2026-08-17 17:15:26"Because I wanted legal counsel first. I want to know the best way to use the results, not just get them." Sean's voice was measured, every word chosen with the patience of a man who had already made the mistake of acting on emotion in another lifetime.
Karla nodded slowly, and for the first time, something close to respect flickered across her features. "Smart. Very smart. Here's what I recommend. We send the sample to a certified forensic lab with chain of custody documentation. The results come back sealed and are held by this office. We don't use them unless we need to."
"When would we need to?" Sean leaned forward slightly.
"If Jessica pushes the custody angle. Right now, she's using Jack as emotional leverage in her public campaign. The poor abandoned child, the heartless rich father. If she escalates, if she files for retroactive child support or tries to reopen custody proceedings to get access to your finances through the child, we pull out the DNA results." Karla picked up her pen again and started writing. "If the test confirms Jack is not yours, her entire narrative collapses. The public sympathy, the legal claims, all of it. She won't just lose the case. She'll be exposed."
"And the video campaign?" Sean watched her write.
"We document everything she posts. Every video, every comment, every share. We build a defamation file. When the time is right, we hit her with a civil suit for damages. Between the extortion text and the false public statements, she's looking at a very uncomfortable courtroom experience." Karla capped her pen and looked up. "Mr. Miles, I've handled hundreds of these cases. Your timeline is airtight. Your documentation is thorough. And your ex wife is making every mistake in the book by going public before going to court."
"What are my odds?" Sean asked it plainly.
"If this goes to trial, and I don't think it will because any competent opposing counsel will tell her to settle or walk away, your chances of a full victory are above ninety five percent. She has no legal standing to claim post divorce assets. The timestamps alone end the argument." Karla closed her folder and stood up.
Sean stood as well. "I'll have Alan Porter wire your retainer this afternoon."
"Two hundred thousand. Non refundable." Karla extended her hand.
"Done." Sean shook it.
"One more thing." Karla held his hand for an extra second. "Get that DNA sample to the lab this week. I want the results in hand before Jessica's lawyer even files the first motion. In cases like this, the person who holds the trump card doesn't need to play it. They just need the other side to know it exists."
Sean picked up his phone and slipped it into his jacket. "I'll have the sample submitted by tomorrow morning."
"Good. My office will send you the name of the forensic lab we work with. Full chain of custody, court admissible, completely confidential." Karla walked him to the door.
Sean paused at the threshold. "Karla. One last question."
"Go ahead."
"If the DNA comes back confirming Jack isn't mine, can I recover the six years of child support I already paid?"
Karla's thin smile returned. "Every single dollar. With interest."
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 8: Fortress
Three days passed after Jessica's message demanding five hundred million dollars, and Sean never replied. Not a single word. The message sat there on her screen with its little "delivered" tag mocking her every time she checked, unread receipts that never turned into a response.Jessica sat on the edge of her bed in her parents' house, staring at the silent thread, her thumb hovering uselessly over the keyboard. She had imagined this moment so many times. The wire transfer notification. The lawyer's polite email confirming the settlement. The new apartment in Positano she had already started browsing online, the shopping trips, the life of a woman who never had to worry about money again.None of it was coming."He's not answering." Jessica's voice cracked slightly as she looked up at Zach, who was lounging in the armchair by the window scrolling through his own phone."He'll cave. Give it time." Zach didn't even look up."It's been three days, Zach. Three days and nothing. Not even
Chapter 7: Greed
The negotiation was set to take place at a private conference room inside the Bellavista Business Center, a glass tower on Corso Milano that housed half the law firms in the city. Karla had arranged the neutral meeting space herself, insisting that face to face mediation before trial was standard procedure, even when she already knew how it would end.Sean arrived first and took a seat at the long mahogany table. Karla sat beside him with a closed folder in front of her. Five minutes later, the door opened and Jessica walked in, followed by Margaret and a lawyer Sean didn't recognize, a thin balding man clutching a leather briefcase like it might run away from him.Jessica had dressed carefully. A soft gray blazer, hair pulled back into a neat bun, minimal jewelry. The picture of a reasonable, wronged woman. She sat down across from Sean and offered him a small, tight smile that didn't reach her eyes."Sean. Thank you for agreeing to meet." Her voice was calm, almost gentle."Let's ge
Chapter 6: part 2
"Because I wanted legal counsel first. I want to know the best way to use the results, not just get them." Sean's voice was measured, every word chosen with the patience of a man who had already made the mistake of acting on emotion in another lifetime.Karla nodded slowly, and for the first time, something close to respect flickered across her features. "Smart. Very smart. Here's what I recommend. We send the sample to a certified forensic lab with chain of custody documentation. The results come back sealed and are held by this office. We don't use them unless we need to.""When would we need to?" Sean leaned forward slightly."If Jessica pushes the custody angle. Right now, she's using Jack as emotional leverage in her public campaign. The poor abandoned child, the heartless rich father. If she escalates, if she files for retroactive child support or tries to reopen custody proceedings to get access to your finances through the child, we pull out the DNA results." Karla picked up h
Chapter 6: Retainer
Sean stepped out of the elevator into a reception area that smelled like leather and fresh espresso. The floors were polished marble, the walls lined with framed case victories and bar association honors. Everything about the place said one thing: we don't lose.Sean had found Karla Singh through three hours of research the night before. She was ranked as one of the top five divorce and asset protection attorneys in the state. Her win rate in post divorce disputes was ninety four percent. Her retainer fee was two hundred thousand dollars, and she was worth every cent.The receptionist, a young man in a fitted navy suit, led Sean down a long corridor to a corner office with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. Karla Singh was already standing behind her desk when he walked in.She was tall, mid forties, with sharp dark eyes and black hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her handshake was firm and brief, and she gestured to the chair across from her without any small talk.
Chapter 5: Part 2
Zach pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. "Derek specializes in post divorce asset recovery. He's gone after hidden accounts, offshore funds, all kinds of stuff. If Sean made even one mistake with his timing, Derek will find it.""Call him." Margaret spoke for the first time, her voice sharp and final."Already texting him." Zach typed with one thumb, his other hand still resting on Jessica's back. "But listen, babe, lawyers take time. Courts take time. You know what doesn't take time?"Jessica turned to look at him, her eyebrow raised slightly."The internet." Zach's grin widened."What do you mean?" Jessica's eyes narrowed, but there was curiosity underneath."I mean you record a video. You tell your side of the story. A woman who gave six years of her life to a man who was secretly hoarding wealth, who abandoned his wife and child the moment he got rich. You cry a little, you mention Jack, you talk about how he left you with nothing. The internet eats that stuff
Chapter 5: Viral
The morning after the Jones family's uninvited visit, Sean stood in the security office near the front gate of the Ridgewood community. Two guards sat behind a bank of monitors showing camera feeds from every entrance. The head of security, a broad shouldered man named Frank, was listening with his hands folded on the desk."Mr. Miles, you said there was an incident last night?" Frank's tone was professional and attentive."Three people showed up at my door unannounced around 9 PM. A man in his sixties, his wife, and a younger woman. They let themselves through the gate and came directly to my property without authorization." Sean placed a printed photo on the desk showing George's silver sedan captured by his doorbell camera.Frank picked up the photo and studied it. "That shouldn't have happened. The night shift is supposed to check visitor clearance before letting anyone through.""It won't happen again. I want all three of them permanently flagged in your system. Their names are G
You may also like
Son-In-Law: Love and Revenge
Mas Xeno88.1K viewsTrillionaire Ex husband's Revenge
Jericho Chase94.9K viewsThe Legendary Conglomerate
Lord MOH123.7K viewsRags To Riches: The Riveting Tale Of Jason Smith
Chukwuemeka_101125.5K views3 years Owed
Eleme97 viewsCode of the Broken Loop
Kamzy Linn107 viewsDisgraced Heir Returns
Manesa53 viewsNinety Days Before The Apocalypse
Sunday64 views