"Options... There must be Other Options..." (Book 1)

Chapter 157 - "Taken Away..."

Chapter 157 - "Taken Away..."

Clara's PoV

'What are you doing?' Lilly scoffed trying to talk some sense into John.

'Well they're not taking her away like that. I'm sorry but they're not. She's my daughter' John yelled at lilly although he knew that it wasn't her fault.

It was no ones fault but Clara's.

'But she's not though John. Biologically she's not' Richard said trying to comfort him but all John could think about was the way they forcefully dragged Evie from the house and out of johns arms.

And how stressed Evie looked when they pulled her away from him.

He didn't even have any time to tell them about her.

'Go to bed John. Get a good nights sleep and you might be able to fight in the morning' Lilly begged him not wanting him to do anything stupid amidst his anger.

'How the Fuck do you expect me to go to bed and sleep knowing that Evie is in a place that is scary. She's 4 years old? She's in a care home with people that she doesn't know probably having a panic attack or hiding in a small cupboard completely confused as to why she's been taken away from her Dad and her sisters and the people that she loves the most'

'John--'

'No. She'll be having a panic attack. I just know it. She hates new places and places that she doesn't know and I didn't even get a chance to tell them about any allergies or anything' John pouted, slamming his bedroom door shut leaving Richard to deal with the other two.

- - -

John couldn't sleep - which was to be expected, so he spent his evening looking for everything - anything that proved that he could keep her but he couldn't find anything other than the birth certificate.

It frustrated him but Clara never would have put his name on the birth certificate if she didn't want him to have claims over her surely?

And why is it fair that they should rip w four year old from the house that she is happy - and technically her sisters live here. Why take her away from her sister?

So John took measures into his own hands that morning at about half past 7, grabbing his car keys and drove to the first of many places that morning.

- - -

'You have to know where she's gone?' John begged, as he looked at a man that despised him.

Ever since Clara had come back into his life s year ago - he hadn't been to see Dave Oswald once because quite frankly the man scared the life out of him.

But in this instance - John didn't feel like he really had a choice. He had to do what he could to get Evie back.

'Why are you here John? It's 8 o clock on a Sunday morning? What do you want?'

'Social services have taken Evie. They just turned up at my house last night and took her away from me. You have to know where Clara is? Even just a small inkling about where she had gone'

'Why did they take Evie and not the other two?'

'Evie isn't biologically my daughter. I didn't know until Clara told me before we had Poppy. And now Clara's gone and the Dad has got involved and now it's all a complete mess. Without Clara I don't know how I can convince the courts that Evie is best off in my care. You have got to help me' John begged.

'I don't know where Clara is. The last I heard she was in Greece. But she hasn't been in contact since and that was over 10 days ago' Dave said and quite frankly - John believed him.

'What do I do?'

'There's one thing that I do know - no matter how much I despise you - they have been in your care for 5 years and are all okay. You are obviously a great father. So I'll support you in that' Dave scoffed, taking a seat in the lounge and smiling across at John for the first time since Clara and him had gotten hitched.

- - -

'Get up. Get up now' John snapped at Scott the following Monday morning.

John hadn't slept in over 48 hours now from fear of where Evie was and what she was doing and if she was okay.

He highly doubted that she had slept in 48 hours either.

'Dude. Calm down. I did it in my daughters best interest' Scott defended, hands in the air.

'Best interest? What the Fuck would you know about her best interests? You didn't know the kid existed for 4 years. Why take an interest now?' John snapped.

'Because she's my kid and I'd quite like to see her'

'See her all the Fuck you like. But she lives with me. You cannot take a 4 year old from a place that they are happy in and send them away'

'Come on man. I've seen that kid. She's underweight. She's not looked after in that house of yours. And what the Fuck do you even care? She spends more time with the nanny than she does with you. You might have money but you ain't looking after her'

'You think that her best interests are at heart but you've git no idea. She was born three months early leaving her with a whole host of complications for later on. They didn't even give me a chance to give them her medications so who knows how fucked she'll be by the time I get her back. She suffers with seizures and panic attacks. I've not doubt that they have no idea where she is right now. But you think your doing this in her best interest? Her best interest is to be where she is loved and where she is surrounded by her sisters' John said ending his speech and rant and realised that the entire office was now going to know his business.

'I didn't know she had health problems' Scott muttered.

'No, because you didn't wait long enough to find out. You jumped to conclusions and have pretty much ruined mine and Evie's life. I will be adopting her - weather you like it or not? She's been raised by me for 5 years and will continue to be raised by me until she's 18 weather Clara comes back or not' John snapped, slamming the door and collapsing at his desk in the office.