Chapter 4 - The Unraveling
Two weeks passed. The triplets—Clara, Beatrix, and Maeve—fought courageously for every breath, slowly gaining fractions of an ounce each day. Corinne practically lived in the NICU, learning the complex medical terminology, assisting with kangaroo care, and pumping milk around the clock.
Meanwhile, Landon's world was rapidly collapsing around him.
The rumors about his abandonment of his dying newborns had reached the board of directors at Pierce & Sterling, the investment firm where he was aiming for managing partner. The firm's reputation relied heavily on public trust and family-oriented branding.
To make matters worse, Brielle Vaughn turned out to be far less loyal than Landon had assumed. panicking over the damage to her own career, Brielle attempted to distance herself from Landon, leaking private text messages to the press that showed Landon complaining about his marriage and planning to use corporate funds for private getaways.
Landon confronted Brielle in her office. "You leaked those texts? I ruined my family for you!"
Brielle looked at him with cool disdain. "You ruined your family because you're a narcissist, Landon. I was just having fun. You chose to walk out on a woman in labor. Don't pin your pathetic choices on me."
Devastated and facing suspension from his firm, Landon made a desperate attempt to force Corinne’s hand. He cut off her access to their joint bank accounts, thinking the financial pressure would force her to negotiate and allow him back into the public eye as a reformed, caring father.
He miscalculated severely.
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Corinne didn't panic. Instead, she called Sarah Vance. Unbeknownst to Landon, Corinne had kept meticulous records of her own inheritance from her late grandmother—funds Landon had tried to merge into their joint portfolio years prior, but which Corinne had kept in a separate trust. Furthermore, Sarah filed an emergency motion with the court for temporary spousal and child support, highlighting Landon's financially abusive move to freeze assets while three infants were in intensive care.
The judge was appalled by Landon's actions. Not only did the court order the immediate unfreezing of the funds, but it also granted Corinne temporary full custody and ordered Landon to pay all medical expenses out of pocket.
