Chapter 5 - The Public War
The next morning, the storm outside Storm Haven raged with full force, waves crashing against the granite cliffs below the house. Inside, the atmosphere was equally tense.
At 8:00 AM, the kitchen television was tuned to a national morning news broadcast. Rosa stood frozen by the counter, holding a cup of coffee, as Vanessa Cole’s face appeared on the high-definition screen.
Vanessa looked stunning, perfectly styled in a conservative navy blue dress, her eyes expertly made up to look red and tear-stained. Sitting beside her was her father, Richard Cole, looking grim and authoritative.
"It was just heartbreaking," Vanessa sobbed softly into a delicate tissue, her voice echoing through the broadcast. "I was hosting a charity event at the Hastings estate. I noticed the housekeeper’s daughter was playing dangerously close to the crystal stemware. When I gently intervened to keep the child safe, the mother—Rosa Delgado—became hysterically violent. She smashed a tray of glasses and threatened me."
The news anchor frowned sympathetically. "And how did Mr. Hastings react to this, Miss Cole?"
"Adrian wasn't himself," Vanessa said, dabbing at her eyes. "This woman, Rosa, has been living in his house for two years. She’s manipulated him, feeding him wild stories about a long-lost heir. When Adrian came downstairs, he completely snapped. He broke off our engagement on the spot and forced me off the property. I believe this woman has coerced him into believing her child is his late sister’s offspring, all so she can lay claim to the Hastings fortune."
"It’s a tragic case of a grieving man being targeted by an opportunistic servant," Richard Cole chimed in, his tone cold and calculated. "My firm has filed emergency motions to appoint a legal guardian for Hastings Enterprises until Adrian undergoes a full psychological evaluation. We cannot allow a multi-billion-dollar corporation to be compromised by a fraudulent scheme."
Rosa dropped her coffee cup into the sink, her hands shaking with pure outrage. "She’s lying! She’s turning everything completely upside down!"
"Of course she is," Adrian said calmly, stepping into the kitchen. He was dressed in a simple dark sweater, looking remarkably composed despite the media circus unfolding on screen. "That’s how people like the Coles operate. When they can't win with the truth, they construct a narrative that appeals to prejudice. They want the public to see a wealthy, naive man being taken advantage of by a poor, minority servant."
"It’s sick," Rosa spat, her eyes flashing with anger. "She cut Mia’s hair! She hurt a three-year-old child!"
"And we have the footage to prove it," Adrian said, a sharp, cold edge in his voice. "My security chief, Marcus, successfully extracted the high-definition footage from the ballroom cameras before Cole’s men could access the server room. The camera caught everything—Vanessa grabbing Mia, cutting her hair, and her exact words afterward."
"Why haven't you released it yet?" Rosa asked.
"Timing is everything in a war, Rosa," Adrian explained, walking over to the window to watch the rain. "If I release the video now, Cole will claim it’s fabricated or edited. But if I wait until Dr. Lin completes the DNA test, we release the genetic proof and the video at the exact same moment. It will destroy their credibility entirely in a single blow."
A knock at the heavy front door interrupted them. Evelyn ushered in Dr. Sarah Lin and two medical technicians, who had just arrived via a coast guard boat that had braved the rough waters.
"Mr. Hastings," Dr. Lin said, shaking his hand firmly. "We brought the specialized equipment. We are ready to proceed with the sample collection."
Five minutes later, in the warm study of Storm Haven, Dr. Lin gently used a sterile cotton swab to collect cheek swab samples from Mia, who sat comfortably in Rosa’s lap, intrigued by the colorful band-aids Dr. Lin offered her as a reward.
Dr. Lin then collected a secondary sample from Adrian, as well as a sample of Julianne’s hair retrieved from a sealed family locket Adrian had brought from the estate.
"The samples are sealed in tamper-evident containers," Dr. Lin stated, showing the sealed bags to the camera held by one of her technicians, who was recording the entire procedure. "I will personally escort these samples to our private laboratory in Boston. The analysis will be prioritized, and results will be delivered within thirty-six hours."
"Thank you, Doctor," Adrian said. "Ensure that no one—and I mean no one—has access to that lab except you."
"You have my word, Mr. Hastings," Dr. Lin nodded.
As Dr. Lin left, Adrian’s phone buzzed again. It was Marcus.
"Boss," Marcus said over the speakerphone. "We have a situation. Richard Cole has hired a team of private investigators. They just tracked down the flight plan of your helicopter. They know you are at Storm Haven."
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Adrian’s jaw tightened. "Let them know. They can't set foot on this island without committing federal trespassing on private land."
"It’s not just legal threats, sir," Marcus warned, his voice dropping. "My contacts in the security industry tell me Cole has hired a disgraced former mercenary firm to conduct 'surveillance' on the island. They’ve chartered a private yacht. They are heading toward Storm Haven right now."
