Chapter 1
Avice was still hiding behind Cesare when Vanessa stepped over the fake pregnancy belly.
Her cheek was red.
One tiny hand clutched the back of Cesare’s jacket.
The other was closed around something so tightly her knuckles had gone pale.
Cesare noticed.
He did not ask immediately.
First he looked at Edmund.
The longtime butler was pushing evening coats off his shoulders beneath the collapsed valet stand.
Blood touched the corner of his mouth.
Yet there was no apology in his face.
Only resentment.
Edmund slowly removed one white glove.
“You have indulged that child until she believes every room belongs to her.”
The ballroom went completely still.
Cesare’s eyes settled on him.
Edmund continued anyway.
“She wanders where she is told not to wander.”
His gaze slid toward Avice.
“Touches what does not belong to her.”
Avice pressed closer to Cesare.
Edmund saw it.
His lip curled.
“And then she runs behind Grandfather the moment someone finally teaches her what the word no means.”
Cesare’s thumb stopped against his signet ring.
Vanessa adjusted the front of her gown.
Even without the padding, she lifted her chin as though she were the one being insulted.
“This entire spectacle exists because a spoiled child opened a cloakroom door.”
Her voice dripped with contempt.
“She sees one support garment and suddenly everyone behaves as though she uncovered a murder.”
Avice whispered:
“It came off.”
Vanessa looked down at her.
A smile.
Cold.
Cruel.
“Sweetheart, grown women wear things you’re too young to understand.”
She glanced toward the guests.
“Unfortunately, nobody ever taught you that curiosity is ugly on a little girl.”
Cesare’s expression became completely still.
Ethan shoved a leather travel case away from his legs and stood.
“You heard her.”
He dusted one sleeve.
“Vanessa is carrying your son’s child.”
Then he nodded toward Avice.
“And you’re letting a three-year-old humiliate her in front of half Boston because she found padding in a closet.”
Cesare finally spoke.
“Then put it back on.”
Silence.
Vanessa’s smile vanished.
Cesare pointed toward the fake belly at her feet.
“If it belongs beneath your dress…”
His voice remained quiet.
“…put it back on.”
Nobody moved.
Vanessa’s eyes hardened.
“You don’t order me to undress for entertainment.”
“I didn't.”
Cesare’s gaze did not leave her.
“I asked you to prove the child you have mentioned at every family dinner for six months exists.”
Ethan laughed.
Boldly.
“You think Julian is going to forgive this?”
There it was.
The shield.
Cesare’s surviving son.
Vanessa’s boyfriend.
Ethan smiled wider when Cesare did not answer.
“You can terrorize servants.”
His eyes moved toward Edmund.
“Kick me across your cloakroom.”
Then he looked directly at Cesare.
“But Julian chose my sister.”
A pause.
“And even you don’t get to erase what your own son wants.”
Cesare looked toward Avice.
She was no longer watching Vanessa.
She was watching the staircase.
Fearfully.
Cesare crouched.
“What is upstairs?”
Vanessa answered before the child could.
“Nothing.”
Avice flinched.
Cesare’s eyes sharpened.
He looked at Vanessa.
“I asked her.”
Vanessa gave a small laugh.
“You’re questioning a toddler now?”
Avice slowly opened her fist.
Inside lay a strip of black elastic with a silver clasp.
The same fastening used on the fake belly.
Vanessa’s face changed.
Only for a second.
Cesare saw it.
“So did Ethan.”
Edmund saw it too.
His voice became sharp.
“Give me that.”
He stepped forward.
Cesare rose.
Edmund stopped.
Avice whispered:
“I found it yesterday.”
Cesare looked down.
“Where?”
“Uncle Julian’s room.”
The ballroom changed.
Vanessa froze.
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
Edmund looked away.
Cesare noticed all three reactions.
Avice continued.
“Vanessa was there.”
Her little brows pulled together.
“She didn’t have the baby on.”
Vanessa’s voice snapped:
“Enough.”
Avice flinched.
Cesare did not even look at Vanessa.
“What was Julian doing?”
The little girl thought.
Then demonstrated with both hands against her own waist.
“He put the straps around her.”
Silence.
Vanessa stopped breathing.
Ethan’s confidence cracked.
Edmund lowered his eyes.
Cesare slowly turned toward the main staircase.
Everyone in the ballroom knew Julian Lombardi was expected at the gala within the hour.
Avice had just answered the small question.
Vanessa’s pregnancy was fake.
May you like
And opened the larger one.
Cesare’s own son already knew.
