Finding Lilibeth

Mark headed back into Lilibeth's room to see the little girl asleep on the bed. She must have exhausted herself crying. In a way he was glad though, because now he didn't have to answer her question about what would happen to her seeing her mum had signed her away. He knew that Darren was not the best option for Lilibeth especially with his behaviour but he was her father and unless Mark found something horrible at his house he would be given the care of Lilibeth.

Mark shook his head, that man clearly didn't care but he was a pompous arse and wouldn't allow Lilibeth go into care due to image only. He didn't want Lilibeth to ruin his reputation. Mark hoped that he could find something wrong in that house so Lilibeth wouldn't have to suffer more then she already had. He gathered his things and quietly left the room hoping that some how he found a way to keep Lilibeth away from the man who fathered her.

Darren headed home. He knew he needed to let his sons know about Lilibeth. He would tell his eldest next week when he was going to visit him and attend a meeting. His other sons though, he would tell tonight. He messaged Beau, Zac, Lex and Leo ordering them home. He loved his sons extremely but they were grown now so did there own thing. They had dinners together during the week and Sunday dinner with Darren's parents but the boys could do what they wanted the other days and seeing it was Friday they would all be off doing there own thing.

As Darren pulled up to the house he saw the cars in the driveway and knew his boys were home. As he walked into the house seeing five of his sons watching every move he made. "Who died dad?" Leo asked frustrated he had to come home. Leo slapped Lex on the arm in warning, Lex had had a few drinks and had no filter once he had a bit of alcohol in his system.

Darren entered the room pouring himself a scotch and skulling it quickly before pouring another and walking over to the coffee table. Darren sat on the table in front of his children and cleared his throat. He was still tossing up on how to tell them what was happening. He looked at his children and sighed, he knew the best way to do this was to just rip the Band-Aid off and tell them straight.

"I have a daughter. After your mother passed, I used a young girl to forget and she got pregnant. I was drinking heavily and was a right mess. I paid the woman to abort the child but she didn't. I got a call today informing me the child was in hospital and required surgery. She will be living here when she is released from the hospital in two days. Her social worker will be here in the morning to check the home is suitable. You will all be on your best behaviour" Darren stated.

"You have got to be kidding me" Zac fumed out before standing up and storming out of the house. "Send her back to her mother" Lex yelled before he too stormed out of the house. Leo took off after his twin brother while Beau stayed looking at his father in disgusted.

Darren shook his head, he couldn't blame his sons at all for there reaction. He was ashamed of his actions years ago and now he and his children had to suffer the consequences of his decisions. "Why bring her here?" Beau asked his father. "Her mother is not equipped to parent her anymore. It's that or foster care" Darren replied. Beau stood up and shook his head at his father. He couldn't believe the way he was talking about the child but he also was angry. "Send her to foster care then or will that ruin your reputation father" Beau spat before leaving. Beau didn't want the child here at all, it was a reminder that there mother was gone and there father had taken off just after she died. They basically lost two parents for two years until there father had sorted himself out.

Darren sighed and skulled the rest of his scotch. He was ashamed of his actions years ago but knew he couldn't change that. He was also ashamed of the fact he didn't even speak with the doctor about his daughter but tried not to dwell on it. He had things to do tonight and one of them included informing his staff about the visit of child protection in the morning. His house keeper usually didn't work Saturdays and only worked every second Sunday so she would have to come in tomorrow morning to help with the set up of the room for his daughter.

Darren made the calls he needed to and then headed to his office to continue with his work. He would be flying out on Monday to see Dj and attend a business meeting which had been scheduled for months. Beau would have to care for Lilibeth while he was gone along with the others. The housekeep would take care of her during the day and the boys would be responsible for the rest of it. He would shorten his trip from two weeks to a week so that he then had a week to get to know Lilibeth and enrol her in school.

Darren contacted Paul to organise the changes for his trip and set up a meeting with the school for Lilibeth. He also got Paul to arrange for the housekeeper to be working while Daniel was away and to contact Lilibeth's doctor to find out about her condition. By the time Darren finished work it was way past midnight and he was ready for bed. His sons hadn't returned home and Mark would be here at 11am tomorrow. Darren just hopped that things went smoothly as he didn't want a long drawn out process to have Lilibeth placed in his care.