Chapter 1
Dominic did not look at the engagement ring after he dropped it.
He looked at Aria.
The little girl stood inside the arms of a bodyguard, one hand closed around her late mother’s wedding ring.
Her cheek was red.
One shoulder of Elena Ravello’s old dress hung torn beneath the cardigan.
Dominic’s breathing slowed.
That was when the men around him knew anger had become something colder.
“Doctor.”
A bodyguard moved immediately.
Vivienne pushed herself upright beneath the collapsed flowers and lanterns.
Her hair had come loose.
Her cheek burned from Dominic’s hand.
But arrogance returned faster than dignity.
“You're ending a marriage over a child’s tantrum?”
Dominic’s eyes moved toward her.
Vivienne’s mouth closed.
Marcus climbed from behind the ruined champagne bar.
“You hit my sister.”
Dominic looked at him.
“You charged me.”
Marcus’s hand flexed.
Dominic noticed.
So did the two bodyguards now standing behind him.
No one touched Marcus.
That silence forced him to choose whether he wanted another confrontation.
He didn't.
Dominic crossed to Aria.
The child immediately reached for him.
He took her carefully.
Her arms locked around his neck.
“Baby.”
His voice changed completely.
“Does anything else hurt?”
Aria shook her head.
Then looked at Vivienne.
Dominic felt her body tighten.
He turned slightly so she no longer had to see her.
The estate physician arrived moments later.
While he examined Aria, Dominic took Elena’s ring from her small hand.
He knew every scratch.
Every mark.
He had placed it on Elena’s finger twelve years earlier.
After Elena died, the ring disappeared.
Dominic had believed it was lost during the confusion surrounding the hospital and funeral.
He looked toward Vivienne.
“How did you get this?”
Her chin rose.
“Elena gave it to me.”
Dominic’s fingers stopped moving.
Marcus looked at his sister.
Too quickly.
Dominic saw it.
“When?”
Vivienne’s breathing remained controlled.
“A few weeks before she died.”
Dominic said nothing.
The quiet stretched.
Vivienne’s confidence began to thin.
“She said she didn't want to wear it anymore.”
Dominic’s jaw shifted.
Behind him, Aria whispered:
“No.”
Every adult turned.
The doctor paused.
Aria’s fingers twisted in Dominic’s vest.
Vivienne went still.
Dominic crouched until his daughter could see his face.
“You don't have to talk.”
Aria looked at the ring.
Then at Vivienne.
“Mommy said she had to give it back.”
Vivienne’s lips parted.
Nothing came out.
Dominic looked at her.
Not angry now.
Focused.
“Give what back?”
Aria touched the ring with one small finger.
“Mommy’s.”
Vivienne’s face lost color.
Dominic rose slowly.
“You said Elena gave it to you.”
Vivienne swallowed.
“She did.”
“Then why would my daughter remember Elena saying you had to return it?”
Marcus stepped forward.
“She was two.”
Dominic turned his head.
Marcus stopped.
Aria buried her face against Dominic’s shoulder.
Then whispered one more thing.
“Mommy put something in the dress too.”
Dominic looked down at the torn shoulder.
Vivienne did the same.
May you like
And for the first time since the party began—
Vivienne looked more afraid of the dress than of Dominic.
