Chapter 9
Anna hated the plan.
Not because she feared for herself.
Because Mia was part of it.
“She’s three.”
Vittorio nodded.
“That’s why she won’t actually be there.”
Anna stared.
He explained.
Mia would be moved through the private library passage to Vittorio’s secure family room.
Only Anna would appear to remain in the east guest suite.
A bodyguard would sit with Mia.
Anna would have two guards hidden nearby.
“No.”
Vittorio looked at her.
Anna surprised herself.
“No?”
“I don’t want to be bait.”
Fair.
Vittorio waited.
Anna continued.
“I’ve spent months doing what Celeste ordered because she threatened my food, my room, my daughter.”
Her red hands curled.
“I don’t want another powerful person telling me I have to be frightened for a plan.”
Vittorio said nothing.
Then nodded.
“You’re right.”
Anna blinked.
That was not the answer she expected.
Vittorio stood.
“Then we change it.”
“How?”
“You choose.”
Anna looked at him.
For the first time in months, maybe years, somebody had returned a decision to her.
She thought.
Then looked toward Mia.
“I want her nowhere near Celeste.”
“Done.”
“And I want to stay with her.”
“Done.”
“And if Celeste comes looking for us?”
Vittorio’s eyes hardened.
“She won’t reach you.”
Anna breathed out.
“Then what’s the trap?”
Vittorio almost smiled.
“An empty room.”
At 11:31, the east guest suite lights remained on.
A woman's silhouette moved behind the curtain.
Not Anna.
A female bodyguard in Anna's cardigan.
At 11:42, Celeste left the dining salon.
She told everyone she needed air.
At 11:46, Marco disappeared toward the service corridor.
Mauro watched both through internal cameras.
Vittorio sat in the dark family room with Anna and Mia.
Mia ate crackers.
Anna kept checking the clock.
Vittorio noticed.
“You don’t have to stay awake.”
She almost laughed.
“Tonight?”
Fair.
Mia looked at Vittorio.
“Are bad people coming?”
Anna immediately said:
“No.”
Vittorio looked at her.
Anna’s face tightened.
He understood.
She wanted to protect Mia.
But lies had already been used too much in that house.
He crouched.
“Some people are making bad choices.”
Mia frowned.
“Miss Celeste?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Marco?”
“Yes.”
“Mommy?”
“No.”
Mia leaned closer.
“Me?”
Vittorio’s expression softened.
“No.”
The child seemed satisfied.
Then she said:
“Miss Celeste says Mommy makes everything bad.”
Anna closed her eyes.
Vittorio asked:
“What else?”
Mia thought.
“She says Mommy should be happy she gets a bed.”
Anna looked away.
Mia continued.
“She says if Mommy cries, people think she’s lazy.”
Vittorio’s jaw tightened.
Anna whispered:
“Mia.”
But the child kept going.
“She says Mommy’s hands hurt because she works slow.”
Anna’s eyes filled.
Celeste had not only controlled Anna.
She had taught Mia how to interpret her mother's pain.
As weakness.
As fault.
As deserved.
Vittorio understood then why Anna looked ashamed of her own injuries.
Cruelty becomes strongest when the victim starts repeating its logic internally.
At 11:51, Mauro’s voice came through Vittorio’s earpiece.
“Movement.”
Celeste entered the empty guest suite.
Marco waited outside.
A camera captured Celeste whispering:
“Anna?”
No answer.
She tried again.
Sweeter.
“Come out, sweetheart.”
Then her voice changed.
“Don’t make me drag you.”
Anna heard through Vittorio’s earpiece feed.
Her face went pale.
Celeste entered fully.
Looked at the bed.
Empty.
Turned.
Marco stepped inside.
“What?”
“She’s gone.”
He swore.
Celeste hissed:
“That stupid maid.”
Marco said:
“Find the kid.”
Anna’s hands clenched.
Then Celeste said something worse.
“No.”
Marco looked at her.
“The girl’s the problem.”
Silence.
“Anna does whatever you threaten.”
Celeste’s voice was flat.
“Mia talks.”
Vittorio stood.
Anna looked at him.
He didn't move toward the door yet.
He kept listening.
Marco lowered his voice.
“Then what?”
Celeste answered:
“After midnight, nobody needs either of them.”
Anna stopped breathing.
Vittorio’s face changed.
May you like
The plan was no longer only to frame Anna.
Celeste intended to erase the witness and the scapegoat once both had served their purpose.
