I pat her back. “You don’t think I’ll just sit by after this, do you?”
“Are you going to try to take this down?”
“No.” I shake my head. “That would only fuel the fire and get people to post screencaps. Once something’s posted online, it’s forever. You need to cut the loss and make a mitigation plan.”
“Such as?”
“Defamation lawsuits. They’ll learn that spreading lies that damage our reputation is expensive.”
“Our reputation?” Grace blinks in confusion. “You look like a good guy. I’m the horrible, gold-digging baby-mama ho.”
I snort. “I sound like an idiot who can’t hold his liquor. Besides, I wasn’t drunk that night at the Aylster. I was very sober when I was with you. We had sex because we wanted to, and it was amazing, and that’s that.”
Grace smiles, as I intended. Vivienne isn’t worth getting upset over.
“Our baby will not be fucked up, especially since we will keep Auntie Cunty away.” I put a protective hand over her belly. “We’re going to keep it safe.”
She nods, placing a hand over mine. “Thank you. Please feel free to do whatever you want to those two. But I don’t want to sue. I want to get even my own way.” Her eyes glint evilly.
I smile, loving it that she is already formulating a plan to fight back. This is utterly adorable. Did I think she was like an angry hamster? She’s more like a kitten getting ready to pounce. “Go for it.”
“I will. But how do I make what I’m about to do go viral? I’ve never done anything like this, but everyone should hear about it.”
“Why don’t you ask for help from people you know?”
She purses her lips in confusion. It’s both frustrating and endearing.
“Me—your husband. All your brothers- and sisters-in-law. Your mother-in-law, although honestly, she’s only good at suing people.” I hesitate for a second.Ah, what the hell.“And your father-in-law, who knows how to stage a great scene.”
“I don’t want to impose on anyone.”
“How do you know they’re going to think that it’s an imposition? My brothers sound pretty pissed about what Vivienne did. And I’ll bet you their wives aren’t amused, either.” I show her some of the texts.
Her eyelids flutter as she reads what’s on the screen. “I thought they didn’t like me, but were just pretending to be friendly for appearances’ sake,” she says slowly, as though the notion is too alien to readily accept. “Don’t they know the full story behind our marriage?”
What does that have to do with her asking for help when she needs it?Then it slowly dawns on me. When she needed help the most, she was treated badly—or used. Her own father refused to show kindness to her when she was desperate to save her mother. Although Andreas tries, the man is just too busy to make sure she is all right. Most likely after her mother became hospitalized, Grace only had herself to rely on. Others couldn’t be trusted to watch her back. She even refused my help until I created a trust so I couldn’t yank it away from her on a whim.
Sympathy and a protective urge well up. Nobody should feel alone to the point that they’re afraid to ask for help. I wish I could go back in time—the day she learned her mother would be moved to Johns Hopkins—and offer to help with her mother’s care so she wouldn’t have had to beg Nelson.
“You’re my wife, Grace. Whatever you need is yours. All you have to do is say it.”
“Even if I ask to borrow that black AmEx you keep in your wallet?” Mischief bubbles in her voice. She doesn’t realize the effect my understanding of her past has created on me. She could make me furious enough to pop a vein, but I will never be able to deny her.
I shrug, careful not to project anything that could be misinterpreted as pity. Pity is not for a woman who’s kept her sense of humor and gumption despite all the shit thrown at her. Admiration is.
“I take it you have something specific in mind?”
“Oh, yes. Very specific.” She starts nodding to herself. “Unmistakably specific.”
“As long as I get a front-row seat.”
“Thank you. I’ll pay you back.”
“Consider it a wedding present.”
Surprise fleets over her pretty face. “You already gave me a present.”
I kiss her. “I take care of what’s mine, wife.”
