The story went viral in minutes. Joey called from Oslo. Anouk showed up at the apartment with Natasha and Paloma on FaceTime. No one could comprehend that of all the people in the world to expose Levi Booker, it was Asher McGowan.

And now everyone is talking and tweeting and hashtagging. Dozens of victims have come forward, bravely sharing their stories after being silenced for too long. They have control of their lives back, no longer living under the thumb of River McGowan and free from the threats of Levi Booker. I know this isn’t the end for them. I know that they have trauma and pain to overcome, but I hope they can find some peace in sharing their truth.

And the fact that Levi got arrested.

At the Winter Wonderland Gala.

Which is the best Christmas present I never had to ask for.

“When I gave that intern from CNN my phone number,” Manny says, glancing down at his phone, “it wasn’t to give him story leads.”

“So you mean he didn’t give Anderson Cooper the inside scoop on you?”

“Obviously not,” he mutters. “I would have told you if he rolled up to my seventh floor walk up looking for a good time.”

“Not sure he’d make it up all the stairs alive,” I say. “Would you really want his death on your conscience?”

“Please, he’s in better shape than men half his age.”

Well.

I can’t argue with that.

“Anyway,” he says, stealing a bite of my French toast. “What’s up with you and Asher? You showed up together at the gala before everything turned into an episode of Cops.”

“Yeah, well,” I mumbled into my coffee mug. “Things were going great until I caught him with Bree.”

Manny drops his fork with a force that almost cracks the plate. “I’m sorry. What?”

“Bree and Asher,” I say. “Kissing in his office.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “Absolutely not.”

“I saw it with my own two eyes,” I say. “I’m pretty sure Bree wasn’t checking for cavities with her tongue.”

Not that Asher has any cavities. The jerk flosses after every meal.

“I just don’t… Bree? Asher hates her more than I do, which is a lot. Like, are you sure? What did they say when they saw you?”

“I left before they could say anything,” I say. “You know what they say about actions speaking louder than words.”

“Ugh, Liv.” Emanuel’s head hits the table with a thump. “Bree is literally Ursula trying to steal your voice. She wants you to hate Asher so you become a miserable toad like her. I can’t believe Asher didn’t try to come after you. Does he not understand how happy endings work?”

Well.