Chapter 7 - THE SON DAMIAN DIDN’T WANT TO SEE
Damian’s ex-wife contacted Antonio after hearing what happened at the banquet.
Her name was Karen.
She did not ask for money.
She asked whether Damian was finally willing to admit what Lavinia had done to him.
Antonio met her privately.
Karen brought copies of old family-court filings from her divorce.
Several pages mentioned Damian’s disciplinary behavior toward their daughter Sofia.
Nothing as severe as what happened to Lucas.
But the philosophy was familiar.
Withholding dessert for days.
Taking away bedroom doors for “privacy abuse.”
Making a child sit separately during family meals.
Damian had stopped after the court-appointed therapist warned him the practices were damaging.
Karen said Lavinia was furious.
“She told him the therapist was turning Sofia weak.”
Antonio looked at the filings.
“Why didn’t I know?”
“Because Damian settled every dispute quietly.”
Of course.
That was how Bellafortes handled embarrassment.
Privately.
Which meant patterns never accumulated in public view.
Antonio called Damian that evening and placed the filings on his desk.
Damian’s reaction was immediate.
“You met Karen?”
“Yes.”
“You had no right.”
“You used my son.”
Damian stared at the papers.
Antonio waited.
Finally Damian sat.
“My mother raised me.”
“That isn’t an explanation.”
“It is if you understand her.”
“I’m starting to.”
Damian looked genuinely frightened.
Not of Antonio.
Of the possibility that the story supporting his entire adulthood was wrong.
“If what she did was abuse,” he said slowly, “then what does that make me?”
Antonio understood the question because he had been avoiding his own version.
Not what did Lavinia do?
What had Antonio become because everyone taught him it was necessary?
He answered honestly.
“It makes what you did to Lucas wrong.”
Damian looked up.
“It doesn’t answer the rest.”
“No.”
Antonio stood.
“We’re going to have to live long enough to answer the rest ourselves.”
For the first time, Damian did not defend Lavinia.
May you like
That relationship shift mattered.
Because Lavinia was about to lose the one person whose loyalty she had always treated as permanent.
