Revenge On My Feet Chapter 19
He bowed his head, his fingers knotted tightly together.
“At the time, I thought what they were saying made sense.”
“No,” I cut in. “You just thought it was easier to stand on their side.”
“If you helped me, you would have had to admit they were bullying me.”
“But as long as you told yourself, ‘It’s for her own good,’ you didn’t have to do anything at all.”
Grayson’s lips moved, but nothing came out.
In the end, all he said was,
“You’re right.”
Before he left, he asked whether we might go to that Italian restaurant together again someday.
I gave him no false hope.
“I don’t know.”
“Grayson, telling the truth is what you should have done in the first place.”
“It doesn’t automatically make you a good brother again.”
He stood in the doorway a long moment.
“I understand.”
This time, he didn’t press me to forgive him.
A month later, the first mediation session was held.
My lawyer and I sat on one side of the conference table.
Desmond and Renata, each with a lawyer of their own, sat on the other.
Two empty chairs stood between them.
From the moment they walked in, neither one looked at the other.
The mediator opened.
“Ms. Vance, what are your demands?”
My lawyer passed over the list.
“That they cease distribution of and delete all medical photos and videos in their possession.”
My lawyer and I sat on one side of the conference table.
Desmond and Renata, each with a lawyer of their own, sat on the other.
Two empty chairs stood between them.
From the moment they walked in, neither one looked at the other.
The mediator opened.
“Ms. Vance, what are your demands?”
My lawyer passed over the list.
“That they cease distribution of and delete all medical photos and videos in their possession.”
“That they no longer contact, follow, or appear at her place of work.”
“That they publicly correct their false statements about a malicious report and the voluntary release of her images.”
“And that they compensate her for damages and legal fees.”
When Renata heard this, she shot to her feet.
“She already ruined my career, and now she wants money?”
“She donates one bonus and suddenly thinks she’s a saint?”