Chapter 8 - The Desperate Ploy
Within forty-eight hours, Brent’s entire world had dissolved into ash. He had no home, no job, no corporate status, and his personal credit cards were maxed out. His mother and sister were constantly badgering him for money he didn't have, and his expensive defense attorneys were demanding a fifty-thousand-dollar retainer up front just to look at the divorce paperwork.
Desperate, Brent decided to play his final, dirtiest card: little Ivy.
He hired a low-grade, aggressive family attorney who specialized in smear campaigns. Together, they filed a counter-petition in family court, claiming that Tessa was emotionally unstable, suffering from severe postpartum psychosis, and had recklessly sold the family home out of spite, rendering the newborn infant technically homeless. They demanded immediate, emergency full custody of Ivy and a total freeze on Tessa’s bank accounts.
The media caught wind of the high-profile corporate divorce. Sensationalized headlines began to appear on local news sites: Vanguard CEO Sells $42M Mansion Days After Birth, Leaves Husband and Newborn in Legal Limbo.
Diane and Karen went on a local Denver news broadcast, playing the roles of devastated, grieving grandparents. "We just want to make sure the baby is safe," Diane sobbed into a tissue for the cameras. "Tessa completely snapped after coming home from the hospital. She locked us out, threw our family heirlooms into the street, and disappeared with the child. We don't even know where my granddaughter is sleeping tonight!"
Inside a stunning, highly secure luxury penthouse overlooking the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs—a property I had purchased quietly through a shell company six months ago as a backup plan—I watched the television broadcast with Ivy sleeping peacefully against my chest.
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Molly stood by the kitchen island, her face white with anger. "Tess, they are painting you as a monster. Aren't you going to respond? Aren't you going to issue a press release?"
I took a slow sip of red raspberry leaf tea, my face completely expressionless. "Never interrupt an enemy while he is making a mistake, Molly. Let them dig the hole as deep as they want. The family court judge assigned to our case is Judge Evelyn Vance—no relation to me, but renowned for her absolute intolerance for parental alienation and media stunts. Tomorrow morning is our emergency hearing. Brent thinks he’s entering a circus. He has no idea he’s entering an execution chamber."
