Among All The Stars I Found You Chapter 19
After that day, the tide of public opinion shifted quickly.
Everything Juliette had posted on Instagram and in the alumni group was dragged out, one screenshot at a time.
The airport photo was enlarged.
At last, people could clearly see that Preston’s hand had been on the suitcase handle the entire time.
From beginning to end, he had never touched her.
Others circled the wedding band on his ring finger in the hospital photos.
Before, people had only wanted to see what they wanted to see.
Now that the truth was laid bare, all that calculated ambiguity suddenly looked ridiculous.
But Juliette still didn’t give up.
She petitioned the court to take custody of Leo.
When the notice arrived at the house, Leo was sitting at the dining table, working on a craft project.
When he heard his name, he slowly looked up.
“Where is Juliette taking me?”
I crouched down in front of him.
“Nowhere.”
“But she said she’s my real mom.”
My throat tightened.
“When did she say that to you?”
Leo didn’t answer.
He pulled a photo out of his schoolbag.
It was a picture of the divorce agreement I had signed.
At the bottom, the two-million-dollar payment was clearly noted.
Juliette must have taken a picture of it when she was staying at our house.
On the back of the photo was a line of writing.
[She took the money and left. She never wanted you.]
My hand went rigid.
Leo looked at me, his eyes rimmed with red.
“Is it true?”
“Did you go to Savannah because Dad gave you money?”
I wanted to say no.
But every word on that document was true.
I couldn’t cover one lie with another.
“I did take the money.”
Tears immediately welled up in Leo’s eyes.
He shoved me away and ran to his room.
The door slammed shut in my face.Â