Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 60

Chapter 42-1

Chapter 42-1

(Sabrina’s POV)

+25 Points

Judge Megan raises a brow at that. I see her check out Dustin, then Jessica, before her brows

furrow in what I hope is disapproval.

Richard continues his questioning, “Substitute you say?”

“Yes. Dustin Reed treated my friend as a substitute, a fall-back from his break-up with Jessica

Morgan. They’ve been married for seven years, and yet, he never treated her with respect. So I thought I was helping my friend move on from a scum when I decided to help Jake find a new dad

“Were you helping?”

“No. I see that now. I made a decision for Sabrina without her consent, and that was wrong. But I

did it because I love her. Because watching her suffer while Dustin moved on with his life was

killing me.”

Her voice cracks slightly, but she continues.

“Dustin Reed cheated on his wife. He used her as a replacement for his ex-girlfriend for seven years, and stole credit for her work. He manipulated her into putting only his name on their house deed, then kicked her out. And now he has the audacity to stand here and claim she’s unfit to be a

mother, when he never once cared for his son.”

“Objection!” Tom is on his feet. “Witness is editorializing-”

“I’m telling the truth,” Sophia says firmly. “Sabrina Moore is the most devoted mother I’ve ever seen. She’s at every school event, every doctor’s appointment. She puts Jake first in everything. And yes, I pushed her to go on that cruise because she needed a break. She needed to remember she’s more than just Jake’s mom or Dustin’s ex-wife.”

Judge Whitmore leans forward. “Ms. Collen, you admit you arranged for Ms. Moore to be recorded without her knowledge?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“And you understand that’s problematic?”

“I do. And if I could go back, I would-” Sophia stops. “Actually, no. If I could go back, I’d do it again.”

Silence falls over the courtroom.

Well hell, Soph. How can you admit that in court even if it’s the way you feel?

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Chapter 42-1

I hope she doesn’t serve jail time for this.

“Even knowing how Sabrina feels about it?” the judge asks.

+25 Point

“Yes. Because my friend deserves better than Dustin Reed. She deserves to be happy. And if making her angry is the price I need to pay to show her she’s worthy of true love, then I’d gladly pay it again.”

Richard nods. “No further questions.”

Tom declines to cross-examine, probably smart since Sophia just painted Dustin as exactly the

kind of man no judge would want raising a child alone.

As Sophia returns to her seat, I mouth “thank you.” She gives me a small smile, her eyes bright with

unshed tears.

Judge Whitmore looks at her notes. “Mr. Hill, any other witnesses?”

“No, Your Honor. The defense rests.”

“Very well. I’ll take a fifteen-minute recess to review the evidence, and then-”

“Your Honor?”

Everyone turns. Ethan is standing, his voice calm but carrying authority I’ve never heard from him before. Tall and impossibly striking even in the solemn formality of the courtroom, he walks

straight up to Richard, his steps measured and calm.

“Yes, Mr. King?”

“With respect, Your Honor, call me Mr. Hale.”

“Hale? You mean…”

“I’m Ethan Hale.”

I hear an exaggerated gasp from Sophia’s direction, but that’s not what grabs my attention. No, it’s

not even the shocked expressions on everyone’s face.

It’s Jessica. Her reaction grabs my attention.

There’s a brief moment of confusion, then surprise, then shock, before her eyes full of burning

resentment sear on me.

What the hell. What is that gaze supposed to mean? Isn’t she in love with Dustin?

Ethan, as if blind to the chaos revealing his true identity has caused in the court, continues. “I don’t

think you can make a fair decision about Jake’s custody without hearing from Jake himself.”

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