Chapter 8
Because the face beneath that teddy bear costume…
Was unmistakably Madison’s.
“Oh my God. She’s the one hiding in the costume?!”
“She and Brandon were having an affair–together–and they tried to play us all for fools.”
“Jesus, I nearly believed their act!”
“Who does something like this? Hiding in a teddy bear to cheat? That’s next–level insane.”
The courtroom erupted in outrage.
Even the judge looked appalled, his brows tightening in visible disgust.
Brandon and Madison exchanged a terrified glance.
Sweat beaded at their foreheads. Their legs nearly gave out.
Smack!
Thomas’s entire frame trembled with fury as he struck Brandon across the face.
“You-” his voice shook, “you’ve shamed this family. Disgraced our name! Is this what I raised you to be?”
“You used to be disciplined. Respectable. What happened to you, Brandon? Cheating behind your wife’s back–how could
you do this to Claire? To us?”
Evelyn broke down in tears, unable to even look at her son.
They had believed in him.
Loved him.
And now… this.
The judge turned to Brandon. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
“I…” Brandon’s eyes were red. He clenched his fists and muttered, “It’s fake. All of it. She doctored the video. It’s not real.”
“Exactly!” Madison jumped in, regaining a shred of composure. “I wasn’t even there–I had a business meeting yesterday.
There are witnesses. There’s no way I was at Brandon’s house yesterday. That video–it has to be fabricated.”
I narrowed my eyes. Impressive. Still clinging to the lie.
Even now–they were clinging to the lie like it might save them.
“Are you absolutely certain?” Thomas asked, his voice tinged with sudden hope.
“Yes,” Madison said, nodding vigorously. Then to the judge: “I can provide the client’s number. You can confirm everything.”
Daniel spoke up smoothly. “In that case, Your Honor, the defense formally requests forensic authentication of the footage.”
Chapter 8
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The judge agreed to both requests.
A short while later, the court’s technical staff returned with the results.
“Yesterday, Ms. Reed was indeed at a business meeting. There are both eyewitnesses and video surveillance to confirm her presence elsewhere.”
Madison let out a visible breath of relief and shot me a smug, sideways smile.
“Looks like your little scheme just came crashing down, Claire.”
She tilted her head slightly, mouth curving into a victorious smirk.
“Oh really?” I replied, still smiling faintly.
“Claire,” Brandon jumped back in, “enough with the games. Stop making things up. Be an adult fro once–apologize, walk away quietly, and hand over full custody.”
“Otherwise, you’ll never see your son again.”
“Isn’t it a little early to be celebrating?” I said, my smile widening.
I knew exactly what they were doing-
Trying to pressure me into folding before the final blow landed.
Chapter 8
