Chapter 4
Domenico ordered a review of every decision Bianca had made concerning Emma during the nine months they had been engaged.
Not conversations.
Documents.
School communications.
Medical portals.
Household instructions.
Travel plans.
The pattern was subtle enough that nobody had recognized it while each piece stood alone.
Bianca had asked the pediatrician whether Emma’s separation anxiety was “developmentally excessive.”
The pediatrician replied that Emma’s behavior was normal for her age.
Bianca asked again two months later.
She also requested information on child behavioral assessments.
The office refused to discuss medical decisions with her without parental authorization.
Bianca never received that authorization.
At the estate, she had instructed staff to stop letting Emma enter Domenico’s office without knocking.
Reasonable.
Then she extended the rule to Domenico’s breakfast room during business mornings.
Then to the formal dining room when adult guests were present.
Then to the upstairs sitting room whenever Bianca was with Domenico.
No single rule looked abusive.
Together, they steadily reduced the places Emma was allowed to approach her own father.
The estate nanny, Rachel, looked ashamed when Domenico interviewed her.
“I thought you wanted boundaries.”
“Why?”
“Ms. Vale said you were worried Emma was becoming too dependent on you.”
“Did I ever say that?”
“No.”
“Then why did you believe her?”
Rachel’s eyes lowered.
“Because she was going to be your wife.”
That answer cut deeper than Domenico expected.
Bianca had borrowed authority from him without needing to forge his signature.
Everyone simply assumed the future wife spoke with the future husband’s approval.
Almost everyone.
One person had pushed back.
Helena.
Or at least that was the story Helena now told.
“I told Bianca she was moving too quickly,” she said.
“When?”
“Several times.”
“What exactly did you object to?”
“The third floor.”
Domenico noticed the wording.
Not moving Emma.
The third floor.
“You objected to the location?”
Helena’s expression shifted.
“I objected to the way Bianca handled it.”
Again.
Not the idea.
The way.
Domenico leaned forward.
“Did you think Emma should leave her room?”
Helena did not answer immediately.
That hesitation became the second clue.
Finally she said, “I thought some household changes after marriage were reasonable.”
Domenico stared at his aunt.
May you like
For the first time, he wondered whether Helena had exposed Bianca because she opposed the plan.
Or because Bianca had taken a shared plan farther than Helena intended.
