I recounted everything my grandfather and I had endured these past days, leaving nothing out.
Freya had forced through the demolition, and his men had beaten my grandfather until he suffered a heart attack. Ranger, the guide dog who'd been by his side for years, was killed on the spot—his death brutal and senseless. And my husband, Charles, a lawyer by trade, had used his expertise to scrub the scene clean of evidence. He'd bribed witnesses, drugged me with medication that clouded my mind, even forged psychiatric reports to keep me locked away at home.
Bang.
Duncan slammed his palm against the desk, rising to his feet in fury.
"The audacity. Is there no law left in this country?" His voice shook with barely contained rage. "Someone dares commit such atrocities and thinks they won't pay the price? A developer—insulting a first-class national hero? This is beyond lawless."
His expression was grave, but his tone left no room for doubt.
"This matter will be addressed. I will give Captain Gilbert—and you—the justice you deserve."
I steadied myself, pushing down the emotions threatening to spill over.
"There's one more thing I need to ask."
"I want a divorce. And everything that belongs to me—they won't take a single cent."
"Done."
Duncan didn't hesitate.
In that moment, all the grief and injustice I'd carried finally began to lift. In its place came something I'd almost stopped believing in.
Justice. Late, but real.
Money could never buy that.
When I stepped outside, Charles was still waiting.
The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up.
"You're out. I was worried you might be—"
He noticed my expression and faltered. His hands trembled as he thrust a document toward me.
"What is this? Why does it say I'm the donor?"
His face went white.
"That's not real."
"It's just someone you helped before. Someone with the same name as me. Right?"
"You've known all along, haven't you?"
My gaze was steady.
"Why keep lying to yourself?"
He stood silent for a long moment. Then his lips twisted into something that tried to be a smile but failed.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" His voice cracked. "The person who saved me—it was you."
He reached for my arm, desperation flickering back to life in his eyes. "I'll go to the hospital with you right now. We can see your grandfather together—"
"My grandfather is gone."
The words fell like stones.
"And we're getting divorced."
He froze. Completely still.
I didn't look back. I walked straight to the hospital.
My grandfather was still there.
I was bringing him home.
Following his final wishes, the funeral was held at the family home.
Fallen leaves return to their roots.
Inside the funeral hall, I knelt before him one last time.
After this, I would never see him again.
Charles hovered behind me, regret and self-reproach written plainly across his face.
But none of it mattered anymore.
Then the uninvited guests arrived.
Freya led the way, flanked by his usual crew.
"So the old blind man really is dead." He let out a cold laugh. "Perfect. I'm continuing the demolition today."
His gaze swept the room, landing on the photograph—my grandfather and Ranger, side by side. His lip curled.
"Nice photo editing. Playing soldier, was he?"
He smirked. "Oh wait—my mistake. The blind man couldn't even see it."
His lackeys burst into laughter, the sound grating and obscene in the solemn space.
Mourners stepped forward to intervene, only to be shoved back, the confrontation escalating into chaos.
Freya's eyes turned vicious.
"Smash it all."
"I dare you to try."
A voice cut through like a blade.
Duncan had arrived.
Freya's raised hand never completed its arc. Before he could react, the officers accompanying Duncan moved in, restraining him in seconds.
"Do you have any idea who I am?" Freya thrashed wildly, screaming. "Let me go! You'll regret this!"
Duncan stood among the crowd, his expression cold enough to freeze.
"Contempt for the law. Organized assault. Brutalization of a first-class national hero." His voice was ice. "And even now, you have the nerve to run your mouth."
Freya kept struggling, spewing profanity, still arrogant, still without a shred of remorse.
Until one of the military officers laid everything out before him: the credentials, the medals, the divorce agreement.
The color drained from his face.
His whole body began to shake.
