Chapter 3
Brandon rushed forward and scooped up the baby, and checked him head to toe, his hands shaking. When he found no injuries, he let out a deep breath of relief.
“What happened here? he demanded, eyes darting between me and Madison.
Madison mumbled, head lowered and voice trembling, “I just wanted Ms. Whitmore to see her son, but she refused and
pushed me.”
1 guess I just didn’t keep my balance… It’s my fault we fell.”
What?
Before I could even speak, Brandon turned and struck me hard across the face–hard.
That’s your own child! How could you be so cold? He’s barely a year old! What if he’d hit his head?! What if he got seriously hurt??”
I stared at him, unmoved. “Say whatever you want. If he died, it still wouldn’t care.”
Brandon trembled with rage, tears brimming in his eyes.
“You’re unbelievable,” Madison hissed, pointing a finger in my face. “What kind of mother says something like that? You’re
sick! You don’t deserve to be a mother.”
“Enough,” Brandon muttered, trembling as he wiped his face. His eyes locked onto mine, full of hurt and disbelief.
I’m done.”
“Get out.”
1 don’t need a wife like you, and my son sure as hell doesn’t need a mother like you.”
“We’ll settle this in courtr
He was screaming now, voice cracking from rage. I didn’t respond. I simply turned and walked away.
Within hours, the internet detonated with scandal.
Gossip threads popped up like wildfire.
They said I had a dozen boy toys on the side. That I frequented private clubs. That I had illegitimate children hidden away.
Photos surfaced–cropped, doctored–portraying me as a heartless, hedonistic woman who ditched her family for pleasure.
I didn’t say a word.
No statement. No explanations. Not even a denial.
Three days later, I showed up in court.
Because the public hearing was public, the courtroom was packed with family, friends.. and a hungry crowd of reporters.
Chapter 2
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“Claire Whitmore,” Brandon said, clenching his fists as I entered, eyes burning with one last trace of hope, “I’m giving you
one last chance. Apologize. Come home. Let’s start over.”
Madison stood smugly beside him. “You’re in the wrong, Claire. You’re going to lose. You’ll walk out of here with nothing,
and no one will want anything to do with you ever again.”
“Save yourself a favour and surrender now–unless you’re ready to sleep under a bridge.”
Thomas and Evelyn Lancaster sat stiffly, faces grim.
“Claire,” Thomas said. “I hope you’ve really thought this through.”
“You’re trying to divide assets over a teddy bear. That won’t hold up in any court of law.”
I didn’t reply. I just walked calmly to where Daniel West was waiting and sat beside him.
The Lancasters all scoffed under their breath.
The hearing began.
After skimming through Brandon’s submitted, the judge turned to me.
“Holding a plush bear at night is not enough to constitute marital misconduct,” he said.
“However, Mr. Lancaster has submitted fifty photographs showing you in intimate poses with other men.”
“If you cannot produce new evidence, the court will rule based on what’s been submitted–and you’ll be held at fault.”
I rose slowly.
“I have evidence,” I said.
And just like that-
The curtain was finally about to rise.
Chapter 3
