Chapter 10 - The Recorded Conversation
The following afternoon, Alice visited Holland Development’s office carrying lunch for Aiden.
The receptionist looked surprised.
“Mr. Holland is in a private meeting.”
“With Madeline?”
The woman hesitated.
Alice smiled gently.
“I’ll wait.”
She sat outside Aiden’s office and activated the recorder inside her handbag.
Through the partly closed door, Madeline’s voice carried into the hallway.
“She almost recognized the trust language.”
Aiden answered sharply.
“She won’t understand it.”
“You said that before.”
“She’ll sign at the courthouse.”
“And if her attorney objects?”
“She thinks she’s using a public defender.”
Alice’s eyes narrowed.
Aiden believed she had no serious representation.
Madeline lowered her voice.
“Once the baby comes, custody could complicate the transfer.”
“It won’t. I’ll argue instability.”
“You have evidence?”
“I have messages, missed appointments, and her mother’s history of depression.”
Alice’s breath stopped.
Joyce had experienced grief after Alice’s father died.
Aiden intended to twist it into a hereditary mental-health claim.
Madeline laughed quietly.
“You really planned everything.”
“I don’t lose what belongs to me.”
Alice stood and walked away before they could discover her.
Outside, she sent the recording to Daniel.
His reply arrived seconds later.
This changes the case.
Alice leaned against her car while the baby shifted painfully.
Aiden had not merely betrayed her.
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He intended to use her pregnancy, her mother’s grief, and her emotional reaction as weapons.
👉 Daniel’s next discovery proved Aiden had already contacted a custody evaluator before ever telling Alice he wanted a divorce.
