Chapter 14 - Everything Falls Apart
The second day of trial was worse for Mark.
His attorney tried to repair the damage.
There was little left to repair.
Evidence showed that Leo's mother had provided consistent care.
Her business income was growing.
Her apartment was safe.
Her childcare arrangements were reliable.
Her relationship with Ethan was not shown to be inappropriate.
Mark's home life, meanwhile, had become chaotic.
His affair had ended publicly.
The woman he intended to build a new family with was involved in financial disputes.
His visitation record was inconsistent.
And his own testimony had exposed how little due diligence he had done before demanding primary custody.
Then Chloe took the stand.
That was the moment everything became ugly.
Her attorney advised against it.
She insisted.
She claimed Mark knew there was uncertainty surrounding the baby's paternity.
Mark's head snapped up.
"That's a lie."
The judge ordered him to remain silent.
Chloe continued.
She said Mark had promised marriage.
Money.
A house.
Security.
Mark listened in disbelief.
Then Mr. Sterling cross-examined her.
"Did you tell Mark the baby was his?"
"Yes."
"Were you certain?"
"I believed it."
"That was not my question."
Chloe shifted.
"Were you certain?"
"No."
"Did you disclose that uncertainty?"
"No."
"Did you know Jason Keller could be the father?"
Chloe's eyes filled with rage.
"Possibly."
Mr. Sterling returned to his table.
"No further questions."
That single answer destroyed whatever credibility remained.
Outside the courtroom, reporters surrounded Chloe.
Mark escaped through a side corridor.
His wife found him there unexpectedly.
He looked terrible.
For once, she felt no satisfaction.
Only distance.
"I'm sorry," Mark said.
"You keep saying that."
"I mean it."
"I know."
He looked at her hopefully.
But she continued.
"That doesn't change anything."
His shoulders dropped.
"Is there any chance?"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Mark looked down.
She softened slightly.
"I don't hate you."
He looked up.
"But I will never trust you again."
Tears filled his eyes.
"I was stupid."
"You were selfish."
He nodded.
"I know."
"You didn't lose us because Chloe lied."
Mark said nothing.
"You lost us because when someone offered you a fantasy, you were willing to gamble your wife and your son to have it."
He covered his face.
She walked away.
That evening, Mark returned to the mansion.
He found the wedding ring in his desk drawer.
The ring she had left on the stone ledge.
He held it beneath the lamp.
It looked exactly the same.
But the man holding it was no longer the same man who had bought it.
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The following morning, the judge announced that a ruling would be issued.
For the first time in months, nobody knew what would happen next.
