The plan to hit Madeline where she never expected

Author's POV 

John dropped the CD back into the drawer and ran his hands through his hair. So much talk for so little. He couldn't reveal the contents of the CD to the press, they would be within Madeline's reach. The chances that Adam would see them before Madeline tampered with them would be low.  

And besides, something as huge as that? Madeline would know he was responsible for it. Especially since he had handed her the flash drive saying that was the original copy.  

The thing was, John wasn't stupid. When he had gone to Adam's mother's birthday party, he had gone with the sole aim of finding his way back into Madeline's life. He couldn't exactly come back begging to be in her life. That would have proven suspicious and besides he didn't think he could do that without losing control and doing something like bash her head against the wall.  

And so he had gone w