Chapter 5 - The Paper Trail
Emily was shaking now, her manicured fingers digging into the fabric of her cream-colored dress. "No. That’s impossible. Mark told me you went to three clinics! He said the doctors said your eggs weren't viable!"
I couldn't help the sad smile that crossed my face. "Mark told you that? Did he ever show you the medical records, Emily?"
Emily looked at Mark, her expression crumbling. "Mark? Did you?"
Mark was scrambling to his feet, adjusting his crooked tie. "She's lying! She forged whatever she's talking about! Why didn't you come after me for child support, huh? If they were mine, you would have sued me for every penny! What woman has two babies and doesn't ask the wealthy father for a dime?"
"Because you weren't a father," I fired back, my voice turning icy. "You were a monster who made me feel worthless for nearly a decade. I didn't want your money, Mark. I didn't want your toxic mother poisoning my sons. My brother and I built our business. We raised Luke and Owen without a single cent of your blood money."
David pulled out his phone, tapping the screen a few times before holding it up for Richard Vance to see.
"Here are the birth certificates, Mr. Vance," David said with lethal calm. "Born at Saint Jude's Memorial. Paternity: Mark Anthony Sterling. And here is the formal certified notice our lawyer sent to Mark's registered address four years ago notifying him of the birth."
Mark froze. "I never got that letter."
Diane suddenly stopped crying. Her head snapped toward Mark, her eyes widening in sheer panic.
I caught the exchange immediately.
"You never got the letter, Mark?" I asked softly, watching Diane's posture stiffen into stone. "Or did someone make sure it never reached your hands?"
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The ballroom was suffocating. Nobody was eating cake. Nobody was looking at the baby gifts wrapped in blue ribbons. All eyes were locked on Diane Sterling, whose pale face was now flushed with guilt.
"Diane?" Mark turned slowly toward his mother, his voice cracking into something childlike and terrified. "What did she mean? What letter?"
