Chapter 7 - Whose Children Are They?
After Arthur’s mother revealed the surgical report, Brooke denied everything.
She claimed the hospital records were inaccurate.
She accused Victoria of fabricating evidence to destroy their happiness.
Judge Holloway examined the certified documents and ordered Brooke to stop interrupting.
Arthur stared at her.
“Did you know?”
Brooke’s lips trembled.
“Arthur, this isn’t the place.”
“Did you know I couldn’t have children?”
Brooke looked toward the exits.
Arthur repeated the question.
“Yes,” she finally whispered.
The single word changed the room.
Arthur nearly lost his grip on the child in his arms, but a court officer stepped closer and helped him secure the blanket.
Brooke insisted that the babies were his in every way that mattered.
Arthur demanded to know their biological father.
She refused.
Victoria remained silent.
This was no longer her marriage to repair or her lie to expose. She had brought the truth into the room. What Arthur did with it belonged to him.
Judge Holloway explained that paternity would have to be addressed in a separate proceeding. Because Arthur had signed voluntary acknowledgments at the hospital, he needed to act quickly if he wished to challenge them.
Brooke began crying.
“You promised you would love them.”
Arthur stared at the twins.
For the first time, his anger gave way to something resembling responsibility.
“They didn’t lie to me,” he said. “You did.”
He handed the baby carefully to the waiting nurse.
Then he turned toward Victoria.
Perhaps he expected sympathy.
Perhaps he expected her to save him, as she had saved so many people before.
May you like
Victoria placed the signed decree inside her briefcase.
“You wanted a life without me,” she said. “Now you have one.”
