Chapter 54 Chapter 54
Dominic's Pov
Closing the door behind me, I walked to the chair directly opposite Liana. Lester was also sitting directly oposite her lawyer. The conference room felt tighter now, as though the walls had contracted an inch when Liana arrived. Her back was straight, eyes not blazing with fury or warmth. Not inviting, not provocative. Just flat out neutral. In a way it showed strength.
I leaned forward slightly, hands together in my lap, and said the words I had rehearsed. "Liana, thank you for coming. I know this isn't easy."
She nodded once. "It’s not. But I’m here. So let’s get to it."
Lester, ever active and coordinated slid a folder across the table. "We appreciate your willingness to have this discussion off the record. As I said to your lawyer, our goal is peace. For your daughter and for everyone involved. But first I will like to know why you came with a different lawyer."
“He's busy and your meeting came impromptu so his assistant came with me, but it's not an issue. I'm the one making use of the firms services and I trust them.” she said, flashing a smile.
Liana's lawyer also smiled and then she opened the folder, reading the first page with a stoic face. Liana did not even glance at it. Her eyes stayed on me.
"Go on," she whispered.
I took a deep breath. "We're suggesting co-parenting. We don'tneed to go to court. I admire your need for boundaries, and I wish to respect them. I just want to be involved in her life. Nothing more."
There was silence but it didn't last long.
Then her lawyer tilted her head looking straight into Lester's eyes. "And the public retraction of the accusations?"
Lester cleared his throat. "It's not vindication. Consider it a narrative control. If this gets to the press… you know what it will do to your image."
"It won't do either of us any good," I went on. "I don't want my child to grow up hearing awful things about either parent. She's going to have questions. I don't want her to be traumatized, too."
"You're trying to make this all about her," she said dryly. "But I think we both know there's more at stake here. Your name. Your brand. Your legacy."
"And do you really think I'd jeopardize all that by going over this to court? I'm not. I'm attempting to preserve what little dignity there is left between us."
She raised an eyebrow. "Tactics? Is that what this is? Dignity?"
Lester interrupted, skillfully releasing the tension. "We believe it's both. Tactics don't have to be harsh. They can be elegant. And this is elegant."
Liana glanced at her lawyer, who subtly nodded. She turned to us once more. "And if I sign this, you'll drop any other legal action? You won't pursue anything and come for me or my child?"
Lester gave us a thoughtful smile. "This document is binding. We're not asking you to confess to child kidnapping, which is what you did. We are just asking you to make space for the father. For Cam's sake. And save his image too, since he’s saving yours. "
Leaning back, she breathed slowly and gave a half smile. It was soft and contemplative. As if she were seriously considering the nature of it. "Okay," she finally said, nodding. "If that's what it takes for this to be finished, I'll do it."
I felt the group-held tension release. It seemed like we were winning but then she spoke up again.
"Before we proceed," Liana went on, "I just want to clarify. This settlement also means you have no input regarding Cam's education, right? You have the right to her visiting time to time but not making decisions on her life."
Lester blinked. I paused. "That wasn't…"
"Let me rephrase," Liana said. "I'll take a joint visitation. If he's good enough, she could spend holidays. But education, health, and everyday care? It is asolutely mine. If you do not want that, I won't mind going to court."
I bent in. "You know I'm interested in her future, Liana. I want to be a part of it."
"You want to be there… that's all. This has nothing to do with control. It has to do with presence. So let me be absolutely clear: I am not negotiating my daughter's future or safety."
She was good, too good to be defeated. Since this was just the beginjng, I nodded in agreement. "Okay. You take care of those things. I get to see her. We both get peace."
Lester pulled out the last document, and her lawyer presented her with a pen. She signed. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out a thin manila folder.
"Before we go," she explained,
Lester frowned. "What's this?"
"A mutual agreement to accept that we both entered this settlement willingly, not coerced. It protects you as well as me. Just standard language. Something I'd like documented."
She said it so casually, so matter of fact. Her lawyer forwarded it. It wasn't large, only two pages. Lester read it through, brows furrowed, but she just continued to speak, softly and steadily, commanding attention.
"I don't want this to drag on and on. I've had too many nights lying awake already. If signing this is what makes both of us happy, then let's sign."
"It's just a supporting doc?" I asked, tracing my fingers across the folder.
"Right. It states that we agreed this between the two of us. No coercion. No manipulation. Two grown adults doing the right thing."
I didn't even look at Lester for confirmation. I grabbed the pen and signed. Lester did too. We shook hands. It was warm and firm. She then spun around, gathered her things, and left with her lawyer.
With them safely shut outside, I took a deep breath. And smiled.
"It's showtime," I said out loud. "Game over, Liana."