Chapter 6 - The Ultimatum
"What's this?" Leo asked, eyeing the brown envelope.
"It's the deed to the lake house," Arthur said quietly. "And a certified check for fifty thousand dollars."
I narrowed my eyes. "Are you trying to bribe us not to file a police report?"
"It's not a bribe," Arthur said, though his posture betrayed his desperation. "It's a settlement. An advance on Leo's inheritance. Derek was wrong, Maya. Deeply, terribly wrong. I see that now. I spent thirty years letting him act like a king because he was big and played football, while I pushed Leo into the corner because he was quiet."
Arthur looked at Leo, his eyes wet with genuine regret.
"I saw the way you stood up to him today, Leo," Arthur said softly. "You didn't have the strength to win that fight, but you stood between your wife and a crazy man anyway. That took more courage than Derek has ever shown in his entire life."
Leo stared at his father, processing the words he had waited his whole life to hear. But he didn't soften.
"Where is Derek now?" Leo asked.
"He's at home," Evelyn said softly. "His shoulder is dislocated, and he has two cracked ribs from... from Maya's throw. He's in a lot of pain."
"Good," I said without a trace of sympathy. "He earned every bit of it."
"He wants to apologize," Arthur added. "He's terrified of you, Maya. He genuinely thinks if he sees you again, you'll finish what you started."
"He should be terrified," I said, stepping closer to Arthur. "Because if he ever speaks to Leo like that again, or if he ever comes within fifty feet of my flower shop, I won't just file charges. I'll make sure his name and his humiliation are posted on every combat sports forum on the internet. Do you understand me?"
Arthur nodded rapidly. "I understand. I'll make sure he stays away."
Leo looked at the envelope on the table, then looked at me. "Maya, what do you want to do?"
I looked at my gentle husband, seeing the strength in his eyes that had always been there, even if his family had been too blind to notice it.
May you like
"We take the check to cover your medical bills and lost time at the university," I said clearly. "We take the lake house so we have a quiet place to spend our summers away from this city. And Derek signs a legally binding non-disclosure and personal protection agreement prepared by our lawyer. If he breaks it once, the police get the patio security video."
Arthur let out a long breath and bowed his head. "Agreed. I'll have our attorney draft the papers tonight."
