THE SECRETS IN THE EAST WING

THE SHOWDOWN

Friday came too fast.

Lina didn't sleep.

Adrian didn't either.

At 8AM, the lawyer arrived.

"Forensic confirmed it," he said. "The ring in the mirror.

It's Victor's. Custom made. Only 3 in the world.

He owns one."

Adrian exhaled. "And the audio?"

"Edited," the lawyer said. "We have an expert.

There are 14 seconds missing. Right before the scream."

Lina squeezed Adrian's hand.

"We have him."

Adrian shook his head. "Not until he's in cuffs."

At 10AM, Victor's text came.

`Boardroom. 12PM. Sign the papers.

Or I call the police. -V`

---

12PM. Blackwood Enterprises.

The boardroom was full.

12 board members. Lawyers. Police outside.

Victor was already there.

Suit. Smile. Confident.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said.

"Thank you for coming to witness the transfer of ownership."

Adrian walked in. Lina next to him.

"Morning, Victor," Adrian said. Calm.

"I brought what you wanted."

He set a folder on the table.

Victor smiled. "Sign here."

He pushed papers forward.

Adrian didn't touch them.

"First, let's watch a video."

He pressed play on the projector.

The photo. Zoomed.

The ring in the mirror.

The room went quiet.

"What is this?" one board member asked.

"Proof," Adrian said.

"Proof that Victor Hale was in the East Wing

the night my wife died."

Victor laughed. "That's a blurry shadow.

This is desperation, Adrian."

Adrian nodded. "Maybe.

But the police think it's enough for a warrant."

Two police officers walked in.

"Mr. Hale, we need you to come with us."

Victor's smile dropped. "On what grounds?"

"Obstruction. Extortion. And murder," the officer said.

Victor stood up. "You have nothing."

"Actually," the lawyer said. "We have the full audio."

He played it.

Elena: "Victor, get out!"

Victor: "You can't do this to me."

Elena: "It's over."

Sound of a struggle.

Elena: "Adrian!"

A crash.

Silence.

Victor went pale.

"That wasn't in the clip you sent me," Adrian said.

"Funny how that works."

Victor lunged for the door.

The police grabbed him.

"It's not over," Victor spat. "You'll pay for this."

They dragged him out.

The boardroom was silent.

Adrian looked at everyone.

"The company is not for sale.

And neither am I."

He took Lina's hand.

"Meeting adjourned."

---

They walked out into sunlight.

For the first time in 3 years,

Blackwood Manor didn't feel like a prison.

At the gates, reporters were waiting.

"Mr. Blackwood! Did you kill your wife?"

"Is it true about the ring?"

Adrian stopped.

"My wife was murdered.

And today, her killer was arrested.

Thank you."

He got in the car with Lina.

---

Back at the manor, it was quiet.

No guards. No threats.

Just them.

Lina went to the East Wing.

The window was closed now.

Curtains up.

Adrian came in behind her.

"We're turning this into a library," he said.

"Elena loved books."

Lina nodded. "She'd like that."

Adrian turned her to face him.

"It's over," he said. "Really over."

Lina smiled. "What do we do now?"

Adrian thought. "Live."

He kissed her forehead. "With you. If you'll stay."

Lina wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm not going anywhere."

---

That night, they had dinner in the dining room.

Just them. No staff.

Candles. Wine.

Mrs. Hawthorne cried when she saw them.

After dinner, Adrian took Lina's hand.

"Come with me."

He led her to the garden.

The rose garden. Elena's.

In the middle was a new bench.

And a plaque.

`For Elena.

And for Lina.

Who brought the light back.`

Lina's eyes filled. "Adrian..."

"I was dead for 3 years," Adrian said.

"Until you walked in and yelled at me for not paying you."

Lina laughed through tears. "Romantic."

Adrian knelt.

Not with a ring. Not yet.

Just with his heart.

"Lina Carter," he said.

"You saved me. You saved this house.

Will you stay? As mine?"

Lina knelt with him.

"Yes," she whispered. "As yours."

He kissed her.

Soft. Deep. Like a promise.

Above them, the stars were out.

---

Two weeks later.

Maya was discharged.

Healthy. Smiling.

Lina and Adrian picked her up.

Maya looked at Adrian. "Is this my new brother?"

Adrian laughed. "Something like that."

They moved into a smaller house in Kampala.

Closer to the hospital.

Blackwood Manor stayed, but they didn't live there.

Too many ghosts.

The company was doing well.

No Victor.

One morning, Lina got an email.

From prison.

`You think you won.

I will get out.

And I will finish what I started.

-V`

Lina deleted it.

Then blocked the address.

She wasn't scared anymore.

---

Six months later.

Lina was in the garden.

Reading.

Adrian came out with two cups of tea.

"Mail came," he said.

He handed her a letter.

Stary Contract.

`Approved. Welcome to Signed Authors.`

Lina screamed.

Adrian caught her.

Spun her around.

"We did it," he said.

"You did it."

Lina kissed him. "We did it together."

That night, they celebrated.

Just them.

And in the distance,

Blackwood Manor had lights on.

Not ghosts.

Just new life.

End of Chapter 14