Chapter 12
Bianca tried to separate herself from Dominic.
Her attorneys argued that Dominic manipulated her insecurity.
The messages supported part of that.
He had encouraged her.
Provoked her.
Repeatedly framed Livia as the obstacle Bianca needed Alessandro to overcome.
But other messages belonged entirely to Bianca.
I am tired of being second to a child who won’t even remember this age.
Another:
After we marry, the lake house solves most of the problem.
And four days before the wedding:
If he won’t teach her boundaries, I will.
Dominic had exploited something already present.
He had not created it.
Bianca eventually faced charges related to her physical treatment of Livia.
The exact legal case was less dramatic than the headlines wanted.
There was no attempted murder.
No enormous conspiracy charge.
There was documented physical contact with a child, corroborating video, the bruise, the clippers, staff witnesses, and communications showing preexisting hostility.
The court also extended the no-contact order protecting Livia.
Dominic’s legal exposure developed differently.
Planning to embarrass Alessandro was not itself enough.
Manipulating a camera angle was not automatically criminal.
But then Dominic made a mistake.
He contacted Rosalie.
Not personally.
Through a former employee.
The message offered her six months’ salary if she would sign a statement saying Bianca’s treatment of Livia had been exaggerated because Rosalie disliked her.
Rosalie immediately called Claire.
The approach was documented.
Now Dominic was no longer dealing only with corporate consequences.
Investigators began examining possible witness tampering.
Rosalie sat in Claire’s office afterward.
Alessandro asked, “Were you tempted?”
She stared at him.
“By the money?”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
He seemed surprised.
Rosalie shrugged.
“Six months’ salary is six months’ salary.”
“Why didn’t you take it?”
May you like
“Because then every time Livia looked at me, I’d know what I sold.”
That answer stayed with Alessandro longer than any threat Dominic had made.
