Chapter 2
Ava slept in Donato’s bed that night.
Not because he planned it.
Because she refused to sleep anywhere else.
Every time he tried to move her, her hands tightened around his shirt.
So he stayed.
The locket and bracelet were sent to a jeweler for careful drying and restoration.
The outer box was destroyed.
The contents survived.
Selena and Luca spent the evening with their attorneys.
Police took statements.
Child protective services was notified because a child had been intentionally pushed into a pool.
Donato did not object.
Several relatives did.
One older uncle called him before midnight.
“You want government people walking through your estate?”
Donato looked at his sleeping daughter.
“I want them looking at what happened to her.”
“We can handle this.”
“No.”
“Donato—”
He disconnected.
The next morning, his attorney, Rebecca Sloan, arrived with the first security report.
“The poolhouse footage is clear.”
“Good.”
“Not entirely.”
He looked at her.
“They’ll also review your conduct.”
“I know.”
“You struck Luca after he swung at you. That context helps. Selena reached for Ava immediately after pushing her into the pool. Your response will still be reviewed.”
“And my threat.”
“Yes.”
Donato nodded.
“I meant the gift mattered more to me than either of them.”
Rebecca looked unimpressed.
“That is not how it sounded.”
“I know.”
She closed the file.
“Then we don’t pretend.”
Donato appreciated that.
The household staff interviews began separately.
A pool attendant named Jeremy Lewis remembered Selena asking about the birthday gifts earlier that morning.
“Which gift?”
“The one from you.”
“Why?”
“She asked which package was special.”
Donato frowned.
“What did you tell her?”
Jeremy hesitated.
“That you brought one down yourself.”
“Anything else?”
“She asked whether it was jewelry.”
Donato looked at Rebecca.
Jeremy continued.
“I said I didn’t know.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“What happened next?”
“Mrs. Cross moved the gift table closer to the pool.”
Donato went completely still.
“Selena did?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She said the photographers needed more space.”
There had been no photographers at Ava’s party.
Donato looked at the event plan.
The gift table had originally been against the far wall.
Three hours before the party, Selena personally instructed staff to move it beside the pool loungers.
That did not prove she intended to throw anything into the water.
But it meant the moment had not begun with Ava reaching for a random present.
May you like
Selena had already been interested in Donato’s specific gift.
And she had already moved it closer to the pool.
