Chapter 7 - The Blonde Woman Changes Sides
Madison asked for a private conversation with Emily.
Richard refused at first.
Emily allowed it.
When they were alone, Madison sat beside the window.
“I’m sorry.”
Emily looked at her.
“You slept with my husband.”
Madison nodded through tears.
“Yes.”
“You believed him when he said we were separated.”
“Yes.”
Emily wanted to hate her.
Part of her did.
But Madison had also been lied to.
That did not erase the affair.
It complicated it.
Madison unlocked her phone.
“I think I have something.”
Ryan had sent voice messages.
Most were romantic.
Some were logistical.
One, from three weeks earlier, sounded different.
“If Emily signs before the baby comes, we don’t need a court fight.”
Madison’s voice on the recording asked, “Signs what?”
Ryan answered, “Something that keeps the company from freezing me out.”
Emily’s pulse quickened.
Another recording.
Madison asked why he needed her to sign caregiver forms.
Ryan laughed.
“Because people trust a calm blonde woman more than a postpartum mother who looks hysterical.”
Emily closed her eyes.
Madison began crying.
“I should have known.”
Emily opened her eyes.
“You should have asked more questions.”
“Yes.”
“But he wanted both of us to doubt ourselves.”
Madison nodded.
Emily held out her hand.
“Send everything to Julia.”
Madison did.
Then she hesitated.
“There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“Ryan has a storage unit.”
Emily frowned.
“He told me it was for work.”
“Where?”
Madison gave her the address.
Emily sent it to Richard.
Three hours later, police obtained consent from Madison to access property registered in her name.
Inside the unit were boxes.
Company records.
Forged medical documents.
Copies of Emily’s signatures.
And a packed suitcase.
On top sat two passports.
May you like
One belonged to Ryan.
The other belonged to the newborn.
