THE SECRETS IN THE EAST WING

THE CHOICE

The email was still on Lina's phone at 3AM.

`Pay me 500k and I forget her name.`

With a photo of her.

With Maya's hospital name in the subject line.

Lina hadn't slept.

Adrian hadn't either. He'd been on the phone all night.

With police. With lawyers. With the hospital.

At 6AM, Dr. Okello called.

"Miss Carter, we received an anonymous donation.

$50,000. To Maya's account. The donor was... 'V'."

Lina hung up and threw up.

Victor wasn't just threatening.

He was buying his way in.

---

By 9AM, Adrian had a plan.

"We're leaving," he said. "You, me. We go to Kampala.

Stay at a hotel. Near the hospital. Police protection."

Lina shook her head. "He'll follow us."

"Then we deal with him there," Adrian said.

"I'm done running. And I'm done letting him use you."

Lina looked at him. "What if I pay him?"

Adrian went still. "What?"

"500k. He said he'd forget Maya's name."

Lina's voice shook. "What if that's the only way?"

Adrian grabbed her shoulders. "No. Lina, no.

If we pay him once, he'll ask again. Forever."

He pulled her into a hug. "We don't negotiate with terrorists."

Lina buried her face in his chest.

"I'm scared, Adrian."

"I know," he whispered. "Me too. But we do this together."

---

They left at noon.

Two cars. Four guards.

Adrian didn't trust anyone.

The drive to Kampala took 4 hours.

Lina sat in the back. Didn't talk.

Kept checking her phone.

No new emails.

That was worse.

They checked into a hotel. 20th floor.

Guards at the door. Guards in the hall.

Adrian booked the room next to hers.

"I'm not leaving you alone," he said.

At 7PM, Maya called.

Video call.

She looked tired. But she was smiling.

"Lina! The nurses said someone paid for my new bed.

And a TV. Was that you?"

Lina forced a smile. "Something like that, baby."

"Thank you," Maya said. "I feel better today."

After the call, Lina cried.

Adrian sat next to her. Didn't say anything.

Just held her hand.

---

At 11PM, there was a knock on the hotel door.

Not the guards.

Three slow knocks.

Lina froze.

Adrian went to the door. Looked through the peephole.

Victor.

Alone. Hands in pockets. Smiling.

Adrian opened the door. Didn't let him in.

"What do you want?"

"To talk," Victor said. "Just us. No guards."

He looked past Adrian. At Lina. "Miss Carter. You look tired."

"Get lost," Adrian said.

Victor sighed. "Fine. I'll leave the offer on the table.

24 hours, Adrian. Sell me the company. Sell me the house.

And I walk away. From you. From her."

He pulled out an envelope. Held it out.

"Or... Lina pays me. And I disappear."

Adrian didn't take it. "We're not doing either."

Victor shrugged. "Your funeral."

He dropped the envelope on the floor.

"Clock's ticking."

He walked away.

Adrian picked up the envelope.

Inside: a contract.

`Sale of Blackwood Enterprises to Victor Hale`

`Amount: $1`

And a second paper.

`Payment from Lina Carter to V. Hale: $500,000`

`For: Confidentiality`

Lina read both. Her hands were shaking.

"Choice," Adrian said quietly. "Your sister. Or my life's work."

Lina looked at him. "That's not fair."

"I know," Adrian said. "It's not."

---

Lina didn't sleep that night.

At 5AM, she made a decision.

She got up. Got dressed.

Wrote Adrian a note.

`I can't let him hurt Maya.

I'm going to meet him. Alone.

Don't follow me.

-L`

She left the note on his door.

Took the elevator down.

Slipped past the guards.

Victor's email had an address.

An office downtown.

Lina took a taxi.

The office was empty. Just Victor.

Behind a big desk. Coffee in his hand.

"Miss Carter," he said. "Punctual. I like that."

Lina sat down. "What do you want?"

"Same thing I've always wanted," Victor said.

"Adrian's company. The house. His pride."

He leaned forward. "And you."

Lina frowned. "Me?"

"You remind me of Elena," Victor said. "

Stubborn. Loyal. Stupid."

He smiled. "Adrian will lose everything anyway.

I'm just speeding it up."

Lina stood up. "I'm not paying you."

Victor's smile dropped. "Excuse me?"

"I talked to my lawyer," Lina lied.

"Threatening a minor's medical treatment is a crime.

We go to the police, you go to jail."

Victor laughed. "You have no proof."

"I have the email. The photo. The donation."

Lina held up her phone. "And I have Adrian."

Victor stood up. "You're making a mistake."

"No," Lina said. "You are."

She turned to leave.

Victor grabbed her arm.

"Let go of me," Lina said.

"Or what?" Victor pulled her closer.

"Adrian's not here to save you."

The door slammed open.

Adrian.

With two police officers.

"Let her go," Adrian said. His voice was deadly calm.

Victor let go immediately. Put his hands up.

"Officers, this woman broke into my office."

The police looked at Lina.

She held up her phone. "He threatened my sister.

I have proof."

One officer took the phone.

The other cuffed Victor.

"You can't do this," Victor spat.

"This isn't over, Adrian."

Adrian stepped in front of Lina.

"Yes. It is."

They took Victor away.

---

Back at the hotel, Lina collapsed.

Adrian sat on the floor next to her.

"You lied to me," he said. "In the note."

"I had to," Lina said. "You would have stopped me."

Adrian nodded. "You were brave."

"I was terrified," Lina whispered.

Adrian pulled her into his lap.

"I thought I'd lost you."

Lina shook her head. "You didn't."

They stayed like that for a long time.

At noon, Adrian's phone rang.

His lawyer.

"Victor's being charged. Extortion. Harassment.

The company is safe. For now."

Adrian hung up. Looked at Lina.

"We won."

Lina smiled. A real one. "We did."

That night, they didn't go back to the manor.

They stayed in Kampala.

Adrian ordered room service.

They ate on the bed. Watched a movie.

No ghosts. No threats. Just them.

At 1AM, Adrian turned off the TV.

"Lina?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

Lina went still.

Adrian looked scared. "I know it's fast.

I know about Elena. But I do. I love you."

Lina reached out. Touched his face.

"I love you too," she whispered.

Adrian kissed her.

Slow. Soft. Like he was afraid she'd break.

Lina kissed him back.

For the first time in years,

Blackwood Manor felt far away.

And for the first time in her life,

Lina felt safe.

---

At 3AM, Lina's phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

`You think this is over?

I'm just getting started.

-V`

Lina deleted it.

Then turned off her phone.

And fell asleep in Adrian's arms.

End of Chapter 12