Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80

(Sabrina’s POV)

Once done, Jake steps back from his easel, beaming. “I’m done! This is the Sad Blue Dinosaur Kingdom. But he gets happy at the end, see? That’s why there’s yellow sunshine.”

Dr. Chen approaches the painting, studying it carefully. “May I ask you some questions about your process,

Jake?”

“Okay!”

“Why did you start with the dinosaurs before the background?”

“Because the dinosaurs are the most important part. The kingdom is just where they live.”

“And this shading here-did someone teach you that technique?”

“Mrs. Hamilton showed us last week! You make one side darker so it looks like the sun is shining on the

other side.”

Dr. Chen nods, making more notes. Then he turns to the camera.

“I’m Dr. Robert Chen, professor of developmental art at Metropolitan College. I’ve spent the last forty-five minutes observing Jake Reed create this painting from start to finish. And I can say with absolute professional certainty that this is the work of a five-year-old child. The technique, the spatial reasoning, the color theory-all consistent with a highly gifted young artist. But distinctly the work of a child, not an

adult.”

Marcus Webb steps forward next. “I’m Marcus Webb, child development specialist. I agree completely with Dr. Chen’s assessment. Moreover, watching Jake’s process-his enthusiasm, his spontaneous decision-making, his age-appropriate explanations-confirms this is genuine. No adult created this. This is Jake’s authentic talent.”

The comment section goes wild.

Take that, Jessica Morgan!

I knew Jake was real!

Sabrina, your son is incredible!

Wait. Does anyone remember Jake mentioning a mean lady Jessica? Is this Jessica Morgan the same Mean Lady Jessica that stole our Jake’s dad?

Oh hell! So the Mistress isn’t satisfied with just ruining his family. She’s now out to ruin our innocent Jake and his poor mom’s reputation!

How are disgusting people like her not behind bars? Has the law gone dead?

Maybe we should start a boycott on Sterling and Co. The company leaders will probably not keep morally

6

eories women like her unce the public turns against them.

I feel my scalp go numb as more and more commenters suggest camping out in front of Sterling & Co. until Jessica Morgan gets fired.

No wonder Jessica was so insistent in ruining me publicly. The power of public outrage isn’t one to be underestimated.

Mrs. Hamilton adds her own statement, talking about Jake’s consistent performance in class, his participation in school art shows, his natural gift that’s been evident since kindergarten started. She ends with Jake’s participation in the National Art Competition, garnering another round of fiery comments.

By the time we wrap up the stream, almost all the comments are overwhelmingly supportive of Jake and

But just before I end the broadcast, something makes me pause.

One comment, buried in the flood of support, catches my eye.

“All users who posted defamatory com

about Jake Reed and Sabrina Moore expect to receive legal

notice within the next 48 hours. – Hale & Associates Law Firm.”

I stare at it, my heart suddenly pounding.

Another comment appears: “Already got my noticed

JAKE IS REAL AND I’M SORRY!”

Then another: “Lawyer letter came this morning. I shouldn’t have believed Mean Lady Jessica’s lies.”

I turn to Sophia, who’s watching the screen with equal shock. “Did you have Richard send out mass legal

notices last night?”

“No! I was waiting for you to give me the go-ahead. I haven’t even called him yet.”

My mind races. If Sophia didn’t do it, and I didn’t do it, then who…

Hale & Associates Law Firm.

Hale. As in Ethan Hale?

No doubt. It’s him.

He’s the only person with the resources and connections to send legal notices to thousands of people overnight. The only one who could mobilize that kind of legal response so quickly.

My chest tightens with a confusing mix of emotions. Gratitude. Guilt. Frustration.

Gratitude because he defended Jake while dealing with whatever emergency kept him away.

Guilt because I doubted him last night. Wondered if he would leave us under family pressure.

But mostly frustration. Frustration because he’s handling everything alone. He won’t tell me what’s happening, leaving me guessing and worrying and creating scenarios in my head that might not even be

true.

*hapter

If he would just talk to me. Just tell me what’s going on.

But he won’t. And that silefice is starting to eat at me.

We pack up Jake’s supplies, accept congratulations from Principal Davidson and Mrs. Hamilton, and head home.

Jake falls asleep in the backseat, exhausted from the emotional intensity of the morning.

Sophia drives, occasionally glancing at me with concern. “I noticed you’ve been unusually quiet today.”

“Just thinking.”

“About Ethan?”

“About everything. But yeah, mostly Ethan.” I stare out the window.”I need to talk to him. Now that I’ve come to terms with our relationship, it feels weird I don’t know anything about his family.”

“About time. I was starting to think you didn’t care enough.” Sophia laughs. But her comment makes me

pause.

I turn to her, a strange unease in my heart. “Is that what it seemed like? That I didn’t care enough?”

“To me anyways, it did. Especially considering how you’ve been when you were with Dustin in the past.”

I frown, recalling small details I haven’t noticed before. Like Sophia said, whether it was due to uncertainty

or lack of faith in our relationship lasting long, I haven’t expressed much interest in Ethan’s family.

At least, not in the way a girlfriend should have.

“It’s important to find out everything about your partner when you’re in a relationship. Especially if you’re

planning a future together.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow at work. Corner him in his office if I have to.”

The next morning starts normally enough. I drop Jake at school, kiss him goodbye, promise to pick him up

at three.

I’m halfway to Hale Global when my car starts making a terrible grinding noise.

The steering wheel vibrates. The engine sputters. And suddenly I’m pulling onto the shoulder of the road, smoke pouring from under the hood.

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