The police officers led Victoria, Lawson, and Richard out of the grand estate in handcuffs. The remaining guests slowly filtered out, offering quiet words of sympathy and shock to Arthur as they left the dining room.
Within an hour, the massive mansion was quiet once again. The long oak table was clear, except for two plates that Clara had brought out from the kitchen.
Arthur: Sit down, Clara. Please.
Clara: Oh, no, Mr. Vance. I couldn't possibly sit at the main dining table. I'm staff.
Arthur: As of tonight, you are no longer staff in this house, Clara. I am appointing you as the manager of my family’s charitable foundation.
Clara: Foundation manager? But I don't have a corporate degree, sir!
Arthur: You have something far more valuable than a piece of paper from a university—you have absolute integrity and moral courage. I can teach you administration. I cannot teach someone how to be honest.
Clara lowered her eyes, a warm smile spreading across her face as tears of gratitude welled in her eyes.
Clara: I don't even know how to thank you, Mr. Vance.
Arthur: You already thanked me by saving me from making the biggest mistake of my life. Now, sit down and join me for dinner.
Clara pulled out the velvet chair—the very chair where the hidden bug had been discovered hours earlier. She looked down at it, then up at Arthur, a light laugh breaking through her emotion.
Clara: Are you sure it's safe to sit here now, sir?
Arthur: Perfectly safe, Clara. The house is clean, the snakes are gone, and the future is finally clear.
Arthur raised his glass of water toward Clara, smiling with genuine warmth for the first time all evening. The dark clouds of conspiracy had cleared, leaving behind a foundation built on true loyalty and justice.
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