Chapter 12
Luca cooperated later than Selena.
His attorneys initially argued that his notes were management observations.
Donato’s schedule affected real business.
Canceled meetings cost money.
Travel changes affected negotiations.
All true.
Then investigators asked why Luca needed records about Ava crying.
Why he tracked how long she remained outside Donato’s study.
Why he described memorial objects as schedule disruptions.
Why he blocked Grace and other staff members from reaching Donato.
The management explanation became harder.
Eventually Luca admitted he had encouraged Selena to establish stricter boundaries with Ava.
He still insisted he never intended physical harm.
The investigator asked:
“Did you laugh after a three-year-old’s birthday present was thrown into a pool?”
Luca looked down.
“Yes.”
“Did you intervene when Selena pushed her?”
“No.”
“Did you call it a joke afterward?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Luca remained silent for a long time.
Then:
“Because I knew how bad it looked.”
That answer mattered.
Not what happened.
How it looked.
Luca had been managing perception even after Ava hit the water.
The legal consequences separated into several tracks.
Selena faced charges related to intentionally pushing a child into the pool and the broader conduct prosecutors believed could be established.
Luca faced consequences for his own assault on Donato, interference with staff reporting, and participation in documented coercive behavior where legally supportable.
Protective orders kept both away from Ava.
Child-welfare findings substantiated emotionally harmful and dangerous treatment.
Donato’s conduct was reviewed too.
His counterstrike after Luca swung was treated differently from unprovoked assault, but not automatically ignored.
The slap against Selena occurred while she was reaching for Ava after having just pushed the child into the pool.
Context mattered.
So did proportionality.
His recorded statement about the gift being worth more than their lives created additional scrutiny.
Donato cooperated.
Rebecca asked whether that surprised him.
“No.”
“It surprises everyone else.”
“They think I should be above consequences.”
“And?”
May you like
Donato looked toward Ava’s restored bracelet sitting inside a jeweler’s case.
“That belief created half this mess.”
