Chapter 15 - The Offer
Grant's attorneys requested a settlement meeting.
Rachel almost laughed.
“He wants to negotiate the divorce separately from the criminal matters.”
“What does he want?”
“The house.”
I stared at her.
“Still?”
“And six million dollars.”
Vanessa actually laughed.
Arthur did not.
“In exchange for?”
“An uncontested divorce, confidentiality, and withdrawal of several civil claims.”
I leaned back.
“He wants me to pay him after he hit me.”
Rachel nodded.
“He also claims marital interest in several trust distributions.”
My father looked ready to reject the offer immediately.
I stopped him.
“I want to hear Grant say it.”
The meeting took place remotely because the protective order prevented direct contact.
Grant appeared on a large screen.
His attorney sat beside him.
He looked exhausted.
But the arrogance remained.
“Claire.”
I said nothing.
His lawyer outlined the proposal.
When she finished, I leaned toward the camera.
“Why should I give you six million dollars?”
Grant smiled.
For a moment, he looked like the old Grant.
“Because you want this over.”
“It will be over either way.”
“You don't understand how ugly divorce gets.”
I almost smiled.
“You threw me barefoot into the rain with blood in my mouth.”
“It already got ugly.”
His expression hardened.
“I can tell people things about you.”
“Like what?”
“Private things.”
Rachel looked toward me.
I kept going.
“What private things?”
Grant realized too late that the meeting was recorded.
He changed direction.
“You know what I mean.”
“No.”
I leaned closer.
“Explain it.”
His attorney whispered something.
Grant ignored her.
“You had anxiety medication after your mother died.”
My father became still.
“You saw a therapist.”
“So?”
“I can make that look bad.”
There it was.
His final weapon.
Shame.
The same tool he had used against Hannah.
The same method he used against Vanessa.
The same reason I had hidden his cruelty for years.
I smiled.
“Grant, I loved my mother.”
“My mother died.”
“I needed help.”
“I got help.”
“There is nothing shameful about that.”
His expression collapsed slightly.
He had expected fear.
I gave him nothing.
“No settlement.”
I stood.
“You can keep every secret you think you own.”
I looked directly into the camera.
“You don't own me anymore.”
I ended the call.
The next morning, Grant's primary attorney withdrew from his civil case.
Two days later, prosecutors announced additional charges involving fraud, obstruction, and falsified financial records.
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The man who had once controlled every room he entered was now losing control of the only thing he had left.
His future.
