On the outside Millicent Grant looked like a charming woman. She had hit the jackpot when she married Fitzgerald Grant. Life would have been perfect, but he wanted kids. She was okay with her son especially because of the huge payout, but her daughter was a different story. People were envious of her. Both of her children were beautiful and smart. Karen really wasn't a difficult child, but she had no interest in being a mother. She really should be an actress. She played her part well. Her husband, Fitzgerald Grant loved being a provider. He was one of the best lawyers in the state, and owned several firms.

She had to admit that as the kids got older and wiser it was harder to hide her indiscretions. It was part of the reason she treated Karen so poorly. She was a daddy's girl, and if she wanted to keep living the fabulous life then she had to keep Karen in line. Sometimes that meant giving in, and today was one of those days. She was an avid reader, and she was in love with anything that Olivia Pope did. Truthfully, she knew nothing about the woman other than she was a successful author. She had purposefully made sure that Karen had missed several of her book signings, but Fitz was starting to question her. She knew that if the child didn't come home with a signed book, or some proof that she was there that there would be hell to pay. She might like to think that she wears the pants in the family, but she knew not to cross her husband.

When she pulled up to the bookstore she was surprised that Karen was not waiting outside. She had never defied her. Any other mother would be nervous, but she was angry that Karen was not where she was supposed to be. After waiting twenty minutes she went into the store, and was surprised by how quiet it was.

Mellie asked the cashier, "Excuse me?"

The cashier looked at her and smiled, "What can I assist you with today?"

She didn't want her to think she lost her daughter so she asked, "Did you not have a book signing with Olivia Pope here today?"

She nodded, "We did. She has been gone for about two hours. She even stayed until she got to sign everyone's book. I hate you missed her, but she plans to come back."

Mellie tried to remain composed when she heard how many hours it had been. She couldn't believe that she lost track of time. Truthfully, it was not the first time, but Karen was always where she was supposed to be.

She thanks the cashier, and quickly searches the whole store. She even checks out back, and there is no sign of Karen. She texts Jerry, and asked if Karen texted him. He quickly responds that he has not heard from her. She calls Hal, and they searched for her and are unsuccessful. He tries to pull the tape, but the camera broke down during the time that she was there which was a good and bad thing.

Mellie created a story, and called Fitz sobbing. She expected him to freak out, but he was surprisingly calm. He assured her that everything was fine. He would call Hal, and she should head over to the office.

The kids had never seen their dad like this. His eyes were so cold and dead at that moment. Not towards them, but it was still scary. Even his mother was afraid of what might happen, but she knew that she needed to let her son handle this.

He walked over to the kids. He sat down between them, "I promise you that everything will be okay, and that I will never allow your mother to hurt you ever again. Maya is down the hall getting papers drawn up as we speak. From now on you both have a voice, and that includes whether you want to have a relationship with your mother after the divorce."

Jerry looked at his dad, "I don't dad, but I do want something from you."

"What is that son?"

"Don't let mom take away your happiness. I know you won't get over all this overnight, but you are a great person. I think that there is someone out there who will love you for you, and I don't want mom to take that from you."

Karen agreed, "I don't want to see her again either, but I think that there is someone out there for you." In her mind, she was hoping it was Olivia. She saw how they were looking at each other. She might be a kid, but she saw how they smiled at each other.

Fitz was shocked at their request, but understood. Right now, he was angry and bitter, and it would probably take some time to get past that, but when the time was right he was willing to move on. He even had a suitor in mind, but she deserved the best and he wouldn't step to her until he was ready to give her his all. More importantly that the kids were ready to take that step with him.

Fitz walked over to his mom. She held him for a moment. He finally pulled back and apologized to her. She kissed her son's cheeks, "Don't apologize for something you had no control over. Sure, we all should have paid more attention to the signs, but all that matters is that when you were confronted with the truth you chose your children. They deserve that."

"What are you going to do?"

"The same as you. I am going to choose my child. No matter how old you are you will always be my son. I will always choose you especially when I know that my husband is no good. Don't worry Maya is an old friend. Whenever she sees me she always asks me if I am ready to get out. I told her that we would both know when it was time. I assure you it is time. I agree with the children. Don't let Mellie take your joy. I know that you felt something when you saw Olivia. Get your house in order, and when the time is right see where it leads you."

"I will. I love you mom. Will you take the kids down to the conference room where Maya is? Mellie & Hal should be arriving soon. We will meet you down there after a while."

Elizabeth took the kids down the hall to the other conference room on the floor while Fitz went to his office, and waited for Mellie and Hal.

Fitz had to force himself not to smile when the pair walked in the room. Maya's investigator had already pulled the recording from the book store. He had watched Mellie's every mom at the store. Huck suspected that Hal would try to pull the tape to find out where Karen went which is why he hacked into, and remove the footage of her and Olivia. Fitz couldn't believe she had searched for Karen for hours before she called him with her bullshit story, but it allowed Maya to get the papers he needed drafted. Mellie had also called Big Jerry who had called them. He was at a conference, and he instructed them to keep him abreast of the situation. He didn't want to leave prematurely to bring unnecessary attention to himself. Huck was keeping an eye on him. By the time he came they would be ready to deal with him.

Mellie walked in being all dramatic crying like she really cared about Karen. He felt sick when she hugged him. He had finally had enough.

"Mellie, sit down…"

"How can you be so calm when our daughter is missing?"

He ignored her, "Mellie, I said sit down…"

She continued to question him.

Finally, he stood up and yelled, "Mellie, I said sit down and shut the hell up. Quit acting. You don't give a damn about Karen."

Just like that her tears stopped, but confusion set in. Before she could say anything, he put up his hand, "Stop the charade Mellie. The jig is up."

"What are you talking about?"

Fitz grabbed a remote, and turned on one the televisions in his office. Mellie was looking at the camera in the conference room where her daughter was safe. She looked at her for a moment before noticing that Jerry and Elizabeth were also in the room. She didn't get a good feeling.

She finally looked at him, "How long has she been here?"

"Hours, and before you try to feed me some bullshit lie. It was more than the 2 ½ hours that you were looking for her."

Mellie didn't know what to say. Obviously, her husband knew that she had lost Karen, but that seemed to be about it so she decided to come clean.

"Fine, you are right. She had been missing for some time, and I didn't call you. I didn't want to concern you. I just thought she was hiding, or maybe ventured into one of the shops to get something to eat or drink since I was running behind."

"Why were you running behind when you were supposed to be with her?"

"The line was long, and Karen was hungry. I was too. I decided that I would grab us something to eat while she was line."

"Bullshit. That is no excuse to leave our daughter in a store alone. Anything could have happened to her."

"You are right. I have learned my lesson. It won't happen again."

Fitz nodded, "Finally we agree on something."

Mellie stood up thinking that they were done.

"We are not done talking."

"I understand. I am sure you are busy. We can talk when we get home."

"No, we can't. We are talking down."

Mellie sat back down

"Since we are having a heart to heart. Is there anything else concerning the children I should know?"

Mellie wasn't sure where he was going. "No, why would there be?"

"You tell me…"

"Okay, Fitz you are talking in circles? If you have something to say I wish you would just say it. If you want to yell at me get it out the way so I can take the kids home."

"Those are my kids, and you will never take them home with you again. It would have to be over my dead body, and I would come from the dead to still make sure they didn't go home with you."

Mellie was shocked at his outburst, but it was clear that she wasn't going to tell him the truth on her own.

Fitz turned to his uncle, "Uncle Hal, do you have anything to say?"

"About what?"

"Why you were never able to produce any evidence of my wife cheating on me?"

"Son, if she is cheating then she is damn good at it. I didn't find anything."

"Some might consider her good. Others like myself just see her for the self-righteous bitch that she is. Although I can understand why you had trouble. It is a little difficult for you to take pictures of her having an affair when you are the one that she is sleeping with."

The look on their faces were priceless. He would have to get a copy of the tape to go back and watch them.

Fitz shrugged his shoulders, "Hey, I will admit that you both had me fooled. I knew Mellie was up to something, but I'll admit that you had me fooled Uncle Hal. How much did she pay you? Let me rephrase that. How much money did she pay you? I am assuming that what was between her legs was free."

Mellie scoffed

"Now is not the same to play coy."

Mellie was beginning to get nervous. It was clear that he at least knew that she was having an affair. Maybe they could work things out.

"Fine Fitz you were right I was having an affair. Is that what you wanted me to admit?"

Fitz looked at her like she had lost her mind, "Do you think that is what I am mad about? I had already resigned myself to the fact that you were cheating. I just didn't know why Uncle Hal couldn't find the proof. Now I understand why. He was part of the proof. That doesn't make me angry. That just gave me a leg up on getting out of this sham out a marriage."

"Excuse me."

"Did you think that I would stay with you once I learned that my wife whose only responsibility was to be a good wife, mom, and citizen decided to be nothing more than a home wrecking abusive whore?"

"Who do you think you are talking to?"

"That is a good question."

Fitz stood up and walked around. He looked at Hal, "I really hope you didn't think that you had her all to yourself."

Hal looked at Mellie confused, but she refused to look at him.

Fitz could only laugh, "Wow, she really convinced you that you were the one. No offense Uncle Hal, but Mellie is all about money and power. You should have known that you had no chance just because you didn't have enough zero's in your bank account, and your occupation is beneath her. I guess I do sound hypocritical since I didn't catch on at first. I mean I wasn't in love with her, but I loved her. I thought for a long time we were solid until the issue with kids came up. I still didn't think she could surprise me, but today I found out she did. Do you want to share with Uncle Hal, or would you like for me to?"

"I don't know what he is talking about."

"Okay. Have it your way. Uncle Hal, it seems my lovely wife didn't think I was good enough so she went to my father instead."

Hal nodded, "She told me about Big Jerry paying her to have children."

Fitz laughed, "Yeah, well I didn't know about that until today, but sadly that is not what I was referring to. I meant that my wife is sleeping with my dad."

Hal shook his head, "No way…"

Fitz pressed play. Hal was in disbelief as he watched Mellie having sex with Big Jerry. Before he could ask if this was a one-time thing Fitz clicked through to show that it happened on multiple occasions.

Hal was disgusted not only with Mellie, but with himself. He knew that when he got in bed with Mellie he was bound for trouble, but he had no idea that he had gotten in bed with the devil's wife.

Hal wasn't going to play the game that Mellie played. He was done. He knew that he had ruined his relationship with Fitz, and the sad part about it that she wasn't even worth it.

Hal walked over to Fitz, "I know that I have ruined our relationship, and I won't try to diminish what I have done with a half-assed apology. If you need me to testify under oath I will. I will admit that you hired me, and that I knew that Mellie had previous affairs before we began to sleep together. I will send the information over to your lawyer."

Mellie was stunned that Hal quickly threw her under the bus.

Fitz nodded, "I appreciate that Uncle Hal. My lawyer is already here, but before you go I think you should hear the real reason that Mellie wanted to sleep with you."

He turned to look at Mellie, "What is he talking about?"

Mellie honestly had no clue.

Fitz looked at his uncle, "You see Uncle Hal the reason my wife forced herself to sleep with you, and I say force because I have also learned that she has had multiple affairs is because she didn't want you to find out her biggest secret."

Hal asked, "Which was?"

"That she was abusing our daughter."

All the color drained from Mellie's face.

Hal looked at Mellie, and realized that he wasn't joking. He still had to ask, "Please tell me that he has it wrong."

Fitz said, "I assure you I have it right. Thanks to my son who knew that you were being played, and his need to protect his sister planted cameras in the house after he saw you removed yours."

Fitz pressed play to prove that he was telling the truth. What Hal saw made him sick to his stomach. He had never seen any of this in his presence.

Hal looked at her, "I hope you rot for this. Cheating is one thing, but abusing an innocent child is another. She didn't deserve that Mellie."

Fitz agreed, "Glad we are on the same page. My lawyer will be in touch."

Hal quickly left.

Mellie was trying to think of something to say, but before she could get anything out Maya walked through the door.

Mellie didn't think things could get any worse for her, but she quickly realized she was wrong. Everyone knew who Maya Pope was, and she knew she was a shark. Not only was she a lawyer, but a crisis manager. If Fitz called her in then she knew he had plans to go nuclear on her, and there was nothing that she could do.