Chapter 3
Elena’s name turned the room to ice.
Bianca saw it on my face.
“What is it?” she demanded.
I did not answer.
I looked down at the phone again.
The message was gone.
Deleted remotely.
Only the memory of the words remained burning in my mind.
Elena died because she trusted the wrong bride too.
My wife had died eighteen months earlier.
A car bomb outside her charity office.
Everyone said it was meant for me.
That guilt had lived under my skin every day since.
I had believed my enemies killed her because she carried my name.
Now a stranger was telling me Elena died because of a bride.
Because of Bianca?
Or someone before Bianca?
I stepped into the hallway.
“Nico. Sweep for devices.”
His face tightened.
“Now?”
“Now.”
My mother, Caterina, came toward me.
“Alessandro, what is happening?”
I held up my hand.
“Not here.”
Her eyes moved to Bianca behind me.
Then to the door where Rosalie had carried Livia.
“My granddaughter is hurt.”
“I know.”
“You let that woman into our family.”
The words hit harder because they were true.
Bianca stood in the doorway in her silk robe, veil hanging behind her like a costume.
“Are you all done blaming me for a haircut?”
My mother turned.
“A haircut?”
Her voice became sharp.
“You took clippers to a child.”
Bianca’s mother, Donatella Moretti, appeared at the end of the hall.
Elegant.
Cold.
Already angry.
“What is this noise?”
Bianca ran to her.
“Alessandro attacked me.”
I laughed.
Once.
It sounded nothing like me.
Donatella looked at the broken cosmetics behind Bianca.
Then at me.
“This is how Rizzanos treat brides?”
I stepped closer.
“This is how I treat anyone who harms my daughter.”
Donatella’s eyes narrowed.
“She is dramatic. Like her mother was.”
The hallway went silent.
My hand curled.
My mother whispered, “Careful.”
Donatella smiled faintly.
That told me she wanted a reaction.
I gave her none.
“Search the Moretti rooms,” I told Nico.
Donatella stiffened.
“You will do no such thing.”
“You are in my home.”
“My family came here in good faith.”
“And my daughter screamed in fear.”
Nico moved.
Moretti guards stepped forward.
My guards moved faster.
For one breath, the corridor became a battlefield waiting for one wrong word.
Then Rosalie appeared from my office door.
Her face was pale.
“Alessandro.”
I turned immediately.
“Livia?”
“She’s safe. Dr. Vale is with her.”
“What is it?”
Rosalie looked at Bianca.
Then Donatella.
Then me.
“Livia told me Bianca cut her hair because she wanted Mommy’s secret.”
My heart slammed.
“What secret?”
Rosalie held out Livia’s stuffed rabbit.
The seam had been opened.
Inside was a second memory card.
I stared.
Elena had hidden evidence in our daughter’s things.
Not once.
Twice.
Bianca made a small sound.
Donatella grabbed her arm.
I saw it.
That tiny movement.
A mother stopping her daughter from running.
I looked at them both.
“You knew.”
Donatella’s face hardened.
“Know what?”
“That Elena left proof.”
Before she could answer, the house lights flickered.
Nico’s radio crackled.
“Sir, security room lost signal.”
Then another guard shouted from downstairs.
“Fire in the west wing!”
Bianca smiled.
Just slightly.
May you like
And I knew the fire was not meant to burn the house.
It was meant to burn the evidence.
