Page 66 of The Awful Truth

Request authorized by: Antonia Dawson

Request Details: Back-up all files and upload onto One Drive online storage folder. Download all files onto external hard drive and courier immediately to:

Attention: Isha Singh

Singh, Kim, and Patel Family Law Group

929 N Northlake Way Ste 440, Seattle, WA 98103

Status Update: Request Completed. File Closed.

Warm regards,

IT Support Team

So now he knew. It wasn’t the worst-case scenario, but it wasn’t far off either. She had needed more time to work on Charlotte. To get instructions from Seattle on her next move. To think of how to handle this so as to protect their children from the fallout. But that time was up. Ted would be closing in on a plan of his own. He wasn’t about to lose everything without a fight. He went from staring at her to gazing at Charlotte, who, as far as Antonia could tell, had done her best to avoid eye contact.

Charlotte bolted as soon as the game broke up, and the second Ted could, he sprung out of his chair in pursuit. Travis ordered Indira to bring him another bourbon and told Oliver he wanted the two of them to play some blackjack. Antonia thanked Travis and Mercy for a lovely evening and hurried to catch up with Ted. She was halfway down the hall to the suites when she was stopped by Mercy’s voice. “Antonia, can I talk to you for a minute?”

She turned, her heart pounding. “Yes, of course.”

“I wanted to apologize for putting you on the spot earlier. That wasn’t fair of me, especially given the fact that you’re about to negotiate your new contract,” she said. “I’m just so desperate, I guess.” Her voice cracked and she blinked quickly. “It’s so hard with Grace. I love her so much, but every day is…a challenge.”

Antonia forced herself not to think about what Ted might be saying to Charlotte right now and focused on the mother in front of her who was in so much pain. “I know you love her. I know. You’re such a good mom, Mercy. There isn’t a doubt in my mind. And I understand how difficult it can be to manage life with a neurodivergent child, especially when you’ve got other children and a…husband with such high standards.”

Mercy let out a frustrated chuckle. “That’s one way to put it. Sometimes I feel like I’m literally going to drown under the weight of it all. Rhett and Delilah are such patient kids, but they need me too, and it’s impossible to give them enough attention when I’m struggling to deal with Grace. And she’s so upset so much of the time. I just know if I could figure it out, she’d feel better and we’d all have more peace.” Her voice went up an octave. “But I don’t know what to do.”

“It sounds like you both need help. You need help so you can be there for your children and take care of yourself. There’s only so long a mother can be this taxed without something going wrong. And honestly, getting Grace diagnosed would be a gift to her,” Antonia answered.

Mercy used her palm to dab at the tears on her cheeks. “But you heard him. It’s a no. He just can’t help but see it as a stain on the family.”

“Then you have some tough decisions to make. And you’ll have to be very careful. Strategic. Have the supports in place before you make a move.”

“Oh God, it’s just so hard,” Mercy answered. “I just…maybe he’s right and I’m wrong. Maybe she is fine and she’ll grow out of it.”

Antonia reached out and put her hand on Mercy’s upper arm. “No, you’re not wrong. You’re the expert on your child. You’re the one struggling with her every day. Your gut is telling you she needs help because she does.”

Mercy started to sob, and Antonia pulled her in a for a hug, her brain screaming at her to end this conversation and go find Ted before he ruined everything. But she couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t. Because the right thing to do was to stay here and help this person who needed her.

TWO MINUTES EARLIER

TED

It had been a very long time since Ted had been rattled. So long that he couldn’t honestly remember it ever happening. He’d been annoyed, irked, frustrated, and angry, but not rattled. Things had been going so well year after year after year that he’d made the catastrophic mistake of believing his own hype. He thought he had life figured out in a way that very few people on the planet managed to do. Incredible career, great kids who adored him and were becoming his friends far ahead of schedule, world-wide recognition and accolades, and a gorgeous young brunette who couldn’t keep her hands off him.

And tonight, with the buzz of his phone, it all went up in smoke.

He was numb. Nauseous. Dumbfounded. Furious. And terrified all at once.

The email kept coming back to him.

She knew. And she was already building a case against him. No, not building. Built. It had already happened before he even had the first hint that she was onto him. And there she had sat—smug, cold, and triumphant.

His brain was a mishmash of questions and wild thoughts, and for once, he couldn’t calm down long enough to focus on any single thing. How long had she known? Who else knew at the studio? When Antonia had been talking to him about a bright future together the day before, was she just screwing with him? Why didn’t Charlotte react when she saw the email? Had she not actually read it? Or if she did, was she just not as bright as he thought? Or did she already know that they’d been caught and she was keeping it from him?

When the game ended, he’d been forced to sit listening to Travis finish regaling him about an African elephant he’d killed (best feeling in the world, to take down something that weighs as much as a heavy-duty truck). At the first possible opportunity, Ted jumped up, taking the stairs two-at-a-time to get to Charlotte, who had made a quick exit when Travis was describing sawing off the tusks.

He reached her just as she was about to go into her room, whispering, “Charlotte!”