Wakes's POV
The custody lawyer came highly recommended—Patricia Holbrook, known for representing wealthy fathers in complex divorce proceedings. She sat across from me in my office, reviewing the file on Aloe with professional detachment.
"Your wife is currently... where exactly?" she asked.
"Vermont. Blake Matthew's property. Hiding from the media and from me."
"Hiding while pregnant with your child." Patricia made notes. "That plays in our favor. We can argue that she's unstable, making poor decisions about prenatal care, potentially endangering the fetus."
Potentially endangering. The legal language that turned Aloe's need for space into evidence of incompetence.
"What are our chances of gaining custody?"
"Full custody? Difficult but not impossible. Joint custody with significant
