THE OFFER
978 Words
The manor felt different after Elena's goodbye.
Lighter. Quieter. But not empty.
Lina woke up to sunlight in her room for the first time.
No humming. No cold air. Just birds.
She went downstairs at 8AM.
Adrian was already in the dining room.
Not the study. The dining room.
Big table. Windows open. Flowers on it.
Real flowers. Not lilies.
Sunflowers.
"Morning," he said when he saw her.
He looked different. Still tired. But his shoulders weren't so tight.
He'd shaved again.
"Morning," Lina replied. She sat across from him.
Mrs. Hawthorne served breakfast. Then she left them alone.
That had never happened before.
"You slept?" Adrian asked.
"Yes," Lina said. "You?"
"A little." He pushed a plate toward her. "Eat."
They ate in comfortable silence.
But it was different now.
Not the silence of two strangers.
The silence of two people who'd cried together.
After breakfast, Adrian didn't go to the study.
He walked to the window. Looked out at the garden.
"Lina," he said. "Can we talk?"
Her stomach flipped. "Yes."
He turned. "About Maya."
Lina froze.
"I called the hospital yesterday," he said quickly. "The one in Kampala.
I spoke to her doctor. Dr. Okello."
Lina stood up. "You didn't have to—"
"I did," Adrian cut her off. "She needs a bone marrow transplant.
And chemo. And it costs... a lot."
Lina looked down. "I know."
"I want to pay for it," he said. "All of it."
Lina's head snapped up. "What?"
"The check I gave you before. That was an advance.
This is different. This is me... helping. Because I want to."
He pulled out a folder. Put it on the table.
Inside were papers. Hospital bills. Treatment plans.
And a bank transfer form. Already filled out.
`Recipient: Maya Carter`
`Amount: $250,000`
Lina couldn't breathe. "Adrian, I can't accept this."
"Why not?"
"Because it's too much. Because I barely know you."
Her voice shook. "Because what if you expect something in return?"
Adrian's face fell. Just a little.
"I don't expect anything, Lina."
He came closer. Not touching her. "I watched you hold me
while I fell apart. You didn't run. You didn't ask for money.
You just... stayed."
Lina's eyes filled with tears. "My sister is everything to me."
"I know," he said softly. "That's why I'm doing this."
He pushed the papers toward her. "Please. Let me do this one thing."
Lina stared at the form. At the zeros.
This would save Maya's life.
This was why she came to Blackwood Manor.
"Okay," she whispered. "Okay."
Adrian exhaled. Like he'd been holding his breath.
"Thank you."
Lina signed the papers. Her hand was shaking.
When she finished, Adrian took the folder.
"I'll have it sent today," he said. "Dr. Okello will call you."
Lina nodded. She couldn't speak.
---
That afternoon, something weird happened.
Adrian asked her to go for a walk.
Not in the manor. Outside.
They walked through the village near Blackwood.
People stared. The Duke of Blackwood hadn't been seen in town in 3 years.
"They think I'm a ghost," Adrian said with a small smile.
"Are you?" Lina teased. Then immediately regretted it.
But Adrian laughed. A real laugh.
"No. Not anymore."
They stopped at a small shop.
Adrian bought her tea. And a book.
And a scarf, because the wind was cold.
He didn't say it was a date.
But it felt like one.
On the way back, they sat on a bench by the lake.
The water was still.
"Do you regret coming here?" Adrian asked.
Lina thought about it. "No."
She looked at him. "I was scared. And tired.
But I think... I was supposed to come."
Adrian nodded. "Elena said that.
'You'll meet someone when you're ready to live again.'"
They were quiet.
Then Adrian turned to her. "Lina, can I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
"Would you... have dinner with me? Tonight.
Just us. Not breakfast. Dinner."
Lina's heart was pounding. "Like a date?"
Adrian went red. The Duke of Blackwood. Blushing.
"I... yes. If you want it to be."
Lina smiled. "Yes."
---
At 7PM, Lina got ready.
She didn't have fancy dresses.
So she wore her nicest one. Blue. Simple.
She tied her hair up.
Mrs. Hawthorne saw her and raised an eyebrow.
But she didn't say anything.
The dining room was lit with candles.
Adrian was waiting.
Black shirt. No tie. Hair down.
He looked nervous.
"You look beautiful," he said when he saw her.
Lina felt her cheeks burn. "Thank you."
They ate. Steak. Wine. Bread.
They talked.
About Maya. About books. About the rain in Kampala.
About nothing.
For the first time, Lina saw Adrian as a person.
Not the Duke. Not the grieving husband.
Just a man. Who was lonely. And kind. And tired.
After dinner, he walked her to her room.
At the door, they stopped.
"Thank you," Adrian said. "For today."
"Thank you," Lina said back. "For Maya."
There was a pause.
Adrian lifted his hand. Like he was going to touch her face.
Then he dropped it.
"Goodnight, Lina."
"Goodnight, Adrian."
He turned and left.
Lina went inside and closed the door.
Her heart was racing.
That night, her phone rang.
Unknown number.
"Miss Carter? This is Dr. Okello.
We received the payment. We're scheduling Maya's transplant
for next month. She's going to be okay."
Lina sank to the floor and cried.
But this time, they were happy tears.
---
At 3AM, Lina woke up.
No music.
But she felt... watched.
She opened her door.
The hall was dark.
And at the end of the hall, by the East Wing,
stood a figure.
Not Elena.
Taller. In a suit.
Face in shadow.
He was looking at Lina's door.
Then he turned and walked into the East Wing.
The door closed behind him.
Lina's blood went cold.
Who was that?
End of Chapter 8
- Writer
