Chapter 8
Alessandro looked toward every member of household staff standing near the garden.
“Who else?”
Silence.
Vivienne smiled.
“No one wants to disappoint me.”
Alessandro’s gaze hardened.
Vivienne laughed.
“That bothers you, doesn't it?”
She stepped closer.
“Your house learned to obey another voice.”
Her tone became almost affectionate.
“And you didn't notice.”
That one landed.
Alessandro did not deny it.
Gerald saw the opening.
“You spend your nights with capos and your mornings with men who call you Boss.”
His eyes moved toward Lily.
“You thought affection made the rest automatic.”
Alessandro looked at him.
Gerald continued.
“You didn't know which maid dressed your daughter.”
“Which guard she liked.”
“Which servants were afraid of Vivienne.”
He smiled.
“You didn't even know Daniel had been thrown out.”
The truth hurt because it was truth.
Vivienne folded her arms.
“I ran the house.”
Nora stared at her.
“You terrorized it.”
Vivienne turned.
“Oh, please.”
She looked Nora up and down.
“I told you to stop sneaking pastries to Lily before dinner.”
“You acted like I starved her.”
Nora’s jaw tightened.
“You locked the pantry.”
“She was whining.”
“She was hungry.”
“She was spoiled.”
The exchange became uglier with every sentence.
Nora’s voice shook.
“She cried because you told her after the wedding she wouldn't sit beside her father anymore.”
The garden went silent.
Vivienne’s face changed.
Alessandro slowly turned.
“What?”
Lily lowered her eyes.
Vivienne laughed.
“Children exaggerate.”
Nora stepped closer.
“You told her your seat would be beside Alessandro and hers would move to the children’s table.”
Vivienne shrugged.
“Correct.”
Alessandro stared.
“She is three.”
“Exactly.”
Vivienne smiled coldly.
“She doesn't need to cling to you through every meal like a barnacle.”
Lily pressed herself against Clara.
Nora’s eyes filled with anger.
Vivienne saw.
“Oh, don't start crying.”
Her voice became vicious.
“You've already embarrassed yourself enough over one can of soda.”
Nora looked at Alessandro.
“She also said…”
Then stopped.
Vivienne’s smile sharpened.
“Say it.”
Nora’s hands curled.
Vivienne stepped closer.
“Go ahead.”
“Tell him.”
Her voice dropped.
“Then tell him why you stayed quiet for two months.”
Nora’s face changed.
Alessandro noticed.
Vivienne smiled triumphantly.
“Because you liked your room.”
“Your salary.”
“Your little place near Lily.”
Nora’s eyes filled.
Vivienne continued.
“You weren't brave.”
“You were comfortable.”
That accusation hurt because Nora had remained.
She looked at Alessandro.
“She said if I caused trouble, she’d send me away and tell Lily I left because I got tired of her.”
Lily’s face crumpled.
Nora turned quickly.
“No, sweetheart.”
Vivienne rolled her eyes.
“There it is again.”
“Pathetic.”
Alessandro’s voice became quiet.
“You used Lily to control Nora.”
Vivienne looked at him.
“I used what mattered to her.”
Then smiled.
“Isn't that what power is?”
Alessandro stared.
She truly believed it.
Then Marco spoke from behind them.
“Boss.”
Alessandro turned.
The security captain looked sick.
“I need to tell you something.”
Vivienne’s face hardened.
Marco swallowed.
“The west-villa route…”
A pause.
“I approved it.”
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed.
Vivienne smiled.
“There.”
She looked toward Alessandro.
“Your own captain.”
Marco continued.
“But she didn't tell me Lily was the passenger.”
Vivienne’s smile disappeared.
Gerald’s eyes sharpened.
May you like
Marco looked toward him.
“Gerald did.”
