Chapter 7 - RUTHIE’S FEAR
Ruthie began crying before Dominic asked the question.
That told him enough.
Eli tightened his arms around his father’s neck.
Dominic handed the child to Thomas, who had arrived behind him.
Then he looked at Ruthie.
“How long?”
“Years.”
Lenora smiled without warmth.
Ruthie looked ashamed.
She had reported small things.
Who visited.
What Mara said.
Whether Dominic argued with his wife.
Where Eli slept.
When Ruthie thought Mara might leave.
“Why?”
Ruthie wiped her face.
“My brother.”
Dominic waited.
Lenora’s expression changed slightly.
Ruthie’s younger brother had worked for the Bellinis years earlier.
He made mistakes.
Borrowed money from the wrong people.
Lenora helped him quietly.
Then reminded Ruthie of that help whenever she needed information.
Not threats exactly.
Something more effective.
Debt mixed with gratitude.
Ruthie told herself she was protecting everyone.
Mara suspected.
That was why she hid the recordings behind the mirror.
Dominic looked toward Lenora.
“How many people in this house are afraid of owing you?”
She did not answer.
Thomas did.
“Most.”
Lenora looked at her brother with contempt.
“You ran away from responsibility.”
Thomas smiled.
“No.”
He looked around the hall.
“I walked out of your version of it.”
Lenora turned toward Dominic.
“Are you going to stand there while he insults me?”
Dominic almost laughed.
For the first time, he heard the mechanism.
Lenora could turn any disagreement into a loyalty test within seconds.
He had obeyed it most of his life.
Not now.
“Ruthie.”
She looked up.
“You’re done reporting to Lenora.”
Her face crumpled.
“Yes.”
“You are also done caring for Eli alone until I decide whether I can trust you again.”
Ruthie nodded.
No shouting.
No expulsion.
Consequence.
Then Dominic looked toward Adrian.
“You’re leaving the estate.”
Adrian accepted it.
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
Adrian nodded.
Fair.
“You will not be alone with Eli.”
Another nod.
Then Lenora laughed.
“Look at you.”
Dominic turned.
“You think softness makes you different.”
“No.”
“You’re dismantling this family because a three-year-old cried.”
Dominic walked closer.
“No.”
He pointed toward the dining room.
“I’m changing who gets to call cruelty tradition.”
Lenora’s face tightened.
“Your son needs discipline.”
“He needs food.”
“He needs a Bellini spine.”
“He’s three.”
Lenora looked toward Thomas.
“You filled his head with this.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Mara did.”
That name hit differently now.
Lenora reached for one suitcase.
Dominic stopped her.
“Before you leave.”
She looked at him.
“Why did you make Eli apologize to Mara?”
Lenora’s eyes shifted.
Dominic noticed.
“What exactly was he apologizing for?”
Silence.
Then Eli spoke from Thomas’s arms.
“For making Mommy die.”
Everyone froze.
Dominic turned slowly.
“What?”
Eli looked confused.
“Aunt Lenora says Mommy got sad because I cried too much.”
Dominic went completely still.
Thomas closed his eyes.
Ruthie covered her mouth.
Adrian whispered:
“Jesus.”
Dominic looked toward Lenora.
She tried to answer.
He cut her off.
“You told my son his mother died because he cried.”
“He needs to learn—”
Dominic slammed one hand against the wall beside her.
Not her.
Never her.
But the sound shook the hallway.
“Finish that sentence.”
Lenora did not.
Dominic’s voice dropped.
“You took his grief and made it guilt.”
“He was becoming hysterical.”
“He misses his mother.”
“He needs to move on.”
“He is three.”
Lenora looked away.
Dominic turned toward Eli.
The boy had started crying silently.
Dominic took him back.
“No.”
Eli pressed his face against his father.
“No what?”
“You didn’t make Mommy die.”
Eli sniffed.
“Aunt says—”
“Aunt Lenora was wrong.”
The child looked up.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Dominic’s voice shook for the first time.
“Really.”
Eli stared at him.
Then whispered:
“Mommy liked when I cried.”
Dominic frowned.
Thomas smiled sadly.
“She probably told him crying meant he trusted her.”
Eli nodded.
“Mommy hugs.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
Then held his son.
Lenora watched.
Something unreadable crossed her face.
Not remorse.
Something closer to panic.
Dominic noticed.
She was not afraid of being removed.
She was afraid of something Eli remembered.
“What else did Mara tell you?” Dominic asked softly.
Eli thought.
“Green box.”
Dominic froze.
“What green box?”
Eli pointed toward the old family chapel.
“Mommy hide Bellini story.”
Lenora stepped forward.
Dominic looked at her.
Too late.
The reaction exposed everything.
Mara had hidden something else.
Not a message about marriage.
Not Eli’s letter.
May you like
A Bellini story.
And Lenora knew exactly what it was.
