Chapter 13 - The Bombshell Under Oath
Daniel described Chloe's debts.
The lawsuits.
The former relationships.
The threatening envelope.
Vanessa's vehicle.
Jason Keller.
Mark's attorney objected repeatedly.
Some objections succeeded.
Others did not.
Then Mr. Sterling called Mark.
Mark walked to the witness stand like a man approaching his own execution.
"Why are you requesting primary custody?"
Mark looked toward Leo's mother.
"Because I love my son."
"I did not ask whether you love him."
Mr. Sterling stepped closer.
"I asked why you believe removing him from his mother's primary care benefits him."
Mark hesitated.
"I can provide stability."
"Financial stability?"
"Among other things."
"Your company is currently facing liquidity concerns, correct?"
Mark's jaw tightened.
"Temporary concerns."
"Your mansion is heavily leveraged?"
"Objection."
"Sustained."
Mr. Sterling changed direction.
"You previously argued that Leo would benefit from growing up with your new child."
Mark became very still.
"Yes."
"The child Ms. Bennett is carrying?"
"Yes."
Mr. Sterling lifted a sealed exhibit.
Chloe stood abruptly.
Her attorney pulled her back down.
Mr. Sterling looked at Mark.
"Mr. Harris, when did you first become physically involved with Ms. Bennett?"
Mark gave the date.
"And you believed the pregnancy began after that date?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"She told me."
Mr. Sterling placed the medical timeline before him.
"Please read the date of Ms. Bennett's first documented prenatal examination."
Mark stared at the paper.
He already knew.
But now he had to say it publicly.
He read the date.
A murmur moved through the courtroom.
Mr. Sterling waited.
"And how many weeks pregnant was she recorded as being during that examination?"
Mark swallowed.
He answered.
The courtroom became completely silent.
Mr. Sterling stepped closer.
"Which means the pregnancy began before your claimed physical relationship."
Mark shut his eyes.
"Yes."
Chloe stood again.
"This is ridiculous."
The judge slammed the gavel.
"Sit down."
Chloe ignored him.
"Those dates aren't exact."
"Ms. Bennett."
The judge's voice became sharp.
"You will sit down."
She did.
Mr. Sterling looked at Mark.
"Do you know whether you are the father?"
Mark's voice cracked.
"No."
Gasps erupted.
The judge demanded silence.
Mr. Sterling did not smile.
He did not celebrate.
He simply asked the final question.
"Then your argument that Leo should be removed from his mother's primary custody so he can be raised alongside his biological sibling was based on something you never verified."
Mark stared toward his wife.
Former wife.
Future ex-wife.
The woman whose life he had detonated because he trusted a lie more than her.
"Yes."
One word.
That word destroyed what remained of his case.
During recess, Chloe rushed toward the exit.
Reporters followed.
Mark stayed in the courtroom.
His wife passed him without looking over.
"Please."
She stopped.
Mark's eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't know."
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then she answered quietly.
May you like
"You didn't want to know."
And she walked away.
