Chapter 4

I ignored them and walked straight into the courtroom.

Vanessa was already seated at the plaintiff's table.

She wore plain, worn-out clothes, no makeup, and clutched an old cardigan. She looked exactly like a victim of a harsh world.

Beside her sat a man in his late write-forties, sharply dressed in a suit—her attorney.

Helen sat in the very front row of the gallery.

She was dressed elegantly, her makeup done perfectly. She looked radiant, as if she were here to take her grandson home rather than attend a lawsuit.

When she saw me, a flicker of guilt crossed her face, but she quickly looked away.

The judge banged the gavel, and court was in session.

The plaintiff’s lawyer stood up first. "Your Honor, my client, Vanessa, met the defendant, Ethan Carter, five years ago. The defendant hid his marital status and engaged in an intimate relationship with my client, resulting in pregnancy. After the child was born, the defendant refused to acknowledge him, leaving my client to raise him alone."

"The child has recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and urgently requires the genetic history of both parents. My client requests this court to establish Ethan Carter’s legal paternity and order the defendant to pay three million dollars in child support, medical expenses, and damages."

As soon as he finished, Vanessa began to weep silently.

Her shoulders trembled. It was a heartbreaking sight.

Whispers erupted from the gallery.

"Poor girl, raising a child alone for four years..."

"The husband is absolute trash!"

Helen sighed loudly right on cue, making sure everyone around her could hear:

"Oh, what a tragedy..."

The judge banged the gavel to restore order, then turned to us.

"Does the defense have a response?"

Ethan stood up, his voice steady but cold.

"I do not know the plaintiff. Five years ago, I did not have an affair with anyone. This child is not mine."

Vanessa’s lawyer sneered.

"Mr. Carter, we have a certified DNA paternity test right here showing a 99.99% match. Do you really think a simple denial is going to work?"

The gallery gasped.

"The proof is right there!"

"He still denies it? How shameless!"

"And his wife is just as bad, helping him cover it up!"

Vanessa cried harder, burying her face in her arms on the table.

Her lawyer spoke up.

"Your Honor, my client is highly distressed. We request a five-minute recess."

Before the judge could rule, Helen stood up from the gallery.

"Your Honor, please let me speak!"

She wiped her eyes, her voice shaking.

"I am the defendant's mother, Helen Carter. I am here to tell the truth."

"This child is indeed my son's. I didn't believe it at first, but after seeing the DNA test, I had to accept the truth."

She turned toward the spectators, tears streaming down her face.

"As his mother, I am deeply sorry to Vanessa and the boy. For four years, this child had no father, and Vanessa suffered alone..."

"I stand here today because I want justice for this mother and child!"

A few people in the gallery actually clapped.

Someone shouted, "Now that is a righteous mother-in-law!"

Another yelled, "Unlike that cold-blooded daughter-in-law!"

Every eye in the room turned to glare at me.

Those looks were filled with disgust, contempt, and hatred.

I slowly stood up.

"Your Honor," my voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly across the quiet room. "I have evidence to submit."

I pulled a manila folder from my bag.

Every eye locked onto the envelope.

The judge opened it, his brow furrowing instantly.

"This is..." The judge paused.

I cleared my throat and spoke clearly, emphasizing every single word:

"This is an official surgical record from five years ago, dated November. The procedure was a vasectomy."

"The patient’s name is Ethan Carter."

The entire courtroom fell dead silent.