Chapter 5
Bianca’s motive did not appear to be money.
That frustrated Domenico.
Greed would have been easier.
The prenuptial agreement was brutal.
Bianca would gain no ownership interest in the Bellandi estate.
No automatic control of family companies.
No claim on Emma’s trusts.
No authority over existing family assets.
If the marriage ended, Bianca would receive a predetermined settlement based primarily on years married.
Emma remained Domenico’s sole heir under existing estate documents.
Bianca’s attorney had reviewed all of it.
She knew removing Emma from a bedroom changed nothing financially.
Ethan said, “Stop looking for an inheritance motive.”
“Then what does she gain?”
“Control.”
Domenico disliked vague answers.
“Control of what?”
“The household. Your attention. Status. Maybe the feeling that the marriage makes her first.”
Domenico thought about the reception.
On your knees.
Not go to your room.
Not apologize.
Kneel.
It was about hierarchy.
The next discovery supported that.
An interior designer gave Ethan copies of messages from Bianca.
One read:
After the wedding, the second floor needs to feel like the married couple’s space, not a nursery with adults living around it.
Another:
Children adjust faster when adults don’t negotiate every change.
Then:
Helena understands what I’m trying to establish.
Domenico stopped.
“Helena?”
The designer confirmed that Helena attended one planning meeting six weeks earlier.
Helena had approved moving Emma’s bedroom.
Not the third floor specifically.
But the move itself.
Domenico summoned her.
This time he did not let her control the conversation.
“You attended the meeting.”
“Yes.”
“You approved removing Emma from the second floor.”
Helena sat very straight.
“I discussed reorganizing the family wing.”
“My daughter’s bedroom.”
“The family wing.”
“She sleeps there.”
Helena’s composure cracked.
“Domenico, you are making this sound monstrous because Bianca behaved monstrously.”
“Then make it sound better.”
Helena looked at him.
“You asked me to help prepare Bianca to become part of this family.”
“I asked you to help with the wedding.”
“You asked me to help her understand the household.”
“That did not include relocating Emma.”
Helena’s silence lasted too long.
Then she said:
“You were never raised with children running through the principal rooms.”
Domenico felt something inside him go cold.
There it was.
Not Bianca’s language.
Helena’s.
Older.
More polished.
But built on the same belief.
Children had a place.
May you like
Adults decided it.
And Emma had apparently occupied too much of Domenico’s world.
