Chapter 5
Seven women.
Different branches.
Different severity.
One expected to serve older relatives at dinners.
One had been forced to surrender jewelry gifts because they were considered “too flashy.”
One ate separately for a month after arguing with her mother-in-law.
Another lost access to her own children’s family events after refusing to host a gathering.
None told me.
Why?
Because Delia presented herself as acting with my authority.
Every time.
“Raffaele expects this.”
“Raffaele believes wives should know their place.”
“Raffaele doesn’t want domestic complaints brought to him.”
My name had become her weapon.
That was mine too.
I had spent years cultivating a reputation where people did not bring me small problems.
Efficient.
Terrible.
Some problems stay small only because the victim remains quiet.
I met the seven women separately.
No husbands.
No Delia.
No pressure.
Some were angry with me.
Fair.
One, Emily, asked:
“How could you not know?”
I had no useful defense.
“I didn’t ask.”
That was the truth.
Another said:
“You always say family comes first.”
“Yes.”
“For who?”
That question stayed.
My version of family meant protection.
Apparently theirs often meant endurance.
I had allowed the same word to carry two different realities.
After the meetings, I gathered every household head.
Men.
Women.
Older relatives.
I placed Delia’s blue book on the table.
“This is finished.”
One aunt objected.
“You can’t erase women’s customs because your young wife complained.”
I stared at her.
“My young wife had bleeding hands.”
Silence.
Another woman said:
“We all went through it.”
There.
The most dangerous justification.
Suffering converted into qualification.
I answered:
“Then you should have been the first people to stop it.”
Some cried.
Some became angry.
Some looked relieved.
Delia sat at the far end.
No authority.
No family brooch.
I had removed it.
Symbolic, yes.
But symbols were what she had been using.
Then Marcus whispered to me:
“You still don’t know why she pushed Sofia hardest.”
I looked at him.
There was a specific reason.
May you like
Not just tradition.
Of course.
