Chapter 3 - The Ghost in the Foyer
The estate’s housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, a kind-faced woman who had served the Voss family for thirty years, gasped as she saw Declan walk in carrying a child, followed by a wet, shivering Norah.
"Oh, my lord," Mrs. Gable whispered, her eyes darting to the twins. "Miss Norah... is it really you?"
"Hello, Mrs. Gable," Norah said, her voice weak.
"Get them dry clothes, warm blankets, and have the kitchen prepare soup for the children," Declan ordered, his voice echoing in the marble foyer. "And call Dr. Chen. I want them examined immediately."
"We don't need a doctor," Norah protested, her protective instincts flaring again. "They are just cold."
"They have been in an October storm for hours, Norah," Declan said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Dr. Chen is on the family payroll. He is discreet. He will ensure they are safe."
Within thirty minutes, the twins were wrapped in oversized, plush towels, sitting on the thick rug in front of the massive hearth in the library. A fire roared, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. Leo was hungrily eating a bowl of chicken broth, while Maya sat quietly, her thumb still in her mouth, her gray eyes exploring the endless rows of leather-bound books.
Norah stood by the window, wearing a soft wool sweater Mrs. Gable had provided. She looked out at the dark lake, her shoulders tense.
Declan walked into the library, having changed into a dry linen shirt and dark trousers. He walked over to the hearth, kneeling beside Leo. He watched the boy eat with a strange, foreign feeling of reverence.
"He eats like my brother did," Declan murmured. "Determined."
"He has your stubbornness," Norah said from the window, not turning around. "And Maya has your quietness. She watches everything, just like you used to do before you made a move."
Declan stood up, walking over to stand behind her. He didn't touch her, but his presence was warm and heavy. "Why didn't you tell me, Norah? I would have built a wall around you. I would have kept you safe from everything."
"You couldn't even keep yourself safe, Declan," she said, finally turning to face him. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. "Do you remember the night before I left? You came home with blood on your cuff. You tried to wash it out in the sink, thinking I was asleep. But I saw you. I saw the look on your face—so cold, so empty. I realized that if I stayed, my children would either grow up to be victims of your enemies, or worse... they would grow up to be like you."
Declan’s jaw tightened. The truth of her words sliced through his defenses. "I did what I had to do to keep the family alive."
"And I did what I had to do to keep my children alive," she countered. "So don't you dare judge me for running."
Before Declan could answer, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, looking at the caller ID.
May you like
Viktor Voss. His father. The patriarch of the Voss syndicate.
Declan felt a chill run down his spine. His father was a man who saw people only as assets or liabilities. And twins with Voss blood were the most valuable assets of all.
