Hollywood vs. Glory Braddock

[Konrad Raab]

Handicap Match

2 RP Limit for singles

3500 Word Limit Per RP

Deadline: 11:59:59 pm ET THURSDAY, March 27, 2025 (Show taking place on Thursday)

[Braddock]

1 of 2
=====

==========
March 18th, 2025
Miami, Florida
Off Camera
==========

A few days have passed since Retribution from San Antonio, Texas and much to Glory Brarddock’s dismay, she did not leave with the SCW Adrenaline Championship. Just as she predicted, the Disconnect Match was a joke in which its creator, Dexter Grant, got to just make up the rules as the match went along. And just when The British Bombshell was on the verge of defeating Grant to win back her title, the tag team duo known as Hollywood arrived with their cameras. Dexter, either out of his insane paranoia or his cowardice or maybe a combination of the two, decided that Glory Braddock would be disqualified. In what sane world does the champion get to decide when and where a disqualification occurs? Furthermore, in what fair world does the challenger get salt rubbed into the wound by being booked in a handicap match against the two buffoons Chris and Ryan Hollywood, with no tag team partner? Not a sane world, not a fair world, only in a world booked by CHBK; and to say that The British Bombshell is furious with the recent events would be an understatement. Now she has no idea where things go from here; does she get another shot at regaining the Adrenaline Title? Will she be forced to move on, perhaps looking at capturing a different title? All she does know is that she has to face Hollywood two on one and she isn’t exactly thrilled with it.

Her SCW issues are not the only things weighing heavily on the mind of The British Bombshell. She recently spent significant time in her native home of London, England where, after spending time with her childhood friend Sophie O’Brian, learned that they were more than just childhood friends. Glory Braddock learned that her father, Glenn Braddock, had an affair with Sophie’s mother, which makes Glory and Sophie half-sisters. This revelation has forever changed their relationship. Glory Braddock now understands why Sophie was obsessed with her and the Braddock family. It all makes sense now. The good news is that Sophie has now agreed to actually get the psychiatric treatment she needs. The bad news is that Glory isn’t sure her friends and family will be as willing to trust Sophie as Glory is; furthermore, she isn’t sure that Julia Braddock, Glory’s sister, is going to be willing to accept Sophie as a sister.

These and other thoughts are going through her mind as Glory, along with her always supportive and loving husband Kurt Logan, are getting ready for bed. It has been awhile since The British Bombshell has been with her husband at their Miami home and she looks forward to this evening. Glory Braddock stood near a full-length mirror, adjusting the collar of her deep purple silk pajamas. The fabric draped elegantly over her toned frame. The top was buttoned just enough to suggest comfort without losing its refined edge, while the matching pants clung loosely to her legs, flowing down to her bare feet. Her golden blonde hair, still slightly damp from a shower, cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves. She sighed, rubbing her neck as she turned to watch her husband. Kurt stood at the dresser, pulling a plain white T-shirt over his muscular torso. The fabric stretched momentarily before settling into place, complementing the gray sweatpants he wore low on his hips. His dark hair was slightly tousled from running a towel through it earlier, and the shadow of stubble on his jaw gave him a rugged, lived-in look. He glanced at his wife through the mirror, smirking as he caught her watching him.

“I know you have had a lot on your mind lately…I mean, Retribution and all, it didn’t go your way…”

“No shit.” Glory rolls her eyes as she approaches Kurt. He wraps his arms around her lovingly, comfortingly. “I just wanted a fair shake and this company thinks letting Dexter Grant make his own damn match is fair? Then after he screws me over CHBK has the nerve to book me against not just one but TWO idiots…”

“Hollywood.” Kurt shakes his head. “In fairness, they’re not exactly on your level, babe.” He winks playfully.

“That’s not the point. The point is that it isn’t fair. One against two isn’t fair but does CHBK care? No, he doesn’t!” Glory sighs as she breaks the embrace. She shakes her head with a look of disappointment on her face. “It sounds like I’m complaining…just making excuses…”

“You have a legitimate gripe, Glory.” Kurt says as he kisses her on her forehead. “But you know as well as I do, you do not make the matches, you just compete in whatever they give you. Is this fair? No. But what you do is throw this in CHBK’s face, throw this in Hollywood’s face, and beat them. Win the match in dominant fashion like I know you can.”

“And then what?” Glory asks. “Retribution might have been my last shot at the Adrenaline Title, which sucks because I had the annoying twat beat. So where do I go from here?”

“Seriously?” Kurt snickers. “You are Glory Braddock. You are The British Bombshell. You are The Best in the World. You can go after anything or anyone you want. New tag champs were crowned, right? Find a tag partner and go after The Fall of Man. The United States Title is wide open, apparently. Go after that one. You just beat Colleen recently. Challenge her for the Underground Title. Or better yet…” he winks knowingly “...become a two time SCW World Champion. Go after Xander.”

Braddock nods her head. For the first time in a long time, Glory seems happy, she seems like she might know her direction. “Yes, you’re right. There are many opportunities for me. I have proven that I can beat any of the current champs. And Xander…I still owe him one.” She kisses Kurt on the lips. “Thanks, babe. I needed that.”

“Anytime.”

Glory approaches the king sized bed. Kurt follows her. The loving couple slowly crawl into bed and cover up. Kurt then turns to face his lovely wife again. He runs a hand through her long blonde hair as he stares lovingly into her eyes.

“I am happy that you are back home.”

“Like it or not, love, England will always be my home.” She sighs happily. “But I am happy to be back here with you after spending so much time traveling the road with SCW and in between that being overseas trying to take care of Sophie.”

“Yeah, speaking of Sophie.” He sighs uncomfortably. “I have to admit, Glory, I am not exactly happy with how you handled that situation.”

“Let me guess, you think I should have turned her over to the police?”

“Yes.” Kurt says definitively.

“Right, like I can turn my own sister over to the authorities.” She shakes her head. “Not gonna happen, mate.”

“You don’t even know for certain that she really is your sister. How many times has she lied to you before? How often has she tried to manipulate you before? She could be lying now.”

“I admit, Sophie does enjoy playing her little mind games, and she isn’t above lying, but I do not think that she would lie about something like this. Hell, she even offered to have blood tests run in order to verify it.” Glory points out. “Do I need to have some DNA tests run to satisfy you, Kurt?”

“No, that’s not necessary.” He sighs. “I trust you, Glory…it’s Sophie who I do not trust. Regardless of whether or not she is your sister, she is still sick and she needs help.”

“I agree, she does need help.” Glory says, nodding her head emphatically. “And I convinced her to see a psychiatrist. I convinced her to seek professional help to deal with the childhood trauma that turned her into whatever monster she became.”

“Again, I do not trust Sophie.” Kurt shakes his head. “How do you know that Sophie will actually keep her word? How do you know she will actually see a psychiatrist?”

“Bloody hell…” Glory is frustrated with this argument. She swings her legs off the edge of the bed and gets up. Kurt, equally as frustrated, gets up as well. He slowly approaches his wife. He puts a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry but these are important questions about a woman who has proven to be very dangerous.”

“She was my longtime friend from childhood, Kurt. Now I know that she has always been more than that, she has always been my sister. Why can’t you give her the benefit of a doubt?”

“Well she DID hire someone to stalk us…” Kurt points out.

“Look, I get it, you don’t trust her. You might never trust her. But trust ME!” Glory says emphatically. “Trust me to help my friend…my SISTER…get through whatever darkness she finds herself trapped in.”

“Are you sure you can help her?” Kurt asks skeptically.

“I know I can help her.”

“Fine.” Kurt nods his head, reluctantly giving in. A small smile creeps across his face. “It isn’t like I am going to win this argument, am I?”

“No, you’re not.” Glory winks playfully. “I’m too damn stubborn to quit.”

“That’s why I love you.” He kisses her passionately on the lips. After breaking the kiss he gazes down at her curiously. “Uh, one question….”

“What?”

“Have you told Julia about any of this?”

“No…” Glory says with a shake of her head. Julia Braddock is Glory’s younger sister. If Sophie is Glory’s half-sister, Julia supposedly would be considered a full sister perhaps? Nevertheless, this is a topic Glory has yet to approach. “...I admit, Kurt, I am kind of afraid of how Julia will take this bit of news.”

“Oh yeah?” Kurt arches his brow out of curiosity. Glory nods her head.

“Julia has always held some resentment towards our father for many reasons. Wrestling was never Julia’s dream, but she was pressured by our dad into making it her dream. And when he trained her, he pushed her very hard, he arguably pushed her harder than he pushed me. Julia resented him for divorcing our mother and, as a result, never really being there for her…at least in her mind, that is…he always felt Julia should be able to help herself.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Kurt points a finger at Glory “didn’t YOU hold some of those same resentments towards your father?”

“Yes,” she nods her head “but not to toot my own horn but I handled it much better than she did. Julia took it much harder than I did and, well, she never really got over it.” Glory sighs and shakes her head. “I can only imagine how Julia will react upon hearing that on top of everything else she holds against him, our father, Glenn Braddock, also slept around with another woman, that he cheated on his wife, our mother.”

“You know what you have to do, don’t you?” Kurt asks quietly. Glory nods her head.

“Yeah…”

“She will find out eventually. It is best if she hears it from her sister and not from some second hand source. You need to tell Julia about Sophie.”

==========
On Camera
==========

We open in what appears to be an urban area with a mix of classic and modern architecture. There is a sidewalk next to a brick building with a black awning. There are several cars parked, visible in the scene and one near the awning. Walking down the sidewalk the camera spots Glory Braddock. The British Bombshell is wearing a short, form-fitting, sleeveless dress covered in shimmering sequins, giving it a sparkly and glamorous appearance. The dress has a modest round neckline and extends to her upper thighs. She is also wearing black opaque tights that contrast with the sparkling dress, along with black closed-toe shoes with a slight heel. Braddock stops right underneath the black awning.

“Where’s Captain Obvious when you need that annoying bloke, because I am about to say something rather plain as bloody day. Retribution did not turn out the way I had wanted it to; now yeah, I will admit that I was furious after the fact. Let’s face facts, from what little of the footage you lot got to see, you could tell that I had Dexter Grant beat. What you did not see and what cowardly clown left off was how I humiliated him the entire match. I beat him from pillar to post. I showed my wrestling dominance over his cowardly ass. I should be SCW Adrenaline Champion right here and now. But instead…” she shakes her head “...instead I stand here empty handed, all because of the ridiculous Disconnect Match. That is a shame and a disappointment not just for me but for the great fans of SCW. It is a damn shame and a letdown for our fans for several reasons. First among them is that they paid good money to see a full on match between me and Grant, but thanks to that dim bulb idiot we only got bits and pieces of a match. Also the fans and this great company did not get a true winner. Instead it got a coward who was allowed to end the match whenever he wanted and declare himself winner because he made the rules. Is this how the Adrenaline Championship will be from now on? Will the fans be withheld from getting to witness an actual title match as long as that dipshit holds the title? And will that clown CHBK let every Adrenaline Title Match be a Disconnect Match because the champion is afraid of a damn camera?” Braddock chuckles lightly despite the frustration. She shakes her head.

“CHBK is another issue altogether, isn’t it? Is this how he’s going to continue to operate? He makes terrible decisions like this, allowing a Disconnect Match in the first place, and then letting that fool Dexter Grant keep the rules to himself until the last minute; is that the norm going forward? I am beginning to question CHBK’s judgment because apparently he thinks after I got screwed over by Dexter Grant for a second straight time, that it is perfectly just and fair idea to book yours truly in a handicap match. I get no tag team partner but I have to face both of those Hollywood twats all on my own. Is that how you make things right, mate, or is that punishment for me daring to say bad things about you? But hey, you know what? If you want to send not just one but TWO of your lambs to the slaughter, if you want me to put not just one but TWO of your wrestlers on the shelf indefinitely then so be it. This is on you.” The British Bombshell points a finger at the camera.

“Chris…Ryan…I already gave you my peace offering. Hopefully you were paying attention to what I said over social media, because it is the one and only mercy I am offering you two idiots. Pick one and only one. How you pick is up to you, I don’t really care. Use rock, paper, scissors. Draw straws. It doesn’t matter. But pick one of you…either you Chris or you Ryan…one of you two Hollywood blokes step forward as my ONE and only opponent for Breakdown. And that is the ONE person I will beat up, beat down, humiliate, and choke unconscious in the center of the ring. The other will be spared from the wrath of the best wrestler in the whole damned world. Do yourselves a favor and just pick one. Make it easier on you. That way one of you can continue the Hollywood brand while the other rests and recovers from the beating I will dish out and, when fully healed, you two can reunite and Hollywood will be back and better than ever. Granted, ‘better’ and ‘Hollywood’ is setting the bar fairly low, but that’s beside the point.” She shakes her head.

“However, if you choose to go along with this nonsense of CHBK’s, if you keep with this handicap match garbage, if you think that fighting me two on one will give you an advantage and maybe help you win? You are wrong. You are dead wrong, mates. Yes, you would have the number’s game. And yes, maybe you might make things a little interesting. Anyone who thinks one person against a team will be a fair fight is insane. The team always has that unfair edge. But I have overcome greater odds before. I have been in handicap matches and lost but I have also been in handicap matches and won. In any other night you might be heavy favorites in a two on one scenario against me but this is not any normal scenario and I am not the normal Glory Braddock you or anyone else is used to; I am that ruthless, submission machine who can break limbs and choke people unconscious. Furthermore, I am angry, I am furious, and I need someone to take my frustrations out on, and apparently CHBK elected you two as the sacrifice.” Braddock holds up one finger.

“So do yourselves a favor and pick one, JUST ONE, and then the two of us can have a good, quality WRESTLING match. Hell, I’d even shake your hand win or lose after the match was over. And unlike that clown holding the Adrenaline Title, I am not afraid of a camera. I’d let you two film our match for your next hollywood epic. But only if you accept my offer of mercy and just pick one of you. But if both of you take me on, if you take the cheap and easy way out of using the numbers game to your advantage, then I will NOT hold back. I will take you both on, ruthlessly, violently, and I will win. Then I will take whoever I did NOT pin or tap out, drag his ass back into the ring, and choke him out just for shits and giggles.”

Glory Braddock keeps that one finger up. “Just pick one and we can have a good, respectful, wrestling match, I will shake your hand, and it will be over. Otherwise, we’re all in for a little hell on earth. Sic Semper Tyrannis.”

[Braddock]

2 of 2
=====

==========
March 22nd, 2025
London, England
Off Camera
==========

The Braddock estate was not always considered an estate. When “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock and her younger sister Julia Braddock grew up here in London with their father, Glenn Braddock, this was a much simpler, downright lowly home considering the popularity and wealth achieved by their famous father. Glenn Braddock had always preferred the simpler things in life. Glory Braddock, as she sits here in the now opulent living room of this home, realizes that their late father would not recognize what her sister Julia has done to the place. Shortly after making a permanent move to Miami, Glory sold her half of the home to Julia, making her younger sister sole owner. Julia Braddock, in stark contrast to their father, loves the finer things in life. Now this formerly modest home exudes an air of quiet sophistication, a place where business and family intertwined in a delicate balance. The living room, bathed in the soft glow of afternoon light, carried that same refined elegance. Plush cream-colored sofas, adorned with carefully arranged cushions, framed a polished wooden coffee table. A grand painting hung on the far wall, an abstract swirl of muted golds and browns, lending a warmth to the otherwise neutral space. This is far removed from the tastes of its former occupant, Glenn Braddock. This is the taste of the more refined Julia Braddock, his youngest daughter.

Seated upon the sofa were the two daughters of the legendary Glenn Braddock; Glory and Julia, their striking resemblance unmistakable. Glory Braddock sat with poised confidence, her long legs crossed, fingers gently intertwined upon her lap. She was dressed immaculately in a fitted gray dress with a subtle shimmer that caught the light just so, the sleeves extending just past her wrists. Black tights completed the ensemble, and on her feet were matching black high heel pumps. Her blonde waves cascaded over her shoulders. Beside her sat Julia Braddock, her younger sister. She was dressed in a deep blue dress, form-fitting and elegant. Like her sister, she too wore black tights, her legs tucked slightly under her, her body angled towards Glory as she leaned in with an easy smile. For a long moment, neither woman spoke. The silence between them was not uncomfortable but expectant, the unspoken weight of family history, a history that the outside world thinks is nothing but sunshine and rainbows but, for Glory and her sister, know all too well that is hardly the case. Underneath the veil of resplendent bliss lies painful memories of how both women were pressured into following in their famous father’s footsteps, how both women were psychologically damaged by the divorce of their parents, and how the pressure of being the children of a European celebrity was a difficult childhood. And now, Glory Braddock must face the undesirable but necessary task of adding yet another painful memory to this place, one that she alone knows about; a memory that, once told to Julia, will forever change their relationship.

What Glory Braddock knows that Julia does not is the fact that they have a half-sister; their mutual friend, Sophie O’Brian. Sophie and her brother Mark had always been close to Glenn Braddock. He had taken them in at a young age and taught them, trained them how to survive on their own, trained them how to be wrestlers. For the longest time Glory just assumed her father was being kind and helping two children in desperate need of help; they did, after all, grow up in an abusive home life. Now The British Bombshell realizes that there were other motivations behind her father’s act of kindness; he had slept with George O’Brian’s wife, and Sophie was conceived as a result. Glenn Braddock felt a duty and obligation to take care of this daughter he helped to conceive. And for Julia Braddock, this news will be difficult to hear. Julia still holds deep resentment towards their father. Julia’s resentment was so strong that, for awhile, she refused to even acknowledge her Braddock name and identity. Glory can only imagine how she will react to hearing the news that their father, on top of everything else, was unfaithful to their mother. But Julia deserves to know the truth and it would be far better for the news to come from Glory as opposed to some second hand source.

“Well Glory, I saw Retribution…” Julia smirks and shakes her head “...too bad about that Adrenaline Title Match.”

“Yeah, well, failing to bring home the title isn’t even what bothers me the most. It did at first but I got over it. What bothers me is that the fans of SCW, my fans, paid good money to see a championship match. The people who tune in and buy tickets for SCW paid to see an Adrenaline Title Match. Instead they got bits and pieces of one.”

“I get it.” She nods her head. “Still, crowds or no crowds, I want to win the championship. But that’s just me. Speaking of the title, what is next for you?”

“Who knows?” Glory shrugs her shoulders. “Though to be honest, I wouldn’t be terribly upset if I did move on to something else. There are other new prizes out there…I never held the Underground Title and yet I own a victory over the champion…”

“I didn’t think the Underground was your cup of tea?” Julia arches her brow. Glory shakes her head.

“It isn’t, but that’s just it, it would be a challenge. Besides, that isn’t the only challenge out there. Xander Valentine retained the SCW World Title at Retribution. He may be in line for new challengers and I would love to have another crack at that championship, not just to be SCW World Champion…”

“...for longer than fifteen minutes?” Julia teases playfully.

“Right! But also because I do want another opportunity at Xander Valentine. I want another opportunity to beat him.”

“Well whatever you end up doing I wish you the best of luck, sis.” Julia says with a nod of her head. “Adrenaline Title rematch, World Title, or whatever direction you may go from here, I know you will handle it as only you can.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence, Julia.” Glory says, grinning warmly.

“Aren’t you in a bloody handicap match next?” Julia snickers. “Whose brilliant idea was that? Yours?”

“Wasn’t my idea.” Glory rolls her eyes. “It was CHBK’s. Apparently me fighting both of those Hollywood brats its best for business? Honestly, I would rather face one of them in a regular match. But if I have to face them both then, well,” she shrugs her shoulders “it is what it is.”

“Think of it this way.” Julia winks. “Beating two guys at once would make a huge statement and make a great case towards getting that next title match…whether its Adrenaline, Underground, or even Xander and the World Title.”

“Good point.” Glory nods her head.

“Hey, uh, do you want a drink?” Julia asks. “I have some wine.”

“No thanks.” Glory shakes her head. Julia furrows her brow.

“You are rejecting the wine. Something must be wrong.” She chuckles. “I mean, I did suspect that you had something important to tell me. You wouldn’t travel here back home to spend a few days JUST TO talk wrestling with me.”

The British Bombshell pauses momentarily before sighing. She nods her head, indicating that Julia’s suspicions were on the money. Glory knew this moment was coming, she just hopes that she is ready for it.

“Well you’re right. I didn’t come here just to talk about SCW.” She snickers. “I mean, I could have told you all that over the phone.”

“Exactly. So what’s wrong?” Julia asks curiously. Then her face lights up. “Is this about Sophie?”

“Yeah.”

“I figured as much. I spoke with Mark recently and he told me that she finally started seeing a therapist again. Is that true? Did you convince Sophie to seek professional help?”

“You heard right.” Glory nods her head.

“Well damn.” Julia looks genuinely impressed. “Things must have went very well between you two.”

“I knew if I was just given a chance that I could reach her.” Glory insists. “Sophie is and always has been my closest friend. I knew she wasn’t beyond saving. And while she still might have a few more obstacles to overcome, I honestly believe that she is now on the road to recovery.”

“Congratulations.” Julia claps her hands in a semi-sarcastic manner. “You know how much I hate to admit it when I am wrong but you know what? I was wrong. I did not think you would succeed. I thought that Sophie was conning you, that she was manipulating you, that you were falling into whatever trap she was setting for you. I thought Sophie was a lost cause but you proved me wrong, sis.” Julia pats Glory on the back. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks, mate,” Glory sighs deeply, knowing that tough part is yet to come “but I wouldn’t go congratulating me just yet, because there is something else I need to tell you, something you need to hear.”

“What is it?” Julia furrows her brow.

“It will be difficult to hear, just a word of warning.”

“I’m a big girl, Glory.” Julia chuckles. “I can take it. What’s wrong?”

“It’s something about Sophie. Something neither of us knew, something even her own brother Mark didn’t know, and this secret explains everything…her psychotic obsession with us, with our family, her obsessive fawning over our father’s legacy, all of it.”

“Do I need to get the wine for this?” Julia asks with a grin.

“No, just stay.” Glory insists. “Uh…you know how dad treated Sophie and Mark so…special?”

“Yes, I do.” Julia’s voice takes on a hint of annoyance. “As a child it was fine, two new friends to play with, you know? But as I got older it became annoying. I mean, I get it to a degree, their home environment was crap. Their father was an abusive drunk. They needed help to escape that situation and dad provided that escape. But he never gave any other down on their luck blokes a hand out…help out…whatever…” the younger Braddock sibling shrugs her shoulders “...but I get it, they needed help and he gave it to them. One of the few nice things our dear old dad did. What of it?”

“There’s more to the Glenn Braddock and Sophie O’Brian connection that we know, that any of us knew, and our dad may have been doing a good ded, but it might not have entirely been motivated by kindness.” Glory knows that now is the time. She braces herself. “Shortly after Mark was born was when dad met his mother. Dad he…he had an affair with Mark’s mother.”

The British Bombshell stares deep into her sister’s eyes. She waits anxiously for a response. Julia’s eyes grow wide as she takes in the shocking, startling news.

“So what you’re saying is Sophie…” her voice trails off “...she’s…”

“Our half-sister.” Glory says.

“She’s lying!” Julia shouts, her voice showing the anger that is bubbling over. “This has to be some sort of trick!

“It isn’t a trick, Julia.”

“She’s manipulating you again!” Julia insists, shaking her head in disbelief. “She’s lying like she always does!”

“I’m sorry but it’s true.” Glory insists. “I have proof.”

“So you have proof?” Julia chuckles. “Well if this is true then that just means our father was a rotten cheating jerk, which, you know, doesn’t really surprise me all that much. It does help make more sense of why he would leave our mother the way he did.”

“Cut him some slack, Julia.” Glory says. “People make mistakes.

“Yes and our dad made plenty of them.” Julia remarks with venom in her voice. “I mean, at least you showed some interest in the family business. But I had ZERO interest in following in our dad’s footsteps. He practically forced me to be a wrestler. Now its all I know, all we both know. When mom left, you were more than willing to conform to his standards, you became daddy’s little tomboy and he was thrilled. I was the disappointment because I did not conform to his ideal. And he pushed me so damn hard…he put so much pressure on me…” Julia shakes her head “...you have no idea…”

“He pushed you because he saw in you the potential to be great.” Glory points a finger at Julia. “He told me that YOU had the ability to surpass me one day if you just set your mind to it.”

“Bollocks.” Julia snaps back. “He was playing us against one another.”

“No, that wasn’t his style and you know it.”

“It still doesn’t make it right.” Julia snaps back angrily. “Don’t you see? Everything he did to us! Now we learn he cheated on mom and he had a bastard child who has been terrorizing us all our lives!” Julia sighs. “And wrestling fans all over Europe look at him as some bloody saint…give me a break.”

“Oh bloody hell get a grip!” Glory snaps. “He was tough, he put a lot of pressure on us, but that was because he wanted to prepare us, he wanted us to be able to survive and thrive. He gave us all the tools needed to survive, not only in the wrestling world but in life. And yes, he cheated on mom. Obviously it played a role in the marriage dissolving. But he was a standup guy. Unlike many blokes who would run away from their responsibility, he stuck around and took care of Sophie the best way he knew how.”

There is a tense pause as the sisters share uneasy glares. Julia finally relents and shrugs her shoulders.

“Look, maybe he did feel guilty for what he did…for cheating on mom…and he felt a sense of obligation to help Sophie? Good on him for that, at least. But you realize that I cannot forgive him. Not yet at least. It will take some time.”

“What about Sophie?” Glory asks. “Can you at least try to accept her?”

“I don’t know.” Julia sighs. “I can try but that’s it, I make no promises.”

“Fair enough.” Glory nods her head.

“Uh, I do have one question.”

“Yes?”

“Do you plan to make this public?” Julia asks. “Do you and Sophie plan to make this public?”

“I…haven’t really thought about it…” Glory’s voice trails off.

“Well you should.” Julia states pointedly. “In America few really knew him. Hell, the shape of America’s morality nowadays I doubt many would give a damn anyway. But here in Europe its different. Like I said, here in Europe people look at him as a saint. A scandal like this would ruin his reputation.”

“So you think we should keep it under wraps?”

“I don’t know what to say.” Julia sighs. “This wasn’t exactly the news I expected to get when I woke up this morning.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Glory smiles sheepishly.

“But thanks.” Julia gives her older sister a hug. “Thanks for telling me, I appreciate it.”