He had thought everyone would have started gossiping or demanding information but they'd been more concerned that he was ok. Even Lucias had rushed down to see him.
Lucias eventually contacted Seth's Father and demanded he get a tighter rein on his daughter. His Father didn't like that but Lisa's visits started to become less frequent.
The last Seth heard, his sister was having a baby with her husband but his parents hadn't been happy about it. Hearing that news, Seth had started to feel a little empty inside, a little lonely. Lucias had noticed he wasn't quite himself at home too.
"Baby?" he whispered against his ear from behind.
Seth had been standing at the large windows in the living area, staring out at the dark landscape. He hadn't heard Lucias walk up so he had jumped.
"You scared me," he squeaked.
"Sorry," he smirked against his neck as he wrapped his arms around him. "You were out of it, is everything ok?"
Seth sighed and nodded.
"Talk to me," Lucias insisted. "You've been acting strange for a week now."
He sighed again and gripped Lucias' arms, pulling them even tighter around his body.
"It's nothing really …" he started. "Lisa has had a baby."
Lucias instantly understood.
"Do you want to go see the baby?" he asked.
"No!" Seth whispered quickly. "I mean in a way I do, but I also don't want Lisa to think she has an in with us. I'm just worried for that little baby, Lisa has no idea how to look after anyone except herself."
"We could negotiate visitation or something like that," Lucias had offered.
"Thanks, babes, but Lisa would use her child to squeeze money out of you for life. Always coming around to say the baby needs this or that, I wouldn't put it past her to say the baby had an illness or something and she needed help with the bills. I just wish I could take the baby away from that life, he or she is going to be so lonely and most likely used."
---
A week later, Lucias had called Seth to his office. When he arrived he was shocked to see Lisa there with Clark and the baby. Lucias patted the space next to him and Seth sat down looking confused.
"What's going on?"
Lisa glared at him whilst Clark looked oblivious or bored he couldn't decide. Seth turned to Lucias who smiled whilst gripping his hand.
"Well, I've been thinking about what you said last week about your new niece," he started.
Seth eyed the little pink bundle in the car seat and almost started tearing up.
"Neice?" Seth whispered.
"Are you serious about this?" Lisa demanded.
"Of course," Lucias insisted. "You gave birth over a month ago and the baby still doesn't have a name or birth certificate. You've had to go to the hospital because you have no idea how to feed her. You obviously have no interest in the baby so why not give her to us."
Seth's wide eyes went from Lucias to his sister and then back to Lucias.
"What?" he gasped. "She was in the hospital? Is she okay?"
"Stop fussing, she's fine. I didn't know you had to burp the thing after feeding," Lisa scoffed flippantly.
"Her not thing, Lisa. Hasn't Mother been helping you?" he asked.
"Yeah right," she scowled. "Ever since your little stunt five years ago, they've barely spoken to me. They give me an allowance but it's a ridiculous amount barely enough for me to shop with. I thought if I got pregnant they would want to be around their grandchild, but no! Apparently, they've walked away from both their children."
"It seems after they left, they insisted that Lisa start to learn the family business but your sister refused so she was thrown out," Lucias explained with a smirk. "Only giving a small amount every month from a trust fund. They've even cancelled her credit cards."
"I've had to live with Clark and his family and god is it exhausting," she complained.
Clark glared at her.
"Well, if you weren't such a spoiled brat and did as you were told you'd still be living the high life. I can't help it if my family aren't as rich as you'd like and make you do chores."
Seth wanted to laugh but held it in. A small sense of victory spread through him as if life was finally working out right.
"What about your family Clark? Can't they help with your daughter?" Seth asked.
"You're kidding right?" Lisa huffed. "They hate me and when we told them I was pregnant they told me to get rid of it because they were not going to raise it for me."
"This is why I've brought them here," Lucias explained. "I have prepared a contract where they both give up their parental rights and give us sole custody. We adopt her and they get a lump sum."
"How much?" Seth asked quietly.
"Twenty thousand," Lucias explained and Lisa grunted.
"As if that's enough for us to give our precious daughter away."
"Precious? Really? If she's that precious, then why doesn't she have a name yet?" Seth accused.
Lisa scowled at him.
"Of course, you can refuse this offer," Lucias grinned. "But then the next offer will decrease by at least one thousand and so on. Also, if you outright refuse then I'm afraid I will have to contact social services. Since you have not been caring for this child properly."
"You wouldn't dare!" she snarled.
"Try me!" he dared. "I think you'll find my lawyers are far better than the ones you will be able to afford. Take the offer, Lisa, you won't get a better one."
"Honestly Lisa, do you even care about your daughter?" Seth asked. "You know becoming a mother means stepping back and doing everything for your child. You have to provide the best life possible for her now, if you can't do that then give her to us and we will."
Seth tried to plead to her vanity and they could tell it was working. She looked at Clark who just shrugged his shoulders.
"Fine," she slumped. "I didn't want to have a kid anyway."
Henry handed her the contracts to sign and she didn't even read it, Clark did the same.
"Perfect, now you have the life you wanted. I hope you're happy Seth. You've destroyed my life and now you've taken my daughter."
"You destroyed your own life Lisa by refusing to marry me and running away. Then you made it even worse by bringing an innocent life into the world just to get your parents to spoil you again," Lucias told her firmly.
"Oh and don't think of trying to come back, asking for more money once this is done. The contract you didn't think to read through states that you not only have no more rights to your daughter but you can not come around to ask for anything more."
"What!" both Clark and Lisa yelled looking at the contract.
"You should always read a contract through first before signing."
Seth smirked as he stood and picked up his new daughter. Lisa stormed out screaming, with Clark following behind like a puppy. Lucias wrapped his arms around his new family.
"Come on, let's go get her registered."
Seth beamed as he walked through holding the little bundle.
"You know we need a name for her," Lucias said.
Seth looked down at her pale pink face and smiled.
"How about Liberty?
"Liberty?" Lucias asked.
"Yeah, Liberty Hope Drake, it means freedom and thanks to you we both have a chance to live free," Seth blushed.
"I like it."