I thought about Hayes.
How many times had he asked me to give his family another chance?
How many insults had I swallowed because he believed love could change them?
I wrote another question.
DID ARTHUR KNOW ABOUT VESTA?
Daniel stared at the page.
Then nodded.
“He suspected.”
I waited.
“But suspicion isn’t proof.”
He looked toward the door.
“That’s why he started recording things.”
My fingers tightened around the pen.
THE RECORDING YOU MENTIONED?
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
I leaned forward.
Pain shot through my jaw.
He immediately raised one hand.
“Easy.”
I settled back.
He continued.
“Arthur kept a small digital recorder in his study. He used it to dictate business notes.”
I wrote:
WHAT DID HE RECORD?
Daniel hesitated.
“Conversations.”
My heartbeat quickened.
“Arguments.”
He looked directly at me.
“And one conversation he never wanted his son to know existed.”
Hayes returned before Daniel could explain further.
He carried a cup of coffee.
Evelyn followed him.
Her expression was serious.
“We need to discuss something,” she said.
Daniel straightened.
“What?”
Evelyn looked toward me.
“Vesta has contacted the hospital administration.”
Hayes let out a bitter laugh.
“Of course she has.”
“She’s claiming Marin is being influenced by outside parties while recovering from a traumatic injury.”
I stared at her.
Evelyn continued.
“She’s suggesting that Hayes and I are pressuring Marin to pursue legal action for financial gain.”
My hands began trembling.
Hayes stepped closer.
“She’s trying to make Marin look incompetent.”
“Yes.”
I grabbed my notepad.
SHE THINKS I CAN’T THINK BECAUSE I CAN’T TALK.
Evelyn read it.
Her expression softened.
“That’s exactly what she wants people to believe.”
I wrote again.
THEN LET HER FIND OUT HOW WRONG SHE IS.
Hayes looked at me.
Something like pride appeared in his eyes.
Evelyn nodded.
“That’s why I brought this.”
She removed a document from her folder.
It was a statement prepared for my review.
It explained that I was alert, capable of making my own decisions, and voluntarily pursuing appropriate legal remedies.
It also requested that no member of the Mercer family be given access to my medical information without my consent.
I read every line.
Then signed it.
My handwriting was shaky.
But it was mine.
Evelyn watched me finish.
“Good.”
She placed the document in her folder.
“Now let’s discuss their financial offer.”
Orson had increased the proposed settlement.
Two million dollars had become five.
Five had become eight.
By the time Evelyn received the latest letter, the offer had reached twelve million dollars.
Twelve million.
In exchange, the Mercers wanted a broad release of civil claims, a statement characterizing the incident as accidental, and an agreement not to make public accusations about Kale or the family.
The letter also proposed confidentiality provisions.
I stared at the number.
Twelve million dollars.
There had been a time in my life when twelve hundred dollars would have changed everything.
When my mother had cried because the landlord raised our rent.
When I had eaten instant noodles for a week so I could pay a driver on time.
When I had slept in my office because I couldn’t afford both rent and payroll.
But this money wasn’t generosity.
It was an attempt to purchase a version of reality in which Kale had never deliberately thrown that ball.
Hayes looked at me.
“We don’t have to discuss it now.”
I reached for my pen.
I DON’T WANT IT.
Evelyn nodded.
“Understood.”
I wrote again.
I WANT THE TRUTH.
Hayes read the words.
Then looked at Evelyn.
“Tell them no.”
She closed the folder.
“I will.”
But before she stood, Daniel spoke.
“Wait.”
Everyone looked at him.
He leaned forward.
“Don’t reject it immediately.”
Hayes frowned.
“What?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Let them put everything in writing.”
Evelyn studied him.
“Explain.”
Daniel swallowed.
“When they paid me, they made mistakes.”
“What kind?”
“They included references to documents they didn’t realize I had copied.”
Evelyn’s expression changed.
“Do you still have those copies?”
Daniel nodded.
“Some.”
He looked toward the window.
“And if Orson is offering twelve million dollars, he may be more frightened than you realize.”
That evening, Hayes received another call from his father.
This time, he didn’t answer.
Instead, he forwarded the voicemail to Evelyn.
Orson’s voice filled the room.
“Hayes, I am trying to save you from a very expensive mistake.”
A pause.
“You have no idea how much damage your wife’s accusations could cause.”
Another pause.
“And if she insists on destroying this family, don’t expect the family to protect her business.”
The message ended.
I stared at the phone.
Ironline.
Again.
They were threatening my company.
The business I had built from a folding table.
The business that employed more than eighty people.
The business that supported families who had nothing to do with the Mercer family’s cruelty.
