Chapter 7 - The Estate on the Hill
The long black limousine pulled through massive wrought-iron gates, ascending a winding driveway lined with towering ancient oaks whose leaves glowed red and gold in the autumn sunlight.
At the top of the hill stood the Vale Estate—a majestic stone mansion overlooking the pristine blue waters of the Long Island Sound.
Kloe pressed her nose against the dark glass of the limousine window, her mouth wide open in pure awe. "Dad... is this where the king lives?"
Adrian laughed softly, pulling her close. "This is where you live, Kloe. It's your home."
The car came to a smooth stop beneath the grand portico. A team of domestic staff stood in a polite line near the entrance, led by Mrs. Gable, a warm, elderly woman who had served as Adrian’s housekeeper for a decade.
When the car door opened, Mrs. Gable stepped forward, her eyes instantly softening as she looked at the little girl stepping out of the limousine.
"Welcome home, Little Miss Kloe," Mrs. Gable said with a warm, grandmotherly smile. "Welcome home, Ms. Ellis."
Kloe shyly tucked herself behind Adrian’s leg, holding onto his trousers, but looked up at Mrs. Gable with a small smile. "Hello."
"Come, sweetheart," Adrian said, picking her up. "Let me show you your room."
They walked through the grand marble foyer, up the sweeping double staircase, and down a wide, carpeted hallway filled with warm sunlight. Adrian pushed open a pair of tall white doors at the end of the hall.
Kloe gasped.
The room was vast, painted in a soft lavender and warm cream. A plush canopy bed sat against one wall, covered in soft velvet pillows and giant stuffed animals. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves held hundreds of children's books, art sets, and toys. A balcony opened up to a view of the blue ocean, and in the corner stood a magnificent hand-crafted wooden dollhouse that mirrored the mansion itself.
Kloe slipped out of Adrian’s arms, walking slowly across the thick, soft rug as if she were walking through a dream.
She touched the velvet blankets on the bed, turned around, and looked at Nora, who stood in the doorway with tears quietly slipping down her cheeks.
"Mom..." Kloe whispered, her voice trembling. "Is this really mine? Do I have to leave if the rain comes?"
Nora walked across the room, dropping to her knees and pulling Kloe into a tight, fierce embrace. "No, baby. Nobody is ever kicking us out again. We are safe. We are home."
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Adrian walked over, kneeling beside them, and wrapped his long arms around both of them, pulling them close against his heart.
"You are home forever," Adrian swore quietly.
