Chapter 5
My father never knew Livia.
He died before I met Sofia.
Before my marriage.
Before fatherhood changed every room I entered.
Yet he understood one thing perfectly.
People who could not control me directly would eventually look for someone I loved more than power.
My father’s recording continued.
“Camilla believes family is strongest when children grow up inside obligation.”
I glanced at my cousin.
She looked ashamed now.
Not enough.
“She once told me your future son or daughter should be raised partly by the elder branch, so no wife could pull you away from the organization.”
My skin went cold.
Livia hugged Rafe’s neck.
Camilla whispered:
“That was theoretical.”
I paused the tape.
“My daughter is not a theory.”
“You didn’t have a child then.”
“And now?”
No answer.
I resumed.
My father said Marco wanted a future heir taught early that the boss did not own the organization.
The organization owned the boss.
And family elders would shape the child accordingly.
That explained things I had ignored.
Camilla insisting Livia spend weekends at her estate.
Camilla criticizing Sofia for allowing too much affection.
Camilla telling me children needed to learn hierarchy before kindness.
I treated it as old-fashioned nonsense.
Sofia hated it.
She had been right.
My wife died eighteen months earlier after a winter road crash.
Not suspiciously.
Not yet.
But suddenly I remembered our last argument about Camilla.
Sofia wanted Livia kept away from her.
I said Camilla was difficult, not dangerous.
My wife looked at me and said:
“You only call something dangerous after it hurts you.”
I had hated that sentence.
Because it was true.
Camilla watched my face.
“You’re thinking about Sofia.”
I turned slowly.
“How do you know?”
Her lips parted.
Too late.
I had not said Sofia’s name.
Rafe noticed too.
I stepped closer.
“What did my wife know about your second table?”
Camilla looked toward the cabinet.
Then whispered:
“More than you did.”
The chapel suddenly felt colder.
My father discovered the conspiracy seven years ago.
May you like
Sofia had apparently discovered it again before she died.
And nobody had told me.
