Chapter 1
Massimo did not ask Grant another question inside the showroom.
Not with Noah crying.
Not with Isabella trembling.
Not with half the family standing close enough to hear every word.
He turned toward his daughter.
“Come with me.”
Isabella immediately shook her head.
“I’m fine.”
Massimo looked at the bruises around her wrist.
“No.”
Grant pushed himself upright beside the destroyed merchandising cart.
“She said she’s fine.”
Massimo looked at him.
“I wasn't speaking to you.”
Noah tightened both hands around Isabella’s dress.
Massimo noticed something else.
The boy did not move toward his father.
He moved behind his mother.
Vanessa tried to stand among the fallen ribbons and tissue paper.
“This is ridiculous. Isabella bruises easily.”
Massimo said nothing.
He simply removed his jacket and placed it around Isabella’s shoulders, covering her exposed arm from the staring guests.
Then he ordered the private showroom cleared.
No capos.
No collectors.
No family audience.
Only Isabella, Noah, Grant, Vanessa, and two bodyguards remained.
Massimo crouched beside Noah.
“What happened to the flower?”
Noah looked at the torn pieces on the carpet.
“I made it for Daddy.”
Grant’s expression changed slightly.
Massimo caught it.
“Why did Vanessa say you were giving it to someone else?”
Noah shrugged.
“She says Daddy belongs to them.”
Vanessa immediately interrupted.
“He’s four. He doesn't know what he’s saying.”
Massimo slowly stood.
“That sentence is becoming very popular tonight.”
Then he looked at Isabella.
“Do you want to leave with me?”
Grant laughed.
“She lives with her husband.”
Massimo ignored him.
He asked Isabella again.
“Do you want to leave?”
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then Noah whispered:
“Mommy, say yes.”
Isabella closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
That one word changed the room.
Massimo took Isabella and Noah to his Upper East Side townhouse.
Grant was not allowed to follow.
Later that night, a doctor documented bruising around Isabella’s wrist, upper arm, and ribs.
Some marks were older than others.
When Massimo asked how long it had been happening, Isabella turned away.
“Dad, please.”
“How long?”
“I can’t do this tonight.”
Massimo stopped.
He had spent most of his life forcing answers from people who hesitated.
This was his daughter.
For once, he let silence remain.
Noah slept beside her.
Before closing his eyes, he asked:
“Grandpa?”
“Yeah?”
“Can Daddy find us?”
Massimo felt something inside him go cold.
“Why?”
May you like
Noah looked toward Isabella.
“Because he always does.”
