Chapter 12
Claudia requested to see Evelyn.
Evelyn refused.
That should have ended the matter.
Claudia did not accept it.
She arrived at Teresa’s house unannounced.
By the time Alessio reached the driveway, Claudia was standing beside her car arguing with Teresa.
Evelyn watched through an upstairs window.
“You stole my daughter from me,” Claudia shouted.
Teresa crossed her arms.
“She asked to stay.”
“She’s twelve.”
“She’s old enough to know when she’s afraid.”
Claudia saw Alessio approaching.
Her anger turned toward him.
“You poisoned her against me.”
“No.”
“You questioned her like a criminal.”
“I listened to her.”
Claudia laughed bitterly.
“Everyone listens now because Isabella left you a ghost story.”
Alessio stopped.
So Claudia knew the box had been found.
“How?”
Her expression told him she realized the mistake.
Vincent.
Only a handful of people knew.
Teresa.
Samuel.
Evelyn.
Alessio.
And Marco after Alessio showed him the photograph.
Marco could have told Claudia.
But Claudia’s reaction was too quick.
Alessio studied her.
“Who called you?”
“No one.”
“Vincent?”
Her face changed.
Barely.
Enough.
The front door opened.
Evelyn stepped outside.
Teresa turned.
“You don’t have to come down here.”
“I know.”
Evelyn walked toward Claudia.
Her mother softened immediately.
“Baby.”
Evelyn stopped several feet away.
“I’m not going with you.”
Claudia’s face crumpled.
“I’m your mother.”
“I know.”
“I made mistakes.”
Evelyn looked toward Alessio.
Then back.
“You made me lie.”
Claudia started crying.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“No.”
The girl’s voice shook.
“You were trying to make sure I protected you.”
Claudia had no answer.
Evelyn continued.
“You made me ask Ruby where Aunt Isabella kept things. You made me stand outside the greenhouse. You told me not to tell anyone.”
Claudia reached toward her.
Evelyn stepped backward.
Alessio did not intervene.
Evelyn had chosen the distance herself.
Finally Claudia whispered:
“I love you.”
Evelyn wiped her cheek.
“I love you too.”
That was worse.
Because love did not erase fear.
Claudia lowered her hand.
Evelyn returned inside.
Alessio looked at Claudia.
“You leave now.”
She stared toward the house.
Then at him.
“What are you going to do to Vincent?”
Alessio’s expression changed.
May you like
Claudia realized she had confirmed everything.
For the first time, she looked truly defeated.
