My Ex Husband Treated My Son Without Knowing He Was His Chapter 08

My Ex Husband Treated My Son Without Knowing He Was His Chapter 08

On the drive back to the office, Elaine watched me from the passenger seat.

“What did you tell him?”

“He asked if Liam was his. I said no.”

“Did he buy it?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Evelyn, if you keep carrying this alone, sooner or later…”

“Elaine. Get the lawyer, Julian Croft, on the phone. As soon as possible. I need a full legal strategy.”

“Strategy for what?”

“If Nathan files for a paternity test, how I refuse it. And if I can’t refuse, how I keep custody.”

Elaine went quiet.

A moment later she spoke again.

“Have you ever considered another option?”

“What option?”

“Let him know the truth. But on your terms.”

“Not happening.”

“Why?”

“Five years ago, the Hayes family handed me a hundred thousand dollars to disappear. And the day

I left, Nathan stood in the doorway and didn’t say a word.”

Elaine’s lips pressed into a thin line.

“He doesn’t deserve to know Liam exists.”

Julian arrived at three that afternoon.

Forty-five years old. A specialist in family law. Over a thousand cases under his belt.

I laid out the entire situation from start to finish.

When I was done, he asked one question.

“The father’s name on the birth certificate is blank?

“Correct.”

“Good. Then as of now, the other party has no legal grounds to assert paternity. However-”

“However what?”

“If the other party petitions the court for a paternity test, you have the right to refuse. The court

cannot compel you to submit to a DNA test. But if the petitioner presents other preliminary

evidence-photographs showing a strong physical resemblance, blood type records that align,

testimony from a credible witness-the court may draw an adverse inference.”

“Meaning what, exactly?”

“Meaning if you refuse testing and the other party has sufficient preliminary evidence, the court

can presume paternity.”

I leaned back in my chair.

“And if that presumption holds?”

“He can assert visitation rights. As for custody, given that you are the primary caregiver, financially

stable, and the other party has never been involved in the child’s upbringing, the court will almost

certainly rule in your favor.”

“Almost certainly?”

“Ninety percent or higher. Unless the other party can demonstrate that you are unfit.”

“How would they do that?”

“Financial hardship. Moral turpitude. Abuse or neglect. None of which apply to you. So don’t lose sleep over it.”

I nodded.

“Julian. Draft a contingency plan. If he initiates legal proceedings, I need to be ready to respond immediately.”

“Done.”

After he left, I stood at the window.

Visitation rights.

Even if custody stayed with me, Nathan could see Liam every week.

Liam would grow up knowing he had a father.

A father who stood silent when his mother needed him most.

I didn’t know how to explain that to a four-year-old.

Saturday. I took Liam to the mall to pick out a new dinosaur.

He spent forever deciding and finally settled on a blue one.

“Mommy, I don’t want green anymore. Blue is better”

“Okay. Blue it is.”

After we paid, we walked past the indoor playground on the first floor.

Liam ran up to it and pressed his face against the safety railing.

“Mommy, I wanna go down the slide!”

“Go ahead. I’ll wait out here.”

He kicked off his shoes and disappeared inside.

I sat on a nearby bench and checked my phone.

The Apex contract payment had cleared. First installment was one million dollars.

The company’s cash flow situation had finally stabilized.

The production line expansion was moving forward

Everything was on track.

“Evelyn?”

I looked up.

A woman stood in front of me. Fur coat. Jewelry or every finger.

Maya Hayes.

Nathan’s mother.

The blood drained from my body.

She looked older than five years ago, but the pageantry hadn’t changed. Behind her stood

someone who looked like hired help, arms full of shopping bags.

“It really is you.” Her eyes swept over me. “Arthur mentioned he ran into you in a business setting. I

didn’t believe him.”

“Mrs. Hayes.” I rose to my feet. Expressionless.

“You’ve done well for yourself. Your own company now?”

“Yes.”

“Impressive. You looked so pitiful when you left. Now you’re practically respectable.”

I said nothing.

She settled onto the bench beside me, as if we were old friends catching up.

“You live alone?”

“Yes.”

“Haven’t remarried?”

“No.”

“Of course not. Hard to find someone with baggage like that.”

My fingers curled into a fist.

“What baggage?”

“Evelyn. You think I don’t know? Whatever Arthur’s people dug up, I know about it too. You have a

son. Four years old.”

Her eyes drifted toward the playground.

“Is he in there?”

Liam shot down the slide, laughing hard.

“Mrs. Hayes. What exactly do you want?”

“I don’t want anything. Just curious. Wanted to see what my grandson looks like.”

She stood and walked over to the railing.

Liam ran up, looking at this unfamiliar old woman in the fur coat.

“Well, hello there, little guy. What’s your name?”

“Liam.”

“How old are you?”

“Four!”

“Handsome boy.” Maya bent down. “Looks just like your father.”

I stepped over, and then crouched to scoop Liam into my arms.

“Liam, we’re leaving.”

“But Mommy, I’m not done playing-”

“Now.”

I carried him fast toward the mall exit.

Maya’s voice followed me.

“Evelyn. That child is Hayes blood. You can’t hide him forever.”

I didn’t look back.

I pushed through the glass doors and the sunlight hit hard.

Liam wrapped his arms around my neck and whispered, “Mommy, who was that lady?”

“Nobody you need to know.”

“She said I look like my daddy.”

“She was wrong. You look like me.”