Chapter 6 - The Scavengers Scatter
By Sunday morning, the news of the Romano family’s spectacular collapse had swept through Manhattan’s elite circles faster than a wildfire.
Phone notifications buzzed incessantly on the kitchen counter. News outlets, real estate blogs, and former high-society friends were calling, texting, and emailing, desperate for details about the dramatic confrontation at the estate.
We ignored every single one of them.
Instead, sitting around the sunlit kitchen island, our family enjoyed a quiet breakfast without the suffocating shadow of Patricia’s critical eyes hanging over us. Tyler was happily stacking blueberries on his pancakes, while Emma carefully taped the torn edges of her handmade birthday card back together with clear scotch tape.
“Dad,” Tyler asked between bites, looking up at Jack. “Are grandma and grandpa really leaving?”
Jack poured himself a cup of coffee, leaning against the counter. “Yes, buddy. They’re moving into a smaller apartment downtown. They have a lot of things to sort out.”
“Will they be nice now?” Emma asked innocently.
Jack exchanged a gentle, knowing look with me before answering. “People don't usually change overnight, Em. But they won't be able to hurt us anymore. This house belongs to us now—and more importantly, we belong to each other.”
Around noon, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the foyer.
Through the archway, we watched municipal movers wheeling out boxes, clothing racks, and expensive art pieces belonging to Robert and Patricia. They moved with quiet efficiency under Marco’s watchful eye.
Patricia walked past the kitchen doors wrapped in a heavy mink coat, her hair disheveled, refusing to look inside. Robert followed behind her, walking with a heavy, defeated limp, carrying a single leather briefcase containing what remained of his personal dignity.
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They didn't say a word. They didn't stop to apologize to Tyler or Emma. They simply walked out the front doors and climbed into a modest town car waiting at the curb, disappearing down the driveway forever.
The heavy oak doors clicked shut behind them.
