr. Powell is in agreement. It would only be fair.”“Thank you, Ms. Livingston. Please take your seat. Mr. Powell, will your lawyer speak on your behalf, or would you like to make a statement?

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