by Sandi Lynn
“Where’s Ella? You told me you’d have her here.”
“She’s at home. She’s not feeling well.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“She has a cold.” I lied. “Sit down, Rebecca.”
“What’s going on here, Julian?”
“We both know you’re in no shape to raise Ella. That’s why you brought her to me in the first place.”
“I was going through a rough period, but I’m better now.”
“No. No, you’re not, Rebecca. I called you here because I want to make you an offer.”
“What kind of offer?”
“I’m willing to pay you one hundred thousand dollars to sign away your parental rights to Ella.”
“What!” she yelled. “Are you crazy? No way. You think I’d do that for only a hundred thousand?”
I cocked my head at her in disbelief.
“Fine. Two hundred thousand.”
“Five hundred thousand and you have a deal.”
I laughed to myself because I would have paid millions to keep her out of my daughter’s life. I hesitated for a moment.
“Five hundred thousand it is.”
“Okay. Where’s the check? I’ll take it and you’ll never see me again.”
“My lawyer has it along with the document you need to sign. I can call him in if you’re ready.”
“Yeah. I’m ready. Let’s get this over with.”
I picked up my phone from the table and sent a text to Elijah. A few moments later he stepped inside the conference room.
“Miss Hayes. I’m Elijah Wolfe, Julian’s attorney. Do you swear that you’re signing this document of your own free will?”
“Yeah. Yeah. Come on, just hand it over.”
Elijah looked at me as he handed her the paper and a pen.
“I would suggest you read it over first,” Elijah said.
“I don’t need to. I know I’m giving up my rights to my daughter in exchange for five hundred thousand dollars.”
Elijah looked at me with a confused look on his face, and I gave him a nod.
“There. All signed,” she spoke as she slid the paper across the table. “Where’s the check?” Rebecca asked.
Elijah handed me a blank check I had him hold on to, and I filled in the amount.
“It’s done.” I slid the check over to her.
“I guess it is.” She got up from her seat. “I hope one day our daughter can forgive both of us.”
“What do you mean?” I narrowed my eye at her.
“I hope she forgives me for signing away my parental rights, and I hope she can forgive you for paying her mother off for doing it. Goodbye, Julian.”
I ran my hand down my face as I sighed.
“Ella never has to know, Julian.”
“I know.”
“You know, I have to ask. How did you end up with that?” Elijah asked.
“It was one weekend, and I was inebriated the entire time.”
“Ah. I’ve had weekends like that in my life too.” He sighed.
Chapter 23
Christmas Day
Julian
I opened my eyes to find Georgia staring at me.
“Merry Christmas.” She smiled.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” I leaned over and kissed her lips. “How long have you been awake?”
“Just a few minutes.”
Suddenly, we heard Ella talking in her crib.
“She’s up!” we both said as we jumped out of bed.
Opening her door, I leaned over the crib, and Ella smiled at me.
“Merry Christmas, Princess.” I gave her a big kiss as I picked her up.
“Merry Christmas, sweet girl.” Georgia smiled as she kissed her head.
We took her downstairs and over to the tree where beautifully wrapped presents filled the space.
“Look, Ella. Santa came and left these for you,” I said as the three of us sat down on the floor.
We handed her the presents we bought and helped her open them. The only thing she was interested in was the wrapping paper and the ribbon. Once we gave her all her gifts, we opened a few toys and let her play with them. Reaching in the back of the tree, I pulled out a small box and handed it to Georgia.
“It looks like Santa left you something.” I smiled.
“Julian.” A soft smile crossed her face.
She took the wrapping off and opened the lid to reveal a white gold ring sprinkled with diamonds and a diamond heart that perfectly sat in the middle.
“Oh, my gosh. It’s beautiful.” She looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
“It’s a promise ring and a declaration of my love for you. The heart in the center is my heart because you’ve stolen it, and it represents my devotion and my commitment to you. I have loved no one in my life as much as I love you. This Christmas has truly been a miracle, and one I never expected. You have brought so much light into my life, Georgia Beckham.”
“Oh, Julian,” she softly spoke as she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a warm and loving hug. “I love you so much. Thank you. I’ll never take this off,” she said as she placed the ring on her finger.
“I’m happy you like it, sweetheart. There’s a few more things under the tree for you.”
“I have a few things for you too. Open this one first.” She smiled as she handed me a nicely wrapped box.
Taking the paper off, I removed the lid and found a beautiful dark cherry framed collage filled with black and white pictures of me and Ella, with one picture in the corner of the three of us. The photograph in the center was the largest one and a picture of me holding Ella and kissing the side of her head.
“Sweetheart, I love this. When did you take this picture?” I asked.
“I snuck it one day when I walked in and saw the two of you. That picture is so incredibly sweet. I thought it would look good hanging on the wall in your office.”
“It’s going to look perfect there, and now I’ll have my two favorite girls with me even when I’m not home.” I leaned over and wrapped my arms around her. “I love it. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.”
After we opened the last few presents, Georgia made a bottle for Ella and handed it to me.
“I’m going to make us a special Christmas breakfast while you feed her.”
I picked Ella up from the floor and held her on my hip while we stood in front of the tree as she drank from her bottle.
“Merry Christmas, princess. It’s your first one of many more for the rest of your life, and I’m going to make sure every Christmas is more special than the last. You are truly a special little girl. You’re my Christmas baby and I love you to the moon and back.”
We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast and a Facetime chat with Kevin and Kate. When we laid Ella down for a nap, I took Georgia into the bedroom and gave her one more gift. Elijah and Aspen invited us over for Christmas dinner where we spent the rest of the day and evening with the entire Wolfe family, catching up on long overdue talks and having a merry time.
When we arrived home, I took Ella right upstairs and laid her down in her crib. She’d had a busy and exciting day and was exhausted. Thank God Georgia had packed her Christmas pajamas in the diaper bag. When I walked downstairs and into the living room, Georgia had poured us each a glass of wine and she took a seat on the couch. Grabbing the music remote from the table, I turned on The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole and held out my hand to her.
“May I have this dance?”
“You may.” She grinned as she set her drink down and placed her hand in mine.
We slowly danced to the music as my arm wrapped around her waist and our fingers intertwined.
“This was such a wonderful and magical day,” she spoke as she stared into my eyes.
“It certainly was, and one I will cherish forever.”
“Next year will be even better. Ella will be a year older and she’ll understand a little more,” Georgia said.
“I’m definitely sticking around, Mr. Cambridge. And you know why?” She smiled.
“Because you can’t resist me and my gift that keeps on giving and giving?”
She threw her head back as she let out a laugh.
“Since you put it that way, yes. But the main reason I’m sticking around is because out of all the different cities and states I’ve visited, I finally found where I truly belong.” Her lips pressed against mine.
Books by Sandi Lynn
If you haven’t already done so, please check out my other books. Escape from reality and into the world of romance. I’ll take you on a journey of love, pain, heartache and happily ever afters.
Series:
Forever Series
Forever Black (Forever, Book 1)
Forever You (Forever, Book 2)
Forever Us (Forever, Book 3)
Being Julia (Forever, Book 4)
Collin (Forever, Book 5)
A Forever Family (Forever, Book 6)
A Forever Christmas (Holiday short story)
Wyatt Brothers
Love, Lust & A Millionaire (Wyatt Brothers, Book 1)
Love, Lust & Liam (Wyatt Brothers, Book 2)
A Millionaire’s Love
Lie Next To Me (A Millionaire’s Love, Book 1)
When I Lie with You (A Millionaire’s Love, Book 2)
Happened Series
Then You Happened (Happened Series, Book 1)
Then We Happened (Happened Series, Book 2)
Redemption Series
Carter Grayson (Redemption Series, Book 1)
Chase Calloway (Redemption Series, Book 2)
Jamieson Finn (Redemption Series, Book 3)
Damien Prescott (Redemption Series, Book 4)
Interview Series
The Interview: New York & Los Angeles Part 1
The Interview: New York & Los Angeles Part 2
Love Series:
Love In Between (Love Series, Book 1)
The Upside of Love (Love Series, Book 2)
Wolfe Brothers
Elijah Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers, Book 1)
Nathan Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers, Book 2)
Mason Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers, Book 3)
Standalone Books
His Proposed Deal
A Love Called Simon
The Seduction of Alex Parker
Something About Lorelei
One Night In London
The Exception
Corporate A$$ETS
A Beautiful Sight
The Negotiation
Defense
Playing The Millionaire
#Delete
Behind His Lies
One Night In Paris
Perfectly You
The Escort
The Ring
The Donor
Rewind
Remembering You
When I’m With You
LOGAN (A Hockey Romance)
About the Author
Sandi Lynn is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who spends all her days writing. She published her first novel, Forever Black, in February 2013 and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her mission is to provide readers with romance novels that will whisk them away to another world and from the daily grind of life – one book at a time.
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