Yeah, I agree with the "Publish And Be Damned" part, if at all possible, where he gets out in front of the threats by talking to his family about it. But I don't necessarily agree with the "apologize to your vengeful co-conspirator" part...unless he thinks that some kind of time-traveling "I am so sorry I didn't listen to you in the first place when you begged me not to do it, you were right" would somehow defuse the base level of vengefulness.

Maybe if he really does try make amends by some kind of large financial restitution, she can regret her blackmail attempts because now it will cut into her life financially. But in any case, I look down on the blackmail much more than I do on the initial crime.