Chapter 3 - The Woman Wearing Alice’s Future
Alice did not confront Aiden about the forged documents.
Evelyn insisted they needed evidence, not anger.
For the next three weeks, Alice continued preparing the nursery. She attended medical appointments, smiled at household staff, and asked Aiden ordinary questions over breakfast.
Aiden became unusually attentive.
He brought flowers.
He rubbed her shoulders.
He spoke gently about how exhausted she looked.
Every kindness felt rehearsed.
One evening, he placed a cup of tea beside her and sat across from her in the library.
“We need to discuss our future,” he said.
Alice closed the book in her lap.
“Our future?”
“I haven’t been happy for a long time.”
He looked toward the window, performing sadness as carefully as he performed confidence in boardrooms.
“I think we’ve become different people.”
Alice waited.
Aiden continued.
“The pregnancy made me realize we shouldn’t raise a child inside an unhealthy marriage.”
The cruelty of the sentence almost broke her composure.
“You decided this because of the baby?”
“I decided it because we both deserve honesty.”
“Is Madeline part of that honesty?”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed.
Then he sighed.
“I didn’t want you to learn that way.”
“So she is.”
“I love her.”
Alice looked at the man she had married.
He had once spent an entire night building a model bridge from cardboard because she needed it for a university presentation. He had once held her hand at her mother’s funeral and promised she would never face loss alone again.
Now he spoke of loving another woman as though he were announcing a business decision.
“How long?” Alice asked.
“A few months.”
“Four?”
Aiden’s expression confirmed it.
Alice folded her hands over her stomach.
“What do you want?”
“A peaceful divorce.”
“And the company?”
“I built Hartwell into what it is today.”
“My father built Hartwell.”
“Your father left behind outdated properties and debt. I created the national expansion.”
“With trust capital.”
“With my leadership.”
There it was.
Not guilt.
Entitlement.
Aiden leaned forward.
“My attorney prepared a settlement. You keep this house, your personal accounts, and a generous support arrangement. I retain the company and the city apartment.”
“The apartment you share with Madeline?”
His jaw tightened.
“I’m trying to be fair.”
Alice almost laughed.
Instead, she said, “Send the documents to Evelyn.”
Aiden seemed surprised by her calmness.
“That’s it?”
“What did you expect?”
“Tears. Accusations.”
“You’ve made your decision.”
Relief spread across his face.
He mistook restraint for surrender.
The following weekend, Alice attended Hartwell’s annual foundation dinner. Her doctor had advised rest, but Alice needed to see Madeline.
She found her near the ballroom entrance, greeting investors as though she already owned the room.
Madeline wore a white dress.
Not ivory.
Not silver.
Bridal white.
When their eyes met, Madeline walked over.
“You look well,” she said.
“So do you.”
Madeline’s hand moved unconsciously toward the diamond bracelet on her wrist.
Alice recognized it.
Her mother had designed it.
It belonged to the Hartwell estate collection and had been stored in the company vault.
“Aiden gave you that?” Alice asked.
Madeline smiled.
“He said it represented a new beginning.”
Alice touched the bracelet lightly.
“Did he tell you where it came from?”
“He said it belonged to him.”
“Of course he did.”
For the first time, Madeline’s confidence slipped.
Alice walked away before she could ask another question.
That night, Alice informed Evelyn that Aiden had removed estate property from the vault.
Evelyn added it to the file.
One theft had become many.
May you like
And Madeline was wearing the evidence.
---
