"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." – Oscar Wilde

After twenty years of deception and manipulation, Emily Thorne had learned one very important lesson - two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead - which was why, when CNN reported rumours of the real Amanda Clarke's hidden identity, Emily had been readily prepared.

After ending a frantic phone-call with Amanda, Emily returned to the adult members of her family. "How could they possibly know?" Charlotte questioned, aloud. "I don't understand. Who would have anything to gain from informing the press?"

"I have a pretty fine idea," her mother barked, her eyes narrowed with suspicion in Victoria's direction.

Her mother-in-law scoffed, humoured by the accusation. "You're under the impression I'm the one who contacted the press?" She rolled her eyes, into the back of her head. "Well, the action in question may have my fingerprints all over it, but I'm afraid I had no involvement. Believe me, don't believe me; either way, the truth has been revealed and you need to handle it." Victoria had experienced so many scandals, she was well educated in the importance of confronting the immediate backlash.

The blonde nodded her head, "I couldn't agree more. Step one: I want you out of my house, and out of our lives."

"Mom, you can't be serious!" Sophia protested, as Emily retrieved Victoria's coat from the stand in the foyer of Grayson Manor.

Even Charlotte appeared supremely surprised, "She said she didn't do it, mom."

"One day, sweetheart, you'll learn that your grandmother says plenty but you can only be assured it's the truth when it works in her favour." Emily smiled, bittersweetly, before she shoved the coat into Victoria's chest, "We'll be sure to send you a holiday card."

The front door sprung open and Daniel entered, "What's going on?"

His wife's expression dared him to challenge her decision, "Your mother's leaving." Emily brushed aside the blonde sweeps of hair in her eyes, "You shouldn't need to ask why; I assume you've heard the latest headline." Her voice softened, "Everyone knows, Daniel. They know who I am, and it's pretty obvious who's to blame."

"Grams already said she didn't tip off the press!" Sophia protectively defended Victoria again, turning to her father, "Mom doesn't have any proof -"

"I know," Daniel soothingly replied to Sophia, before he countered Emily's accusation, "Mom's not the source."

The satisfaction Victoria reaped burned holes in Emily's chest, "Daniel, I can't believe you would side with your mother. She's doing exactly what she did before we were married, she's determined to tear us apart! If you really believe this Mother Theresa act of hers, you're a bigger fool than I thought you were!"

Brushing aside the insult, Daniel bowed his head, "I know she isn't the source because I am. I tipped off the reporters, and I had Global's P.R. department call in an expert to release a statement from the company. It'll be aired in the next few minutes." His brown eyes looked helplessly toward his wife, hopeful she would understand his behaviour. He pleaded, with a call of her name, "Em..."

"I specifically refused and requested that my identity be a private family matter. You deliberately disobeyed my request, Daniel."

"Mom..." Charlotte increased the volume on the nearest television.

Photographs of Daniel and Emily's family flashed on the left side of the screen, while Daniel appeared on the right half of the screen with a familiar face. The statement was delivered in a pretentious British accent, on behalf of Grayson Global, "The Grayson family would like to confirm the recent speculation surrounding Mrs. Grayson."

"Ashley Davenport!" Emily fumed, "She's the expert you called in?"

"She's known the family for years," her husband cried out, defensively. In truth, they hadn't been in contact with Ashley since the day they were married. "Listen, Emily, I realise you're upset now but it was the best possible decision for everyone involved. You don't have to hide who you are anymore, there's no need to pretend." He became increasingly resolute in his action, "I stand by the decision."

"What about Jack and Amanda?" Emily's voice rose, "Did you even consider them when you made this decision? Did you think about their son?" Daniel opened his mouth to speak, but she raised her hand to silence him, "Don't even think about saying he deserves the truth! That wasn't why you made that statement. Your decision was selfish, based purely on what would serve you best, and so like a -"

"Like what?"

"Like a Grayson!" Emily's response was louder than anticipated.

"Well, I hate to be the one to tell you but I was Daniel Grayson when you married me! You knew that from the start, unlike me," he retaliated, and their audience stiffened in discomfort of where the argument was leading. "I'm the one, who found twenty years later that I married a stranger." His words bit hard and Emily's face fell, even the lips that were curled into a snarl had fallen out of place. "Em, I'm sorry, okay?" He pleaded, "But, when the truth came out, I not only forgave you but I respected your decision. Don't you think I deserve the same courtesy?"

"You know, Daniel, I have never loved you more than the moment you forgave me for lying to you," Emily expressed a sense of disbelief. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think you would turn around and use that as a bargaining chip!"

Daniel began to panic, "No..." Emily threw her coat on and Daniel chased her. "Where are you going?"

"Away from you!" Emily snatched herself from his grasp. Her eyes softened when she looked at Charlotte, who was more frightful than a deer caught in headlights. "I'll be at Nolan's, if you need me. Look after your brother and sister." With a lick of her lips, her eyes trailed to her mother-in-law and she almost vomited the words, "I'm sorry, Victoria, I shouldn't have automatically accused you."

Emily silently departed her home, leaving her family in a sense of mourning, even Victoria. Daniel heavily exhaled, "Don't worry, girls. Your mom will be home soon."

"I wouldn't be so sure, if I were you," Charlotte sounded disappointed, more than anything else. "How could you, dad?"

His eldest child stalked from the room and Daniel sought some form of support from Sophia, who mirrored her grandmother's pout, "I know you're probably mad, too, Soph, but this might make things a little easier for you and the Porter boy, now that he knows the truth." She had, after all, sacrificed her relationship with Chris because of the lie. Sophia flashed her father a pitiful look, before following her older sister. "I suppose, that could have gone worse," Daniel clasped his hands together, when only he and Victoria were alone together in the foyer.

His mother's eyebrow rose, "Somehow, I doubt that. The fact that you decided to expose Emily didn't seem to hurt half as much as the fact that you used Ashley Davenport to help you do it." Daniel rubbed his eyes, ever-the-fool, "Of all the people you could have chosen, Daniel..." Victoria muttered, "I may not have been around for the past twenty years but even I can see how inappropriate that was; that poor girl vied for your attention, from the day she met you." Daniel's forehead crinkled; the word 'poor' sounded like more of an insult, than a pitiful label. "Have you decided on your next move? The Memorial Day Art Auction is almost upon us. It won't be good for appearances, if you and Emily don't attend the first event of the season together."

"That's the least of my concerns, mom," Daniel dismissed the issue. "I need to explain to my children why their mother won't be able to tuck them into bed tonight."

"Why don't you let me take care of the twins?" Victoria suggested, pecking his cheek, "Don't worry about Emily. I'm sure the two of you will work things out. Much as I don't like to admit it, you appear to be the perfect couple." She rolled her eyes, playfully. "Besides, you're not in your prime anymore, sweetheart. Divorcee won't suit you."

Daniel laughed off her comment, "Thanks, mom."