Chapter 14 - Eric Donovan Makes an OfferEric Donovan did not call Daniel.
He called Laura.
That was deliberate.
“Mrs. Mercer, I think our families have suffered enough.”
Laura put the phone on speaker.
Daniel was beside her.
Their attorney listened remotely.
“What do you want?”
“To resolve the civil side.”
“There is no lawsuit filed yet.”
“There will be.”
He sounded calm.
Professional.
“We can avoid that.”
“How?”
“Compensation.”
Laura’s expression hardened.
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand dollars.”
Daniel looked at her.
Eric continued.
“In exchange for a complete release involving Claire, Brayden and Donovan Digital.”
“And silence?”
“A standard confidentiality provision.”
Laura laughed.
There it was.
Silence for money.
“How standard?”
“No public statements. No media interviews. Removal of any copies of classroom recordings under your control after legal preservation requirements end.”
Daniel shook his head.
Laura asked:
“What about Cameron?”
“He would be included.”
“He is thirteen.”
“You would sign on his behalf subject to whatever approval your counsel advises.”
Laura stared at the phone.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
Mercer Technical was struggling.
The home equity line terrified her.
Cameron’s future college costs existed.
Money was not abstract.
It touched real fear.
Eric knew that.
He had probably researched their financial position.
Laura asked:
“Why two hundred?”
“Because litigation costs everyone.”
“You mean it costs you.”
“It costs your son too.”
That sentence changed her face.
“Do not use my child to sell me silence.”
Eric paused.
“I’m trying to be realistic.”
“So am I.”
She hung up.
Then sat down.
Daniel asked:
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Do you want to consider it?”
Laura looked at him.
“Yes.”
That surprised him.
“Why?”
“Because two hundred thousand dollars is real.”
Daniel nodded.
This was what integrity actually looked like.
Not pretending temptation didn’t exist.
Laura continued.
“I also want to know exactly what we would give up.”
Their attorney reviewed the proposed terms.
The release was broad.
Too broad.
It could complicate civil claims tied to the phone, classroom assault and possibly retaliation.
It could not stop lawful cooperation with criminal investigators.
But it would silence the family publicly.
Cameron listened when his parents explained.
He asked:
“Would taking money make us wrong?”
Laura shook her head.
“No.”
“Would refusing make us better?”
“No.”
“Then how do we decide?”
Daniel answered:
“We decide what matters more to us and what protects you.”
Cameron thought.
“I don’t want to be famous.”
“Good.”
“I don’t care about interviews.”
“Good.”
“But I don’t want Mrs. Donovan to say nothing happened.”
Laura touched his shoulder.
“That matters.”
They countered.
Compensation without a false denial.
No restriction on truthful testimony.
No destruction of evidence.
No restriction on Cameron speaking about his own experience after he became an adult.
Eric rejected it.
Offer withdrawn.
That told them more than acceptance would have.
May you like
He was not buying peace.
He was buying control.
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