Chapter 1 - THE HALLWAY DIDN’T MOVE
Nobody in the hallway moved until Rocco gave permission.
Bianca remained seated on the upholstered bench, breathing hard, six bodyguards standing behind her.
Noah clung to Rocco’s trouser leg.
Ava stood inside her bedroom doorway holding the pillow and blanket.
Rocco looked at Bianca.
“Guest suite.”
Her expression hardened.
“You’re putting me under guard?”
“I’m making sure you don’t touch either child while I determine what happened.”
“You saw what happened.”
“I saw tonight.”
That distinction mattered.
Bianca stood.
“You’re humiliating me in front of your employees.”
Rocco glanced down at Noah.
The child could barely keep his eyes open.
“You humiliated yourself.”
Bianca looked toward Ava.
“Ava, tell him why Noah was outside your room.”
Ava’s face changed immediately.
Her fingers tightened around the blanket.
Rocco noticed.
“No.”
Bianca stared at him.
“No what?”
“You don’t question her.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“And she looks terrified of answering you.”
Bianca’s mouth opened.
Rocco turned to one of his security men.
“Escort Ms. Hayes to the guest suite. No phone calls until counsel arrives. She gets anything she needs. She does not come near the children.”
Bianca’s face flushed.
“You cannot imprison me.”
“You can leave the property.”
That stopped her.
Because leaving meant accepting that the engagement might already be over.
For almost two years, Bianca had moved through the Bellandi estate as though she were gradually becoming its mistress.
She selected furniture.
Changed staff schedules.
Joined family dinners.
Spoke openly about marrying Rocco in the spring.
She had not expected one hallway to undo all of it.
Bianca looked at Noah.
Then Ava.
Finally Rocco.
“You are making a terrible mistake.”
Rocco’s voice remained level.
“Then I’ll live with mine.”
Bianca was escorted away.
Only after the hallway emptied did Rocco lift Noah into his arms.
The boy’s head fell immediately against his shoulder.
“How long were you standing here?”
Noah did not answer.
He had already fallen asleep.
Rocco looked at Ava.
She was still holding the pillow.
“Was he out here a long time?”
Ava’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’m not supposed to tell.”
Rocco felt something inside him go cold.
“Who said that?”
Ava backed into the bedroom.
“I want to sleep.”
Rocco did not follow.
He had spent enough of his life around frightened people to understand the difference between silence and refusal.
This was fear.
May you like
As he carried Noah toward the nursery, he passed the small flashlight lying on the rug.
The batteries were nearly dead.
