He Gave Her My Home So I Took Back My Life Chapter 20
A week later, Vivian’s lawyer proposed a plea agreement.
She wanted me to accept a face-to-face apology before her sentencing.
I had no desire to see her.
But my attorney informed me that Graham would be there as a party to the related case. In the end, I agreed. The meeting was scheduled in a courthouse mediation room, with the entire conversation on the record.
When Vivian was brought in, none of the polish she had worn to my dinner remained.
She was dressed in a gray detention uniform, her hair limp, her wrists in chains. When she saw that my neck was bare, she actually let out a short, bitter laugh.
“So the necklace still isn’t fixed?”
I set the clear evidence bag on the table between us.
The tarnished camellia clasp hit the plastic with a soft tap.
Her smile vanished.
“The pawnshop returned the clasp,” my lawyer said coolly. “The pawn slip, the full footage, and the makeup artist’s testimony are all in the case file. Ms. Hale isn’t here today to listen to any more denials.”
Vivian whipped her head toward Graham.
“He was the one who gave the edited video to the police! He was the one who called the reporters! He said if Nora was taken away in public, she’d be scared. She’d back down again, just like she always did.”
Graham’s face contorted.
“You’re the one who gave me the video! And those injuries were fake!”
“But you saw the full footage!”
“I only wanted Nora to stop attacking the foundation! I didn’t know you stole the clasp and pawned it!”
The two of them began shouting across the table.
Vivian sobbed that he was pushing all the blame onto her. Graham pointed at her, demanding to know why she lied about the child, why she kept pretending to be his wife.
I sat across from them in silence.
Even now, all they could do was argue over who had deceived whom.
Neither was willing to admit they had both known exactly what was happening to me.
They had simply bet that I would continue to endure it.
The mediator tapped the table sharply.
“Please lower your voices. Everything you are both saying is being recorded.”
The room went still.
For the first time, Vivian looked truly afraid.
She turned to me, tears streaming down her face.
“Nora, after my husband died, I had nothing. I only wanted to preserve a home for my son.”
“He’s been at boarding school out of state for the last two years.”
I laid out the therapist’s denial and his school residence records on the table.
“He never needed the two of you to pretend to be a family. The person who needed that excuse was you.”
Vivian opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
I stood up.
“You don’t need to explain to me how innocent you both think you are.”
“Save it for the judge.”
As the door shut behind me, I could hear them starting in on each other again.
I didn’t look back.