Chapter 4
Celeste smiled when Vittorio showed her the ring.
That was the first reason he knew it wasn't hers.
Not directly.
Fear had vanished.
Relief replaced it.
“Ferrara.”
She leaned back.
“I told you those animals couldn't be trusted.”
Vittorio watched her.
Marco sat beside her.
One side of his face had begun to swell.
He still managed a smirk.
“There’s your answer.”
“No.”
Marco frowned.
Vittorio placed the ring on the table.
“There’s somebody’s answer.”
Celeste’s smile weakened.
“What does that mean?”
“It means whoever left this expected me to react exactly like you just did.”
Marco laughed.
“Now you're inventing conspiracies because a maid's child embarrassed you?”
Vittorio said nothing.
Marco continued.
“You’re becoming sentimental.”
He gestured toward the servants.
“Children crying. Maids fainting. And suddenly the entire family stops moving.”
Vittorio looked at him.
“You forced Anna to taste my drinks.”
Marco shrugged.
“Someone had to.”
The room became silent.
Celeste turned.
“Marco.”
He ignored her.
“You think kings ate before servants checked the food?”
Anna stood at the far end of the salon with Mia behind her.
Her face changed.
Marco saw.
Enjoyed it.
He pointed at her.
“Look at that face.”
He laughed.
“She still thinks she’s important.”
Anna lowered her eyes.
Marco continued.
“You clean floors, Anna. If something happens to you, we replace you by breakfast.”
Mia stepped forward.
“My mommy matters.”
Marco looked down at her.
Then smiled.
Cruel.
“Not to this house.”
Anna pulled Mia back.
Vittorio stood.
Marco’s smile disappeared.
Vittorio didn't approach him.
That made it worse.
“Say it again.”
Marco looked away.
“Exactly.”
Vittorio sat.
Celeste tried another direction.
“Marco is angry.”
“No.”
Vittorio looked at her.
“He is comfortable.”
Celeste went quiet.
Vittorio pointed toward the ring.
“Who put it there?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who supplied the powder?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who decided Anna would take the blame?”
Celeste smiled faintly.
“You already decided that part yourself.”
Vittorio’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
She leaned forward.
“You said if you fell, she’d take the blame.”
“No.”
“I said that was what you intended.”
Celeste’s eyes flickered.
One mistake.
Tiny.
But there.
Vittorio saw it.
“What was supposed to happen after I fell?”
Celeste looked toward Marco.
Marco answered:
“You weren’t supposed to die.”
Vittorio became still.
Celeste snapped:
“Enough.”
Marco realized.
Too late.
Mauro stepped closer to the table.
Vittorio asked:
“What was supposed to happen?”
Marco said nothing.
“Marco.”
Silence.
Celeste smiled at Vittorio.
Soft.
Almost affectionate.
“You’ve been working too hard.”
There it was.
The public mask.
Concern.
Cousinly warmth.
“You look exhausted.”
Vittorio watched her.
Celeste continued.
“Maybe that’s all this is.”
Then she turned toward Anna.
The warmth disappeared.
“And maybe certain servants learned they can manufacture drama because the boss suddenly enjoys rescuing them.”
Anna flinched.
Celeste leaned back.
“You should have kept your daughter upstairs.”
Mia hugged her mother.
Vittorio looked at Celeste.
“Why?”
“Children overhear things.”
Silence.
Celeste realized it.
Again.
Too late.
Vittorio leaned forward.
“What did she overhear?”
Celeste’s face went blank.
Mia looked at her.
Then at Vittorio.
“Miss Celeste said you’d sleep through the council.”
Every capo in the salon went still.
Vittorio turned toward Mia.
“What council?”
Mia shrugged.
“The midnight one.”
Mauro’s eyes met Vittorio’s.
There was no midnight council scheduled.
Not officially.
Marco stood.
“Mia.”
His voice became dangerously soft.
“Children who tell stories lose things.”
Anna immediately pulled Mia behind her.
Marco smiled.
“Maybe toys first.”
His eyes shifted to Anna.
“Maybe rooms.”
Then back to Mia.
“Maybe dinner.”
Vittorio’s expression changed.
Marco noticed.
Still kept talking.
“Keep calling for Mr. Vittorio.”
He laughed.
“He can’t watch you every minute.”
That was the moment every capo in the room understood something important.
May you like
Marco wasn’t afraid Vittorio had discovered the poisoning.
He was afraid Mia knew what was supposed to happen at midnight.
