Chapter 9 - The Ghost of the Past
The peace of the Costa estate was briefly interrupted on a warm Friday afternoon when a sleek black town car pulled up outside the gates.
Inside the house,Nora was reading a story to Clara when Mrs.Potts knocked quietly on the open door,her expression tight with disapproval.
"Nora."You have visitors downstairs.Richard and Diane Hayes."
Nora went completely still.The book slipped from her fingers,landing softly on the carpet.
Downstairs in the formal receiving room,Richard and Diane looked older,thinner,and visibly desperate.Their designer clothes looked slightly rumpled,Their arrogant posture replaced by the jittery twitchiness of people whose luck had completely run out.
When Nora walked into the room,crossed silently by Arthur,who stood like a stone wall beside her,Richard was forced into an awkward situation.sickly smile.
"Nora,sweetie,Richard began,Rubbing his hands together."Look,We know it's been a while.But family is family.The syndicate...well,the local gaming rings collapsed after Romano went down.We're in a bit of a financial bind."
Diane dabbed at her dry eyes with a tissue."We just need a small loan,Nora.A couple hundred thousand.Just to get back on our feet.You're living in this grand mansion,married to a powerful man—surely you can spare a little pocket change for your own parents."
Nora stared at them.She didn't feel angry.She didn't feel pain.She felt absolute.Profound indifference.They were strangers—hollow,Pathetic specters from a life she had survived.
Before Nora could speak,Arthur stepped forward.His shadow swallowed the entire room,Fill it with a crushing,Terrifying pressure.
"Let me make something abundantly clear,"Arthur said,his gravelly voice echoing off the marble walls like rolling thunder."Nora is not your daughter anymore.She was sold to me.paid for in full.and legally separated from your toxic bloodline forever.You are standing on my property,Harassing my wife,and begging for money from a woman you treated like garbage."
Richard swallowed hard.his eyes darting nervously to Arthur's hands.Now hold on,Costa—we share DNA—
"You share nothing with her,Arthur interrupted coldly."Mrs.Potts,escort these pathetic excuses for human beings off the premises.If they ever come within five miles of these gates again,Dump them in Lake Michigan."
Right away,Mr.Costa,"Mrs.Potts said with genuine enthusiasm,stepping forward and swinging the double doors wide open."Out."Now."
Diane shrieked in indignation,but as Arthur stepped one heavy inch closer,both of them turned and scrambled frantically out the door,tumbling into their town car before speeding down the drive in terror.
Arthur watched them go.Then turned back to Nora.He reached out,taking her hands in his massive palms.Are you alright?"
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"Never better,Nora said,Her voice is steady and clear.She looked around her home—at the laughter floating down from the hallway,at the warmth of the sun pouring through the windows,and at the man who had bought a broken asset only to find a queen.They thought I was broken,Arthur.They thought I was worthless because I couldn't give them a bloodline."
"They were fools,"Arthur said softly,pressing his lips to her knuckles."You gave this house a soul.""
