Onita stilled for a moment.Her eyes were looking here and there but not at Neil.He did not say a word to coax her.He knew,that she needed time to answer.Finally,breaking the silence,Onita said,"Alicia's mother is not in the picture.I am her legal mother and have adopter her legally."

Shaking his head,Neil asked the same question,"Yes,I am aware of that.I have read your papers,but I need to know how an heiress from Country A became a dest.i.tute single mother to an orphan girl in country C.Even if you had come here to adopt,you could have just gone back.Why give up your studies and family.Onita,you need to understand that though the court is impartial,people are mostly not.Yes,evidence is important but so are the emotions.The law will guide without partiality but the judge will rule with humanity.To win,we will have to create a balance of both."

Onita let out a laugh at this."No,Neil.The law is impartial but the people are partial.Not to emotions but to money.Alicia's biological father has the court judges in his pockets.You have seen the papers.I received the notice last week and now I have only till tomorrow.Which court have you seen move so fast?Not a single lawyer was willing to accept my case.They all had their 'own' reasons but their fear of that lawyer and money was palpable to me.How can you even say that I have a chance to win when all I can see is loss.Neil,this is my last night with my baby.Just let me spend it with her peacefully.You are a corporate lawyer.Figting a child custody case and letting you lose would be of no use.I don't know what I was thinking to follow that woman's advice."

Neil went to Onita and flicked her forehead."n.o.body is going to take away your Alicia.And what happened to the bubbly girl I met two years ago?Is this what you are going to teach your baby?To be sad and pessimistic.I'll tell you what!Tomorrow,the court will not give a ruling either way.Be prepared to tell me the truth once we are back from the court.Play with her well and rest well."

With that Neil left Onita sitting in her place and going to the little girl playing,he cheerfully called out,"Good night,cupcake."

Little Alicia looked up and with a happy wave shouted,"I am not tuptake.My tame is Alitia!!"But her grinning face showed just how happy she was with her new name and new friend.

Onita looked at her daughter and then she looked down at her steepled fingers.She did not know what had gotten over her.That man's confidence and non chalance had almost shattered her.For two years,she had hidden herself away from all her friends and tried to cope with the overwhelming emotions and responsibilities.This last week,she had been living in a bubble of fear and doubt.This morning,her hope had re ignited but she was scared to let that fire warm her lest it be taken away suddenly.Shaking her head,she tried to stop thinking about anything and just live in ths moment.Getting into the routine,Onita took little Alicia for her bath and nightly routine.Though Onita refused to hope,a small farthest corner of her mind had believed in Neil and his words.

As Neil left,his mind was already on the different ways to force justice.Yes.Force Justice.Because Onita's words held a grain of truth.The judge had held a bare semblance of the hearing.It was clear that it was all planned and tomorrow was going to be the finale.

Neil rubbed his hands as he wondered...The climax had to change just a bit and he was just the guy to do it!

Sitting in his car,he ordered the driver to drive home and made a call to one of his trusted people in the media.Laying out his plan,he sat back and waited for the news to do it's job.He had set the fire and now it was upto the others to stroke it and make it spread.

Leaning back in his seat,he thought of a way to break the news about Onita to Al.Ryu and Al were going to return next week and he remembered the pain Al had gone through when she could not find Onita...Heck!He was sure the entire staff at Lance Inc remembered the time even if they did notknow the reason..Al had been melancholy and the person fuming had been Ryu Long...Neil almost shuddered when he remembered his Big Bro's fiery mood during those days..

Thinking back to those times,Neil's head shot up and he mmediately fired a mail to Ryu letting him know whatever he had found out.Almost immediately he received a reply to not disclose anything to Alicia until everything was sorted.Neil brought the phone to his head...He was always going to be stuck...If Alicia were to find out that he hid something from her,she would most certainly not make ant sweet treats for him...And if he told and Ryu found out...He wouldn't have any teeth left to eat those sweet treats...