Antonio's POV

"Alright Florence. Since Ellie is adopted. Isn't there a way to rid of Henry's custody he's been abusive towards her" I said.

"Really? This is the first I've heard of it. No one has reported that to me" Florence said.

"Right.. Well as a social worker they need a better environment and a better home" I reasoned.

"Sir, I can't simply lift the custody unless he's been caught doing something he shouldn't" as Florence was saying that i couldn't help but clench my fist.

"Okay well he was a Financial Manager for BlueTech. It is said that he was fired from his job due to alcohol and gambling." I started to say as i slid the evidence towards her. she then opened the file and looked over,

"Well?" I said tapping the ground with the heels of my shoes,

"Yes we could use this information." She says, which earns a sigh from me

"However. He would need to agree" She says.

"But he is a deraged abusive human now" i angrily say in disbelief of her words,

"Sir. I'm only doing things by law. The only way this will work is if the biological parent files a petition to have the custody terminated" Florence explains.

"The parents gave up their right to be her parents. How should they have a say?!" I slammed the table with my fist.

"Sir. I can take the child away from Henry Locks and have her in your care." She says.

"About time you said something useful" I sat back in my seat.

"May I know who her biological parents are. I already have a doctor that is taking DNA tests" I said.

"It's forbidden against the law to say who the parent is." Florence says.

I cracked my neck then I closed my eyes.

Calm Down Antonio It's not going to work if you demand.

"I understand. If it's a closed adoption like you said. If I get the law to help to unseal the information I will win custody over her" I said.

"Yes that's correct. If you can get the law to help. Then Please do so. I don't like the thought of her being in custody of Ellie as well" Florence says with a sigh.

She seems to know something that I don't...

"why are you sighing?" I asked.

"Well. I was the one who brought Ellie to the orphanage upon the birth mother's request" Florence explains.

"Then you surely know who she is don't you?!" I cocked an eyebrow.

"Yes. I do. But even If I tell you. The mother signed a pre adoption form for Ellie. She died on the table" Florence says.

"Then how the hell am I suppose to get the birth mother to reverse the custody" I gripped the arm chair.

"Sir. this is something you should find out by yourself. I can't answer that to you. But I'll put Ellie in the system and you may adopt her then. But before you do so. The answer is inside this. I haven't looked but I think it'll help." Florence says and she gives me another document casually sliding it to me then stands up.

"It was good to meet you." she said and walked out of the cafe.

Can't answer...! Who does she take me for.

I was searching for answers.

But if the birth mother died.

At least if Ellie is in the system I can adopt her.

But why do I have to wait?! I left a hefty tip for the server due to my outburst at the cafe.

I started walking out towards my car, it had been 9:30 by the time i looked to my watch.

After all that hour I got nothing.

I forwarded the intel to Cortez and Mat. soon i parked my car to the side and gradually opened the document.

~ Dear, Antonio Smith.

I am probably one of your millionth girls you had over.

I came to you that day because I was played and I needed to get my feelings filled.

I won't tell you my name only because you'll probably not remember.

But when I first met you. You clearly stated that if I was to get pregnant after our third encounter you would want to abort it. Now I couldn't do that. I vanished after I found I was pregnant.

I moved across the country to New Zealand. I wrote this in hopes that maybe just maybe you would love the child. I don't know what gender the child is. But I requested to have it sent to a orphanage that has the best service. Julia Locks was my best friend since childhood. I entrusted her with our child. I didn't bother with you because I wanted the child to be loved.

While I was pregnant the doctors said I had a high chance of not making it.

I'm not sure if you'll even get this note or document. But if you do. I don't mean to burden you with the child. -anonymous.

I stared at the document contently.

Did I say such a thing? Who was she.

So she is my child? Ellie is my biological daughter.

I began to lean back in the seat of my car.

Ellie is my flesh and blood.

I still couldn't process it.

All those 5 years I had a daughter.

i felt some tears falling down my cheeks as my vision went blurry, she endured all those bruises because I said to abort her.

What the hell was my 20 year old self thinking.

I started to rub my temple then i hit my steering wheel

Ellie always was my daughter all this time.

I turned the car back on and drove to a bar.

I phoned Mat.

"Mat come to Rudy's Bar." I said and clicked off.

I turned my car off and I walked into the bar.

Soon enough Mat came.

I took a seat at the barstool.

"Dude you just called me while I was digging up information and you hung up before I could say anything" Mat rambles on.

"Ellie is my biological daughter" I said.

"What?!" Mat says in shock.

"Yes I know I don't understand either but the social worker named Florence gave me this document" I handed the document to Mat.

while he was reading it I ordered a shot of tequila.

"Man. I mean I knew you slept with alot of girls but to get them pregnant and to threaten that if they were just abort it" Mat scratches his head giving the letter back to me.

"I know. Mat I don't even know why I would think of such thing. I guess I was scared I would be like my father" I explained.

"Wow all this time you had a daughter you never knew" Mat smacks me on the back of my shoulder.

"How the hell should I? That woman never gave me her name and for pete sake she entrusted MY CHILD to her best friend" I said emphasising my child then I rubbed my forehead.

"I mean if I was her. I wouldn't want my child to be aborted" Mat says in a mocking voice.

I smacked him in the bicep.

"Are you really going to just mock me and not help me" I swallowed the tequila.

"Well I'm trying. I knew she looked like you" my buddy says ordering himself a glass of cocktail.

"Mat if you knew that. Then you could've told me" I sighed.

"I wasn't sure. But since it is true then yes she resembles you a lot" he says.

"Now she is in custody of that Henry Locks" I groaned.

"Hey. as a police chief I may be able to get her custody to you without any court" He says.

"Mat are you for real?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes don't you trust your bro." he drinks his cocktail.

"Sure. once Cortez gets the DNA tests back we can even use the letter to confirm so it's a win" he continues as he casually took another a sip of his cocktail.

"Well okay but what about Ellie? How is she going to react" I rubbed my temple again.

"First off you just tell her nothing but the truth" Mat says.

This is why i had taken such an interest towards that child.

it was like a magnetic pull, because she had my blood running through her veins..

"Mat. what if she thinks I gave her up and now I want her back?!" I gulped down water I didn't need to go home drunk.

"Buddy. She won't think that if you just tell her the full truth" he reassures me.

"And if it backfires?" I set the glass of water down,

"Dude don't even think that but if that happens your last resort is Florence" he says.

"Matthias. I feel awful. My daughter has been out there and I didn't even know." I put my head down on the counter.

"I heard that Jenna is staying at your place. Why don't you tell Jenna that and see if she can somehow make things easier?" Mat suggests.

"How does that help" I asked.

"Well I am sure that if you let someone know and while you explain it to Ellie it wouldn't come on as a shocker." He says.

"Mat. for the first time. You are a genius" I said giving him a bro hug.

"Hey. treat me to dinner!" he hollers as I made my way out the bar.

I gave a wave while my back was turned on him.