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He runs a hand through his light hair, leaving it standing in agitated peaks. “For me? Potentially catastrophic. For my case with Fen...” His voice breaks on his son’s name. “They could usethis to prove I’m untrustworthy. A liar. That our relationship is a sham created to impress the courts.”

“It’s not a sham,” I whisper.

“Not now,” he says. “But it was, wasn’t it? And it seems no matter what, I can’t stop fucking everything up. But now I’ve not only brought myself down, I’ve hurt Fenric, and I’ve hurt you.”

My girls are still lighting up my phone.

Tinsley: You should both come to my building. No press here yet, and it’s safe.

Wren: You need to make a statement.

Katy: The comments are split. Half think it’s a manufactured video, half are devastated their new favorite couple are a lie.

Kenna: Wait. New development. Mom just sent me something.

I press my palms against my eyes until colors burst behind my lids.

“Keegan?” Loomis’s voice coaxes my hands away from my face. “I’m going to sort this. I’ll make it right for you.”

I shake my head. “Why are you saying it like that?”

“That video exposes you as much as it does me. And this man, whoever he is, has revealed your writing career against your wishes.”

“It’s just books, and I’m not hiding from it anymore. I had decided that even before this went public.”

“Yes, my darling, but someone’s using it as a weapon.”

“They’re using our lives as a weapon,” I bite out.

“Exactly. I won’t let it stand.”

I don’t know exactly what that means, but the malice in his voice gives me chills.

My phone buzzes again, and there’s another video attachment. I nearly gasp when I see a video of my grandmother. She’s at the Abbott Foundation with reporters barraging her outside of the building. Crap. Why’d they have to go after my grandmother?

“Mrs. Fritz, how do you feel about your granddaughter’s secret career as a smut writer?”

Loomis must hear because his eyes turn into slits. I adjust my position and bend so he can see and hear it too.

“I believe the proper term isromanceauthor,” my grandmother snaps despite her polished Queen of Boston smile. “And I couldn’t be prouder of her. I have all of her books sitting on my shelves. Keegan is a talented and incredible woman. She’s a doctor and a published author. How many of you standing here can say that? Demeaning what is a respected and valued profession and form of artistic expression is unacceptable in any capacity.”

“What do you have to say about the video that indicates her relationship with Loomis Powell is fake?”

She makes a dismissive noise. “I’ve gotten to know Loomis over the years since I was introduced to him at my ninetieth birthday party. I had the pleasure of watching him dance with Keegan that night, and not once have I questioned their devotion to each other or his son.”

The video cuts out, and now the tears do fall.

“Your grandmother is?—”

“Amazing? Yes.” I blow out a breath. She just stood up for me after I’ve kept all these secrets from her. I allowed self-doubt and insecurity to plague me. To control me. I owe her an apology, and I owe it to myself never to allow that to happen again.

“I was going to say magnificent.”

“That too.”

Fen starts to fuss, his ears likely bothering him, and Loomis pops a pacifier in his mouth and shifts him so that he’s turned around and Fen can rest his head on Loomis’s shoulder. But the way he turns away from me, I see it. I feel it.

“I’m glad you have her, Keegan. All of them. You have this family that’s with you no matter what?”