Chapter 3
Sofia stayed overnight.
Lorenzo stayed in the family waiting room.
He did not go back to the estate.
That choice mattered.
By morning, Grant had called eleven times.
Eleanor called six.
Sofia answered neither.
A family-law attorney recommended immediate protective arrangements because Sofia was eight months pregnant, financially entangled with Grant, and afraid to return home.
There would be no instant divorce.
No instant custody ruling over an unborn child.
Just practical steps.
A temporary place to stay.
Separate access to money.
Changed passwords.
Written communication through counsel.
Documentation of what happened in the garden.
Lorenzo offered his Manhattan townhouse.
Sofia accepted under one condition.
“No men outside my bedroom door.”
“They’re security.”
“They feel like guards.”
He understood the distinction.
“Fine.”
Two stayed downstairs.
None outside her room.
The first serious consequence hit Grant that afternoon.
Sofia formally notified him that she would not return to the estate.
She also revoked his authorization to communicate with her doctors.
Grant responded through text.
You’re letting your father destroy our marriage.
Sofia stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
Your blood pressure is high because he makes everything dramatic.
Lorenzo watched her expression.
“He knew.”
Sofia looked up.
“What?”
“He knew your blood pressure was high.”
She reread the message.
Grant had repeatedly told her the doctors were exaggerating.
Yet he knew exactly what they were monitoring.
That evening Dr. Pierce called with another concern.
The clinic had received three calls from Eleanor over the previous month.
Eleanor had represented herself as helping Sofia coordinate appointments.
Staff had assumed Sofia authorized it because Eleanor knew personal details from the chart.
Sofia whispered:
“She knew my appointment times.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“How?”
Sofia’s answer came slowly.
“Grant.”
The next day Lorenzo made his first protective decision outside the family.
Grant worked in procurement and vendor management for two Bellucci-owned hospitality companies.
Lorenzo placed him on administrative leave pending review.
His lawyers warned him that the timing would look personal.
“It is personal,” Lorenzo said.
“That doesn’t mean employment decisions can ignore procedure.”
So they did it properly.
System access preserved.
Emails retained.
Human resources notified.
No accusations in the suspension notice.
Grant reacted within an hour.
Not about his job.
Not about his marriage.
He asked one question through his attorney.
Had the medical center completed the ultrasound?
May you like
Lorenzo read the message twice.
Grant was still afraid of that scan.
