Chapter 4
The full garden footage made Alessandro uncomfortable.
Not because it changed what Bianca did.
It didn’t.
The video showed her taking Livia’s chair earlier that morning because the little girl kept climbing onto it while stylists moved around.
It showed Bianca repeatedly telling Rosalie to remove Livia from the bridal area.
Then it showed the clippers.
The laughter.
Livia recoiling.
Rosalie stepping in.
Alessandro arriving.
And Alessandro losing control.
Claire paused the video just before he kicked the rolling stool.
“This is our problem.”
“She reached for Livia again.”
“I know.”
“I moved her away.”
“I know.”
“She was still going toward my daughter.”
“I know.”
Claire looked at him.
“And then you kicked furniture at her.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
“She wasn’t injured.”
“That is not the standard.”
He hated lawyers most when they were correct.
Claire continued.
“If Bianca wants to argue that you are physically intimidating and impulsive, this footage gives her something to work with.”
“Release the entire video.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because your daughter is three years old and half the internet does not need to watch her being humiliated.”
That stopped him.
Claire leaned forward.
“You protect Livia by handling this properly, not by winning a public-relations war.”
Alessandro agreed.
The footage went only to attorneys, child-safety professionals, and investigators who had a legitimate reason to see it.
That evening Dominic visited the estate.
He seemed angry on Alessandro’s behalf.
“You should settle this immediately.”
“Why?”
“Because Bianca can drag this out.”
“She touched my daughter.”
“I know.”
Dominic poured himself a drink.
“But every headline will say Mafia boss attacks bride on wedding day.”
Alessandro watched him.
Dominic continued.
“Pay her. Nondisclosure agreement. End it.”
“Before we know why she had a litigation lawyer eleven days before the wedding?”
Dominic paused.
Only briefly.
“You think she planned this?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Dominic drank.
“You’re looking for something complicated because the simple answer hurts.”
“What simple answer?”
“She hated competing with Livia.”
Alessandro said nothing.
It was plausible.
May you like
Too plausible.
And Dominic seemed unusually eager for him to stop looking.
