Liliana was at home, trying to get the baby to sleep.
Ever since Linton had left, Amelia Hart had been restless.
Just when she was finally coaxed to sleep, she would wake up moments later with a start, smacking her lips. Her little hands would flail as she let out an earth-shattering wail.
Weariness clouded Liliana's features. She had just gone to the bedroom next door, hoping to get some rest, when the baby's cries jolted her awake. She scrambled out of bed and rushed back to soothe her.
"It's okay, sweetie, don't cry, don't cry," Liliana cooed patiently. "Mommy's here."
But this time, Amelia's cries were particularly heartbreaking.
Usually, a little comforting was enough to calm her down, but now nothing worked. She cried until her little face was red and she started coughing, struggling to catch her breath.
Watching her daughter's distress, Liliana frowned deeply, feeling a mixture of heartache and helplessness.
Finally, out of options, she carried Amelia into her bedroom, planning to call Linton and get him to come back. His presence was the only thing that would settle the baby.
Liliana couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation.
The moment she picked up her phone, a sharp pain shot through her heart, so intense it almost took her breath away.
She knitted her brows, trying to ignore it. This had been happening so often lately. With a sense of self-defeating frustration, she thought, *Fine, I'll just call him. Let him come back and take the baby. He can have her.*
After all, Amelia couldn't stand to be without him. The moment they were separated, she would cry relentlessly.
"Waaah... sob... waah!"
"Da... da... waah!"
Liliana's head was throbbing.
Liliana looked up instinctively, setting her phone down as she continued to soothe the wailing Amelia. "Gabriel, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice tired.
Gabriel looked at her, taking a shallow breath to steady himself. He carefully studied her expression, and when he saw nothing unusual, he frowned slightly, looking conflicted.
After a long pause, he regained his usual calm, composed demeanor. "It's nothing. I just heard the baby crying and came to see if you needed help."
Liliana was seething about the situation and couldn't help but complain under her breath.
"Isn't it all his fault? If he had just stayed away from her from the start, if he hadn't taken care of her, she wouldn't be so dependent on him now. She wouldn't cry every time he leaves."
Gabriel was silent.
His gaze darkened. For once, he didn't join Liliana in her "crusade" against Linton. He just said, "Why don't you let Mom help out? Or I can hire a professional maternity nurse for you."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Too Late, Mr. Cooper: Your Bride Ran with Your Baby