“I’m listening.”
“Breanna Morgan, formerly Breanna Astor, has been arrested under several aliases. She’s a grifter. Married four times. She’s been conning men for the last ten years as far as I can tell. She recently ended a long-term relationship with Mark Morgan after he accused her of embezzling funds from his fortune five hundred company where she worked as his personal assistant.”
My ears perk up like someone threw me a damn bone. If she’s on the run, we can turn her in and be done with the whole ordeal. “Charges?”
“Dropped.”
All hope vanishes with that one simple word, and I let out a resigned sigh.
A door clicks shut on the other end of the line, and I hear what sounds like a cork being popped. Fuck. I could really use a drink right about now.
“Do you want my advice as a friend or from a legal perspective?”
I pinch my eyes shut and rub my temples. “Just give it to me straight. I’m tired.”
“Pay her. I can write up paperwork to have her officially sign over all parental rights to Liam’s kid. You can have her destroy the videos and photos in front of you, but she could have other copies.”
“What’s stopping her from trying it again in the future?”
“Nothing. Shitty people are going to do shitty things.”
Great. Haters gonna hate isn’t exactly what I wanted to hear from my lawyer. “Do I have a choice?”
“You can try to have her arrested, but there are no guarantees even if we do everything right.”
“Ok. Thanks, Adam. I appreciate it.”
“What are you gonna do?”
“I have to talk to Liam. Can you draw up the paperwork just in case? We meet with her tomorrow.”
“Of course. Take care of yourself, Ruby. And no more public displays.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “I learned my lesson. Talk soon.”
The call ends, and I lean back on my hands, replaying the conversation in my mind. I feel like I’m walking on a tightrope that’s slowly unraveling at one end. The only way I’ll get to safety is if I keep moving forward. The truth is, I’m tired of fighting. Part of me wants to let her release everything, to hell with the consequences.
The door creaks open behind me, and Liam’s soft footfalls sound as he joins me on the back porch.
He takes his seat next to me and hands me a glass of wine. “You ok?”
I take a long sip of my favorite wine and shake my head. “Adam thinks we should pay her off. Force her to sign over her parental rights and hope she goes quietly.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Honestly? I don’t know what I want anymore.”
Liam pulls me against him, and I go willingly, resting my head on his shoulder. “Let me handle it. I’ll meet with her tomorrow and give her the ultimatum.”
“How can you be so chill about this?”
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m used to my life being a dumpster fire. Being blackmailed by my ex is hardly the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Regret settles like stone in the pit of my stomach. I should’ve known better than to let my guard down. If I’d had even a modicum of forethought, this could’ve all been avoided. Typical, impulsive Ruby. Years in the spotlight and the worst that’s ever happened is a few relationship rumors and internet trolls calling me fat. The second I ditch my label, I manage to make a mess of everything. My life, Liam’s life—it’s all going to hell in a handbasket because I can’t control my fucking impulses.
“Let’s go inside. The mosquitoes are eating me alive.” I down the rest of my wine and stand.
Before I can get far, Liam grabs my wrist and whirls me around. My palm lands flat against his hard chest. His hand slips into the hair at the nape of my neck, and he tugs at the roots, angling my face upwards.
