Chapter 14
Vivienne stared at Alessandro.
For the first time, the statement truly reached her.
Not because she loved him.
Because she had built her future identity around becoming his wife.
“You're ending this?”
Alessandro looked at her.
“Yes.”
Her face hardened.
“Over a servant?”
Nora was not even in the room.
Still Vivienne used the insult.
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed.
“No.”
“Over Lily?”
“Yes.”
Vivienne laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
There it was.
The old resentment.
“Always Lily.”
Alessandro stood.
Vivienne’s breathing sharpened.
“You will regret this.”
Her voice regained its arrogance.
“You think these men respect a boss who destroys an alliance because his daughter wanted a soda?”
Alessandro walked toward her.
He stopped several feet away.
“The soda did not destroy anything.”
His eyes hardened.
“It exposed what was already there.”
Vivienne’s jaw tightened.
Gerald stepped forward.
“You break the engagement, the Cross people walk.”
Alessandro looked at him.
“Then walk.”
Gerald’s face changed.
He had expected negotiation.
Not indifference.
“You need us.”
“No.”
Gerald laughed.
“You think because a few old capos sit quietly, you're secure?”
Alessandro’s voice lowered.
“I think men who only stand beside me when your sister wears my ring were never beside me.”
Silence.
One of Gerald’s own lieutenants stood near the wall.
Gerald turned.
“Let's go.”
The man did not move.
Gerald frowned.
“I said go.”
Still nothing.
The lieutenant looked toward Alessandro.
Then Gerald.
“My crew stays Carbone.”
Gerald’s face went pale.
Finally.
Real fear.
Gerald stepped closer.
“You work for me.”
The man answered:
“I worked under you.”
A pause.
“Not for you.”
That distinction broke something.
Another lieutenant stayed.
Then another.
Gerald looked around.
Men he had promised territory to had just watched him lose it.
Alessandro removed Gerald from all command inside the Carbone organization.
No crews.
No estate access.
No voice in council.
Gerald stared.
“You can't erase Cross blood.”
Alessandro’s expression remained calm.
“I don't need to.”
He glanced toward the door.
“I only need to stop rewarding it.”
Gerald turned toward Vivienne.
“Come on.”
She did not move.
His eyes hardened.
“Vivienne.”
She looked at him.
“You destroyed this.”
He stared.
She continued.
“You told me I could own the house.”
“You told me I could make Lily smaller until Alessandro had room for me.”
Her voice became bitter.
“And I was arrogant enough to believe you.”
Gerald’s jaw tightened.
Vivienne looked toward Alessandro.
He showed no sympathy.
She did not ask for any.
“I'm leaving.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You don't get to banish me like staff.”
Alessandro’s voice remained quiet.
“You're right.”
For one second she seemed surprised.
“You're leaving because there is nothing here that belongs to you.”
That hit harder.
She looked toward her bare ring finger.
Then toward the garden.
Nora stood outside with Lily.
Vivienne’s eyes hardened again.
She walked toward them.
Alessandro stepped in front of the door.
“No.”
Vivienne stared.
“I want to speak to Lily.”
“No.”
“She needs to hear—”
“No.”
This time the whole room changed.
Vivienne’s nostrils flared.
“You think you can keep her sheltered forever?”
Alessandro’s voice dropped.
“No.”
“I can keep her away from adults who punish her for being loved.”
May you like
Vivienne had no answer.
For once.
