They Called Her Worthless Because She Couldn’t Have Children—Until a Mafia Boss With Four Kids Said, “I Want Her” They did not sell Nora Hayes because she was beautiful.

The Costa estate was not a home; it was a fortress.

Nora sat in the passenger seat of Arthur’s armored SUV as the heavy iron gates groaned open. Ten-foot stone walls surrounded the property, and armed guards patrolled the perimeter with tactical rifles.

“My kids are... difficult,” Arthur said, breaking the silence as he parked the car in front of the sprawling gothic mansion.

“They lost their mother in a car bombing,” Nora replied, unbuckling her seatbelt. “I would be worried if they were easy.”

Arthur paused, his hand on the door handle. He looked at her, searching her face for pity. When he found none, he nodded once and stepped out.

The inside of the house was stunning but completely devoid of warmth. Marble floors, vaulted ceilings, and priceless art, but no photographs. No toys. No signs that four children actually lived there.

A stern-looking housekeeper named Mrs. Gable met them in the foyer.

“Mr. Costa. Welcome back.” She looked at Nora with thinly veiled suspicion.

“Where are the children?” Arthur asked, shrugging off his suit jacket.

“In the den, sir. They refused to eat dinner again.”

Arthur sighed, rubbing his temples. “Nora, follow me.”

They walked down a long, echoing hallway and pushed open a set of heavy oak doors. Inside, the room was a war zone. Books were thrown across the floor, the television was blasting, and four children were scattered around the room like hostile combatants.

Leo, fourteen, stood by the window, glaring at them with eyes exactly like his father’s. Mia, ten, sat on the sofa with her arms crossed, looking furious. The twins, Sam and Ben, six, were currently wrestling violently on the expensive Persian rug.

“Enough!” Arthur commanded.

The twins stopped fighting. Leo didn’t flinch.

“Who is she?” Leo demanded, pointing a hostile finger at Nora.

“This is Nora,” Arthur said firmly. “She is going to be my wife. And your new mother.”