Chapter 12 - The Signature Test
The night before court, Alice placed the transfer acknowledgment on the dining table.
Aiden entered and saw the pen beside it.
His entire posture relaxed.
“You signed?”
“I tried.”
He looked at the blank line.
“What happened?”
“My hand cramped.”
Aiden pulled out a chair.
“Sit down.”
Alice obeyed.
He positioned the paper directly in front of her and placed the pen between her fingers.
“Just write your name.”
“I want to read it again.”
“There’s nothing new.”
“Then explain the legacy holdings.”
His fingers tightened around her hand.
Not enough to leave a bruise.
Enough to make the threat clear.
“Alice, stop making everything difficult.”
She stared at his hand over hers.
The recorder beneath the table captured every word.
“What happens if I don’t sign?”
Aiden leaned closer.
“You’ll walk into court with no house, no company, and no ability to support a child. Then I’ll make sure the judge understands how unstable you’ve become.”
Alice let fear enter her face.
It wasn’t entirely an act.
Aiden pushed the pen downward.
“Sign.”
She pulled her hand free.
“I feel sick.”
She rushed toward the bathroom.
Aiden cursed behind her.
Inside, Alice locked the door and sent the recording to Daniel.
For the first time, she allowed herself to shake.
Not because Aiden had won.
May you like
Because she finally understood how far he might go when he realized he had lost.
👉 By sunrise, Daniel had placed the original agreement, the hidden-company records, and Aiden’s threat inside one sealed courthouse envelope.
