He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 26
Only Graham refused to settle.
His attorney proposed that he could pay the remaining balance in one lump sum.
On one condition: I withdraw the protective order and meet with him alone.
I answered at once.
“Declined.”
My attorney reminded the other side that the debt had nothing to do with the protective order.
Then Graham made a second demand.
He wanted the drive returned and every copy of its contents destroyed.
“Declined.”
My attorney looked at me.
“If this case goes into full adjudication, the files may be disclosed under arbitration rules. That’s what he’s most afraid of.”
“That’s his choice.”
I wasn’t threatening to release anything publicly, and I wasn’t asking for extra damages.
I was simply done cleaning up his consequences for him.
A week later, the case went to pre-hearing mediation.
Graham appeared by video.
He looked thinner than he had on the night of the engagement party. The room behind him was bare, without a single family photo on the wall.
The mediator asked if he was willing to settle the bill, interest, and fees in full.
He didn’t look at the mediator. He stared straight at my side of the screen.
“Mara, if I pay, are we completely square?”
My attorney answered for me.
“Payment settles the debt only.”
“I’m asking her.”
“The protective order bars direct communication with my client.”
Graham’s shoulders slowly sagged.
At last, he understood that money would not buy him a conversation, and it would not recover my promise to keep his secrets.
“Fine.”
He lowered his head and signed the settlement.
“I’ll pay.”
Three days later, the funds cleared.
I forwarded the bank notice to my attorney, who confirmed the amount was correct.
The original bill had been a little over twelve thousand dollars. They had dragged it out for two years. They had passed blame back and forth, certain I would eventually get tired of fighting.
Now, the principal, interest, and fees had all been paid in full.
That money did not make me rich.
But at last, I had reclaimed, for the woman who sat hungry on burning sand guarding six phones, the share she should never have been made to carry.