They Beg For My Return (Camila Jackson) novel Chapter 201

Chapter 201 Giovani Extra 2

He felt like he was choking, his throat dry and tight, and grief surging inside him.

Looking into his daughter’s bright, hopeful eyes was like being stabbed over and over. He couldn’t bear to tell her the truth -that Mommy was gone forever–but he couldn’t lie either.

After a long, heavy silence, he managed to say, his voice rough and shaking, “Sweetheart, Mommy’s in a place very far away now. But she’s always watching you. She wants you to be happy and healthy.”

The little girl nodded, a flicker of sadness in her eyes, but then her face lit up with a smile. “Okay, Daddy. Let’s go home now.”

Seeing his daughter so thoughtful and mature, Giovani’s eyes reddened. He gently hugged her small, frail body, pressing her close to his chest.

Despite his best efforts to hide his sadness, she sensed it. She reached up and gently patted his head. “Don’t cry, Daddy. It makes me sad when you’re sad.”

Her words cut deep. “I won’t, sweetheart. Let’s go home,” he said, his voice steadier now, trying to be strong for her.

“Daddy, I haven’t said goodbye to Turner yet,” the girl said just as Giovani was about to lift her into his arms.

Giovani paused mid–step, and then turned and walked into Turner’s house. The room carried a strong smell of alcohol, but it was surprisingly neat, with every corner carefully cleaned.

He had no idea that during her stay, his little daughter–just two years old–had been so thoughtful. She’d quietly cleaned up and tried her best to take care of Turner, who’d been drowning in grief.

Giovani found Turner sitting on the floor, looking utterly defeated. With a sigh, he said, “Turner, you gotta pull yourself together. Take three days and get back on your feet. Come back to work then. Sometimes, keeping busy helps.”

Turner looked up, his eyes empty and confused. He opened his mouth, but then closed it again, swallowing his words.

Giovani held out his arms, but Natalie squirmed free and toddled over to Turner. She reached up and patted his cheek.” Turner, you have to get better. And Daddy’s here to take me home.”

“Your daddy?” Turner looked at Giovani in confusion.

Giovani knelt beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, I’m her dad. Long story. She’s mine and Camila’s. I’ll fill you in later.”

*****

After leaving Turner’s house, Giovani held his little girl close, as if he’d never let her go.

On the drive home, she snuggled into his embrace, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she examined every detail of the car‘ s interior, occasionally letting out soft gasps of wonder.

Watching his daughter’s lively expressions, the dark cloud that had hung over Giovani for so long finally began to lift.

As they stepped into the Campbell residence, Lindsey and Keira rushed out to greet them.

When Giovani revealed that this little girl was his and Camila’s daughter, Lindsey and Keira froze, their faces a picture of shock and disbelief. Lindsey’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes quickly filling with tears, while Keira stood there, dazed.

After Sean explained the whole story in detail, Lindsey felt her heart ache as if it were being pricked by a thousand needles. She moved forward unsteadily and crouched down in front of the child.

As Lindsey saw the little girl who looked so much like Camila, tears streamed down her face. She opened her arms and said in a trembling voice, “Come here, sweetheart. I’m your great–grandma.”

Natalie hesitated, glancing nervously at Giovani. Only after he gave her a reassuring nod did she take a tentative step forward.

Lindsey pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if she were the most precious thing in the world, pouring all her love into that hug. She murmured, “Oh, the pain you’ve both endured. Poor Camila, and our little darling.”

The girl blinked her big, tear–filled eyes at Lindsey, watching her cry. She reached out her small hand to gently wipe away Lindsey’s tears and said softly, “Don’t cry. I’ll be good. I can help with laundry, cooking, and cleaning. I won’t be any trouble.”

Hearing this, Lindsey’s sobs grew louder, her tears flowing like a broken dam. Between sobs, she kept repeating, “Yes, yes, our little darling is the sweetest and most capable child.”

Lindsey took a moment to calm herself before asking genti Sweetheart What’s your name?”

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The little girl lit up with a bright smile and chirpt ‘My name is Wretch!

Her response made the room fall into an awkward silence, everyone’s expressions darkening with a mix of shock and

sadness.

A flicker of anger crossed Lindsey’s face. Her hands clenched tightly, and her jaw tensed. But as she looked at the child’s

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Chapter 201 Giovani Extra 2

innocent and carefree expression, she forced herself to soften.

In the gentlest tone she could muster, she said, “Sweetheart, that’s not a very nice name. How about we pick a new one? Let me give you a beautiful name, okay?”

“Sure.” The little girl clapped her hands in excitement.

Lindsey turned her gaze to Giovani, silently seeking his input.

Giovani paused, his mind drifting to Camila’s warm smile. After a moment, he said firmly, “Natalie.” The name, meaning “Day of Birth,” was a way to keep Camila close and to ensure their daughter would alway remember her mother.

Lindsey smiled and turned back to the little girl in her arms. “From now on, your name is Natalie. Does that sound good, sweetheart?”

The little girl nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling. “I love it! Natalie’s a great name. It’s so much better than Wretch.”

Her innocent smile broke through, revealing her uneven baby teeth. Everyone in the room smiled back, but their smiles were tinged with a quiet sadness.

With Natalie’s arrival, the Campbell family seemed to come alive, filled with warmth and laughter.

Lindsey delighted in spending her days with Natalie, teaching her to read and playing games.

Keira, always the nurturing one, took great pleasure in baking little treats for Natalie. Natalie adored Keira’s pastries, often eating so many that her tummy would be nice and round.

Giovani threw himself back into his work with renewed energy, but he made sure to get home early every evening.

He’d read Natalie bedtime stories, take her for strolls in the garden, and watch her grow more lively and healthy with each passing day. Her cheeks grew rosier, and she seemed to be thriving.

*****

Two years passed in the blink of an eye. Natalie was now four years old and ready for kindergarten. Giovani made it a point to personally drop her off and pick her up every single day without fail.

That afternoon, as kindergarten let out, parents lined up to collect their little ones, each child leaving hand–in–hand with their family, their faces lit up with joy.

When all the other children had left, only Natalie remained, standing quietly beside her teacher. She waited patiently, not making a fuss or causing trouble.

The young teacher bent down and asked gently, “Natalie, are you tired from standing? Do you want me to carry you?”

Natalie lifted her chubby little face, her cheeks round like soft buns. When she smiled, her big eyes curved into crescents, and her pearly white teeth peeked through. “No, Miss. If you carry me, you’ll get tired too.”

The teacher couldn’t help but smile, her heart melting at Natalie’s sweetness. She thought to herself, ‘Ah, Natalie is just too adorable and so thoughtful! No wonder she’s the little princess of the Campbell family.’

Out of nowhere, a woman appeared in front of Natalie. Her eyes were wild, and without a word, she grabbed Natalie and held her tightly in her arms.

Muttering to herself, she said, “Camila, my girl, you must have been waiting for Mommy, right? Mommy’s here to take you home.”

The teacher gasped in shock and shouted, “Who are you? Let go of Natalie!” She rushed forward, trying to pull Natalie away, but the woman’s grip was like a vice, refusing to budge.

Natalie froze in fear, her face draining of color as panic filled her wide eyes. “I’m not Camila! I’m Natalie!” she screamed and sobbed, her voice trembling. She kicked and squirmed with all her might, but the woman’s hold was unrelenting, like a steel trap.

The woman’s gaze burned with madness. “No, you are my Camila. You’re my daughter. You look exactly like her–you are her!” Her voice was filled with a haunting desperation that sent chills down everyone’s spine. Her nails dug into Natalie’s arm, leaving angry red marks.

No matter how mature Natalie was for her age, she was still just a child. The pain made her burst into tears, her cries echoing through the playground. “Daddy! Lindsey! Please come save me. I’m scared,” she wailed.

The teacher was frantic, stomping her feet in desperation. She shouted for help, “Security? Someone help! She’s trying to take a little girl away.”

The kindergarten’s security guards heard the commotion and rushed over, surrounding the woman.

“Let go of the child, or we’ll have to take action,” one of the guards barked.

But the woman seemed completely unhinged. She clung to Natalie as if her life depended on it. “You can’t separate us! She‘

Chapter 201 Giovani Extra 2

s my daughter–my everything! I won’t lose Camila again. Camile, don’t cry, be good

“This time, Mommy will protect you. I won’t let bad people take you away again Tears startha sobbed, her body trembling. “It’s all my fault. I didn’t take care of you, and that’s why bad people side you wer Natalie’s tears streamed down her cheeks as she clung tightly to the vimer’s dates doston you seego we my dad! I want Lindsey.”

The woman’s eyes brimmed with anguish. “No, you are my daughter Let’s go home. We’ll be toppfom yet?

As the woman clutched Natalie, thrashing about in a panic, Giovani burst throug

he saw his daughter in the stranger’s arms, her cries slicing through the air Weanide His heart tated to ako

His eyes burned with rage, a chilling fury surging through him. He rushed forward, grabbed the words sem, and tweede forcefully.

She let out a piercing scream as her balance faltered. Giovani yanked Natalie into his arms and, with a swift, boed kick, sent the crazy woman tumbling to the ground.

Natalie clung to Giovani’s neck, her sobs racking her small body. “Daddy, I’m so scaredy

“Shh, it’s okay, baby,” Giovani soothed, his voice thick with emotion as he gently patted Natalie’s back Tm here now. I’m so sorry I was late.”