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Benjamin Lockwood walked briskly into his office with the baby bassinet in his right hand and his laptop bag in his left.

As soon as he reached his cabin, he set the bassinet on the coffee table and looked down to see his peacefully sleeping baby niece.

Baby Sapphire, eighteen months old is his step sister, Eleanor’s daughter.

Eleanor came to his life when he was twelve years old and she was ten. Three years after his mother Marianna's death, William Lockwood married Elizabeth Lockason, a widow with a ten year old daughter.

When his father remarried, he was all set to deal with the atrocities of an evil step mom, having believed that all stepmothers are like Cindrella's step mom.

What a misconception it was!

Elizabeth Lockason loved and took care of Benjamin like her own. With his father's second marriage, Benjamin got another mother and a lovely sister. His home was nothing short of a heaven.

Life was happy until Eleanor met John Thompson. William and Benjamin were against Eleanor's relationship with John, as the guy was a good for nothing fellow or so they thought.

Benjamin tried his best to discourage Eleanor from the relationship, but it only made her more and more stubborn. And in the end, she chose her love for John over her family and eloped with him.

Eleanor's biological father was a well known businessman and Eleanor was the sole heir of all his properties. Naturally she became a target for gold digging manipulator, John Thompson.

And by the time Eleanor realised the truth, it was too late by then.

Baby Sapphire was already born and half of Eleanor's hefty bank balance drained.

But Eleanor was too proud to come to her brother directly for help.

She made a will stating, all her properties to go to baby Sapphire if anything happens to her and the baby be left under the guardianship of her brother Benjamin Lockwood.

Benjamin still wondered why Eleanor made a will so early in her life. Did she knew her life was under threat? Is that why she made such a will?

Eleanor and John died in an accident three weeks ago, and that's when Benjamin met his niece for the first time. And he fell in love with the baby girl at first sight.

He was too angry with Eleanor for choosing someone she met a mere year ago, over him and their family.

But he swore to never repeat the mistake.

Eleanor had left Sapphire in his care and he will do everything in his power to care for Sapphire.

He will move heaven and earth for Sapphire’s better life.

But taking care of a baby is no cake walk. He realised that within a day. It was yesterday, the child welfare community handed over the baby to Benjamin, on a temporary basis.

"Ben, Mr Gabriel Clarke is here to meet you," his assistant informed him, bringing him out of his thoughts,

He looked at his sleeping niece and decided against having a meeting in his cabin, not wanting to disturb her.

"Ask him to wait for me in the mini conference room. And Claire, sit here and do your work till I come back. Keep an eye on her. If she wakes up, give her the bottle and if she refuses to take it, call me," he said and his assistant nodded to his every instruction.

Claire came back after five minutes to let him know she did whatever he asked her to.

"Keep an eye on her, Claire." With that said Benjamin walked out of his cabin to the mini conference room, to meet his legal advisor.

"Good morning, Gabriel." Benjamin greeted his legal team head.

"Good morning Benjamin." Gabriel greeted back grimly, making Ben frown in confusion.

"Everything alright? You look troubled, Gabriel?" Benjamin asked curiously.

"Benjamin. Your brother-in-law's family has filed a petition for the custody of the child." Gabriel said and Benjamin cursed under his breath.

What the freaking hell!

"Their argument is that Baby Sapphire has been a part of their life and she is far more familiar with them than you, who never once visited her before" Gabriel said and Ben’s lips thinned in annoyance.

"Damn it!" He cursed under his breath.

"And John's brother is a married man with two children of his own. And they state that Sapphire will have a better life with a family rather than a bachelor." Gabriel added.

"They just want the money that belongs to Sapphire. I will not let them have that." Benjamin said coldly.

There is no way he is going to let the bloody money minded people snatch Sapphire from him.

"Eleanor's will is strong. So there is nothing to worry about their argument about you never visiting the baby before. But their argument on Sapphire being better with a family rather than a bachelor could create issues for us." Gabriel added.

"What are the scopes for paying them off??" Ben asked.

"It could work temporarily. They can come back again later on with the same arguments." Gabriel said with a shrug.

"What other option do we have??" Ben asked tiredly.

"The best option will be for you to get married, Benjamin." Gabriel said coolly and Ben stared at him in horror.

"What the!!"

"It could be advantageous legally and emotionally. Sapphire needs a mother."

"I lost my sister three weeks ago. How do you expect me to get married now?" Ben asked in disbelief.

"We don't have another option Benjamin." Gabriel said.

Benjamin huffed in annoyance. Where is he going to find a bride now?? Not just a bride. A bride ready to be an instant mother??

"You can leave now, Gabriel. I will get back to you soon." Ben said with an exasperated sigh.

He is not ready for marriage yet. His father had handed over the CEO position only six months ago and he was only settling down in the new position. How was he to get married now??