–Noah: She’s claiming Grace stole you from her.
–Sebastian: You didn’t tell us you were engaged to Vivienne before.
My jaw tenses so hard, I feel like a molar will crack.
–Me: Because I wasn’t. What’s that idiot bitch saying?
Noah sends the link. The post is long and rambling. Most of it is garbage.How in the world did she get accepted to Harvard Law?Money? Blowing a few deans? She must suck like a riptide.
I’m 28F, and I have a sister who is really into everything I like. It’s been very hard to survive her because my mental health isn’t the best, and she knows that and uses it to exploit and control me. There’s something really disconcerting about being manipulated into doing things I’d rather not because she made me. Nobody around me believes me because she always puts on a nice mask for the world, but that doesn’t mean I don’t suffer. The mental anguish is unbearable, and it probably makes my anxiety out of control and lowers my self-esteem. I think she hates me because she doesn’t think I deserve anything nice in the world. She thinks a girl who’s prone to panic attacks and insecurity should stay in the background while she shines.
Then one day I met and fell in love with this guy. He’s only about a few years older than me, but much more successful and worldly than I could ever hope to be. He’s so sweet and kind too. When he holds my hand and says my name, I feel like he’s the one.
Unfortunately, I made the mistake of mentioning him to her. When my sister saw him, she decided he’s too good for me. She got him drunk, seduced him, claimed she’s pregnant with his baby. He’s a good, responsible man so he did the right thing, but it really hurts, especially when she forced me to come to her wedding to wish them well or else.
He was mine first. I cried at the wedding, but she called me stupid and bad-mannered to cry. I feel so helpless, and the whole situation is deeply triggering because my sister also has more of our parents’ love and care. I want to cut her out of my life, but she saysI’m being selfish to do that, especially when there’s baby shower and things like that I should plan and attend as the auntie.
Am I the bad guy here?
What the hell kind of fiction is this?She even added a photo of Grace and me from the wedding, although our faces are hard to see from the angle. But it won’t take long for people to figure out whom she’s talking about.
There are tons of comments. The top one doxes Grace, attaching a recent photo and revealing her name, previous address and where she works. Given the weird tics in the writing, it’s most likely Vivienne posting as somebody else, thinking that will shield her. She doesn’t have my home address to post. Or maybe she’s scared to go that far. But it doesn’t matter, because even the most rudimentary online search will reveal Grace is married to me.
Then Vivienne’s sock puppet account starts talking shit about Grace, me and our baby. Apparently, the child is doomed to be “fucked up” because it’s going to be raised by people like “that man-stealing ho” and a “blind dumbass who can’t tell a good woman from bad.” Others pile on, each comment growing viler. Don’t these people realize they’re talking about an innocent unborn baby here? It’s like being behind a keyboard has completely zapped their decency and filter.
A savage throbbing starts in my head. People can attack me. I can handle it. But they aren’t allowed to bully my wife or our baby.
Another anonymous comment says,I know the sisters in real life. Grace is truly awful, one of the worst people I’ve ever met. We moved in together before she realized the OP was dating Huxley Lasker. So she kicked me out to pursue her sister’sman, leaving me homeless. It’s been two months, and I’m still unhoused. I have no money for furniture or anything since I gave everything away before moving in with her. With the economy and the rent being what it is, I don’t know when I’ll be able to get a place.
This must be Grace’s ex, that scumbag lawyer who cheated on her—conveniently leaving out the fact that he makes plenty enough money to get an apartment if he weren’t so fucking cheap.
My hand clenches around my phone. The weasel doesn’t have the balls to throw the first rock at Grace. But he’s “brave” enough to comment anonymously to fan the flames someone else started.
Vivienne has crossed the fucking line. Nobody attacks my wife and our baby and gets away with it.
–Nicholas: What nonsense is this? Does anybody really think they could get Huxley drunk and take advantage of him?
–Sebastian: Vivienne Webber does.
–Griffin: Are you going to kick her ass? If so, I’ll give you some pointers.
–Me: No. I’m going to murder her then throw her body where there’s no Internet or mobile network.
Even as I send my response, my mind whirs, trying to think of a satisfying way to destroy her. Along with Grace’s asshole ex.
“Why the frown? What are you looking at?” Grace asks.
I sigh. “You’re not going to like it.” Normally, I wouldn’t show her such ridiculous gossip, but it’s going viral, and she needs to be ready, especially with her identity exposed. “Here.”
She takes my phone and reads. Her frown grows deeper and darker until she’s cursing softly under her breath and sits up forcefully. “Are theykidding? They cheated onme! And Peter moved in all of a sudden one day without telling me. How couldthey say things like this? It’s so shameless.” She bristles and lets out a gasp. “Did Viv just dox meand say crap about our baby?” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. She is the strongest woman I know, but no expectant mother would remain unaffected, seeing such viciousness said about the precious life in her womb.
I loathe seeing my wife in pain. “Yes.”
“How am I going to stop them?” she says hoarsely, gesturing at my phone helplessly.
“You?” I frown. “Why do you think it’s just you?”
“What?”
