Chapter 2
Rocco took Mia home that afternoon.
Not to the main family estate.
To his Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park, where neither Bernice nor Ralph had keys.
Mia slept almost twelve hours.
When she woke, she asked for toast.
Then cereal.
Then strawberries.
Rocco gave her all three.
He did not tell her she had to finish anything.
Later, Dr. Hannah Pierce, a child psychologist recommended by Mia’s pediatrician, came to the apartment.
Rocco stayed outside the room.
That was difficult.
Necessary too.
Forty minutes later, Hannah joined him in the kitchen.
“Mia believes food was being withheld because she told a lie.”
“What lie?”
“She isn't ready to describe it clearly.”
Rocco clenched his jaw.
Hannah continued.
“She also believes your mother can decide whether you're angry with her.”
Rocco looked up.
“What does that mean?”
“Mia said, ‘Grandma tells Daddy when I’m bad.’”
Rocco stared toward the hallway.
Bernice had helped with Mia since infancy.
Rocco traveled frequently.
His mother had attended preschool meetings, doctor visits, birthday parties.
Rocco had trusted her completely.
Hannah added:
“Mia also said your sister told her you were too busy to come home.”
Rocco’s expression changed.
“I called every night.”
“Did you speak to Mia?”
Not for the last three nights.
Bernice said Mia was sleeping.
Then Laine said she had a stomach bug.
Rocco had accepted both explanations.
He checked his phone.
Three missed video calls from the household tablet had never reached him.
His assistant searched the communications logs.
The calls had been blocked by a family privacy setting.
Authorized user:
Laine Caruso.
Rocco called her.
She answered immediately.
“You're keeping Mom and Dad trapped in the arena over a misunderstanding.”
“Why did you block Mia's calls?”
Silence.
“Laine.”
“Mom said Mia was acting out.”
“So you prevented my daughter from calling me?”
“She would've manipulated you into coming home.”
Rocco looked out over the city.
“I did come home.”
Another silence.
“And now?”
Laine's voice hardened.
“Now you're doing exactly what Mom said you would.”
“What?”
“Believing a four-year-old over your family.”
Rocco ended the call.
That sentence bothered him.
Not because Laine said it.
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Because apparently Bernice had predicted this confrontation before Rocco even returned.
Which meant she had already been preparing everyone for what Mia might say.
