Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 58

< Chapter 41-1

Chapter 41-1

(Sabrina’s POV)

25 Points

Richard is way better at this than I expected. He doesn’t give Dustin any room to breathe, firing one

question after another until he’s stammering, cold sweat dotting his forehead.

His lawyer, finally unable to see this, jumps up, shouting. “Objection! This is about custody, not

professional disputes-”

“It goes to character,” Richard repeats, cool, calm, completely unphased. “Mr. Reed claims to be a stable, honest parent. I’m establishing a pattern of his dishonesty.”

Judge Whitmore leans forward. “I’ll allow the line of questioning, but keep it focused, Mr. Hill.”

Richard nods. “Mr. Reed, did you or did you not take credit for the Luminance campaign that Ms.

Moore created?”

Dustin’s silence is damning.

“Answer the question,” the judge says.

“The campaign was a team effort-”

“Did you take credit for work your wife created? Yes or no?”

“…Yes.”

The admission hangs in the air.

Richard lets it sit for a moment before continuing. “One final question, Mr. Reed. When was the last time you told your son you loved him?”

The question catches Dustin off-guard. “I-what?”

“Simple question. When was the last time you told Jake you loved him?”

Dustin opens his mouth. Closes it. “I tell him all the time-”

“Can you give me a specific instance? A date? A moment?”

Silence.

“I’ll take that as you don’t remember.” Richard returns to his seat. “No further questions.” Judge Whitmore looks at Dustin with a strange look in his gaze. “You may step down.”

He does, his face stormy, avoiding my eyes as he returns to his table.

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Chapter 41-1

+25 Points

Tom calls his next witness-Jessica, who testifies about my “erratic behavior” at work. Then a

neighbor who claims I seemed “stressed and overwhelmed.”

And the funny thing is, in the years Dustin and I lived together, I’ve never even seen this so-called neighbor once, let alone know her well enough to discuss my health issues with her.

If you guessed it, then you got it. It’s the money talking.

And then Tom Patterson says the words I’ve been dreading.

“Your Honor, we’d like to call Sabrina Moore to the stand.”

My legs feel like water as I stand. The walk to the witness box seems endless, every eye in the

courtroom focused on me.

I’m sworn in, my hand shaking on the Bible.

And then Tom approaches me, and I know the real battle is about to begin.

The witness box feels like a cage.

I sit with my hands folded in my lap, trying to remember everything Richard taught me. Keep your answers short. Don’t volunteer extra information.

Stay calm, composed at all times.

But Tom Patterson is already approaching, and the predatory gleam in his eyes makes my

stomach churn.

“Ms. Moore.” His voice is pleasant, conversational. Like we’re chatting over coffee instead of fighting for my son’s future. “You’ve had quite an eventful few weeks, haven’t you?”

“I suppose.”

“Lost your job. Left your home. Started a new relationship.” He ticks them off on his fingers. “That’s a lot of change for a five-year-old to process.”

“It is-”

“And you felt it right for a five-year-old to handle all that?”

“I never-”

“Your son went online and asked strangers to be his new dad.” Tom moves closer. “Does that seem like something a five-year-old would do? Is a five-year-old capable of even thinking of a new dad without someone’s instigation? Because to me, it sounds like Jake is a child in crisis.”

“Jake did that because he saw his father cheat on me. Because Dustin chose Jessica over our

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