Autumn is a second spring

99. Case 2.0

The judge opened the envelope, his eyes scanning the document. The courtroom fell silent, the tension palpable. Fame stole another glance at Fluke, hoping to catch a flicker of emotion, but his face remained a mask of calm.

The judge cleared his throat, bringing everyone's attention back to him. "The results of the DNA test indicate that..."

Fame held her breath, her hands gripping the edge of the table.

"...the defendant, Khun Fluke Natouch, is not the biological father of the child."

The words hit her like a physical blow. Her smug smile vanished, replaced by an expression of disbelief.

"What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jon stiffened beside her, his jaw tightening. "Fame," he said quietly, his tone warning.

But she couldn't hold back. She shot to her feet, her voice rising. "There must be a mistake! That can't be right!"

The judge frowned, his tone stern. "Khun Woranun, sit down. This court will not tolerate outbursts."

"But—"

"Sit. Down."

Reluctantly, she sank back into her seat, her mind racing. This wasn't possible. The child had to be Fluke's. There was no other explanation.

Across the room, Mean leaned toward Fluke, whispering something. Fluke gave a small nod, his expression unchanged.

Jon leaned closer to Fame, his voice low but urgent. "What the hell is going on, Fame? You told me there was no doubt he was the father."

"There isn't!" Fame hissed back. "There has to be a mistake with the test. Maybe they mixed up the samples or—"

"Enough," Jon snapped. "This isn't helping."

The judge looked back at the two parties. "Given the results of the DNA test, the court finds no basis for the plaintiff's claims of paternity. The charges against the defendant for child support are dismissed. As for the allegations of sexual assault..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the courtroom.

"The plaintiff has failed to provide sufficient evidence to support her claims. The court finds in favor of the defendant, Khun Fluke Natouch."

Fame's world came crashing down around her. The courtroom buzzed with murmurs as the judge adjourned the session.

Fluke stood, his movements deliberate and composed. For the first time, his gaze flickered toward Fame. There was no warmth in his eyes, only a cold, detached indifference.

As he walked past her, her heart twisted painfully.

"Fluke," she called out, desperation seeping into her voice.

Fluke strode out of the courtroom with Mean, walking beside him. His posture was straight, his expression calm, almost detached.

Fame, however, was far from composed. She hurried after him, her heels clicking against the courthouse floor as she called his name. "Fluke! Fluke, wait!"

Her voice echoed through the hallway, but Fluke didn't stop. Fame quickened her pace, desperate to catch up. Just as she closed the distance, two of Fluke's bodyguards stepped forward, blocking her path.

"Please move," she demanded, her voice shaking slightly as she glanced up at the imposing figures.

The bodyguards didn't budge, their faces expressionless. Fame hesitated, momentarily intimidated, but she quickly steeled herself. She wasn't about to back down.

"Fluke!" she called out again, raising her voice as she tried to peer around the men in front of her. "Please, listen to me!"

Fluke stopped abruptly. For a moment, he remained still, his back to her. Then, with deliberate slowness, he turned around.

His face was devoid of emotion, his gaze piercing as it locked onto hers. Fame felt a flicker of hope, thinking he might finally be willing to hear her out.

"The child is yours, Fluke," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I swear on everything, I have never been with another man. You were there, at the hospital, when I was inseminated. Don't doubt my sincerity—I did this because I love you!"

For a moment, Fluke said nothing. The silence stretched, the tension palpable. Finally, he spoke, his tone cold and measured.

"I was there," he admitted, his gaze unwavering. "I know exactly what happened. And I know I am not the father."

Fame blinked, confusion clouding her features. "What are you talking about? Of course you are the father. How could you say otherwise?"

Fluke's expression didn't change as he dropped the bombshell. "The father of your child is P' Mike, your Phi Khey. [1]"

The name hit Fame like a lightning strike. Her eyes widened in shock, and she took a step back, shaking her head. "What are you saying? P' Mike died years ago in an accident! How could he possibly—"

Fluke cut her off, his voice calm, almost mocking. "P' Mike used to be an active donor at the sperm bank. There were samples of his sperm left in storage. Those samples were used to inseminate you."

The weight of his words sank in, and Fame's face contorted with anger and frustration. "You are lying!" she shouted, her voice trembling. "This can't be true!"

Fluke let out a dry chuckle, the sound devoid of warmth. "It's true, Fame. Did you really think I would be foolish enough to let you use my sperm? Did you think I wouldn't see through your schemes?"

Fame's emotions boiled over. She lunged at him, her hands reaching out in fury, but the bodyguards stepped in, holding her back. She struggled against their grip, her voice rising in a furious scream.

"Did you and Mist plan this together? You two planned this together, didn't you?" she spat, her voice shaking with rage.

Fluke raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "No," he said simply. "This was my idea alone."

Fame's struggles intensified, her voice breaking with desperation. "How could you do this to me? I loved you! How could you treat my feelings like this?"

Fluke's expression hardened, his tone turning icy. "You are a married woman, Fame. Whatever you think you feel for me is obsession, not love. And I don't appreciate it."

Fame froze for a moment, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Tears welled up in her eyes, but they were more of frustration than sadness.

Fluke stepped closer, his words cutting like a knife. "Because of what you have done, Mist has filed for divorce. She is also suing for custody of the child. Do you know why? Because while you have been busy chasing after me and dragging my name through the mud, you have been neglecting your newborn daughter. Mist wants to give her the care you are too distracted to provide."

Fame stared at him, her face a mask of disbelief and fury. She shook her head violently. "No... no, this isn't happening. You can't take her away from me!"

Fluke's smirk returned, colder this time. "You have already done that to yourself."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, his bodyguards falling into step behind him.

Fame's screams echoed down the hallway. "Fluke! Don't do this! You can't walk away from me like this!"

But he didn't look back.

She continued struggling against the bodyguards, her voice cracking with emotion. "You will regret this, Fluke! I swear you will!"

Her words hung in the air, but Fluke was already gone, his figure disappearing around the corner.

Fame collapsed to her knees, her tears falling freely now. The weight of her actions and their consequences finally began to sink in, but the anger and bitterness in her heart burned brighter than ever.

[1] Phi Khey- Brother-in-law..  (P' Mike is Mist's elder brother, which makes him Fame's brother-in-law)