Nikola stared at Ariel. It couldn't be helped. He had to tell her; it was her mother's last wish.
"Ariel, would you like to come inside for some tea? I have something to tell you," Ariel pointed at herself, and her mother-in-law stepped before her.
"You may have loose morals, but she is a well-to-do lady! I will chaperone you two!" Nikola sighed. Madam Wu was in the known about what Ariel was, but she didn't know about Nikola himself. And he couldn't let the woman find out.
"Madam Wu, it's just tea. I'll tell you what, I have a second storage room. Would you like to inspect the wares there? I'll sell you whatever you like at half price," greed shone into Madam Wu's eyes.
The second storage room was a closet, in truth. He had filled it with the most expensive looking things he had. No one would bat an eye if the magistrate's wife bought them all.
