Chapter 2 - the house of rules)
By Theo’s tenth day home, Marcia had created rules.
They were never written down.
That made them harder to challenge.
Theo should not be held while sleeping.
Alessandra should not call Giorgio during Colin’s workday.
No visitors should come without Marcia knowing.
Alessandra should not drive because she was too tired.
The housekeeper should come only twice a week because Alessandra needed to learn how to manage her own home.
And most importantly, Colin needed uninterrupted rest.
“He is under tremendous pressure,” Marcia explained over breakfast.
Alessandra stood at the counter bouncing Theo against her shoulder.
“What pressure?”
“The company.”
“His company has eleven employees.”
Marcia’s eyes hardened.
“A company doesn’t need thousands of employees to matter.”
“I didn’t say it didn’t matter.”
“You implied it.”
Alessandra closed her eyes.
“I’m too tired for this.”
Marcia’s voice softened instantly.
“Exactly.”
That change frightened Alessandra more than the criticism.
Marcia reached for a folder beside her coffee.
“Which is why Colin and I discussed making things easier.”
She slid papers across the table.
“What are those?”
“Routine household documents.”
Alessandra did not touch them.
“What kind?”
“Banking authorization. Insurance updates. Some family office paperwork.”
“My father’s office handles my insurance.”
“Not anymore.”
Alessandra looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
“Marriage changes things.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Marcia’s lips tightened.
“Read them later.”
“I will.”
Marcia smiled.
“Of course.”
That evening Colin brought the folder upstairs.
Theo had finally fallen asleep.
Alessandra lay beside him in the bassinet, too exhausted to move.
Colin placed the papers on her nightstand.
“Mom said you didn’t sign these.”
“I haven’t read them.”
“They’re standard.”
“Then I’ll read them tomorrow.”
“I need them tonight.”
Alessandra opened her eyes.
“Why?”
“For the company.”
“You said they were household documents.”
“They overlap.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Colin exhaled sharply.
“Alessandra, please.”
“What am I signing?”
“Temporary authorization.”
“For what?”
“To streamline accounts.”
“What accounts?”
He stared at her.
Then laughed once.
“You know, most wives actually trust their husbands.”
She pushed herself upright.
“Most husbands answer basic questions.”
Theo stirred.
Colin lowered his voice.
“Do you have any idea how humiliating it is being married to Giorgio Moretti’s daughter?”
Alessandra blinked.
“What?”
“Every room I walk into, I’m your husband.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is.”
“I have never treated you that way.”
“You don’t have to. Your last name does it for you.”
“Your last name is Moretti too.”
“Because I married you.”
There it was.
Something bitter.
Something she had heard pieces of for years but never so clearly.
Colin picked up the folder.
“You know what? Forget it.”
He left.
The next morning, the papers were gone.
Alessandra searched the bedroom, then the kitchen.
Marcia watched her from the dining table.
“Looking for something?”
“The documents.”
“Colin took care of them.”
“How?”
Marcia lifted one shoulder.
“You were asleep.”
Alessandra stopped.
“What does that mean?”
“It means he handled it.”
“He cannot sign for me.”
“Obviously.”
The answer came too quickly.
Alessandra walked closer.
“Did he?”
Marcia smiled.
“You need coffee.”
“I asked you a question.”
“And I’m telling you, you need to calm down.”
Theo cried from the living room.
Alessandra turned.
Her son was in the infant seat.
She had left him in the bassinet upstairs.
Her pulse jumped.
“How did he get down here?”
Marcia looked amused.
“I brought him.”
“Why?”
“Because you were sleeping.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
“No, I was looking for the folder.”
Marcia’s eyes held hers.
“Alessandra, you were asleep ten minutes ago.”
For one terrible moment, Alessandra doubted herself.
Then she noticed something.
Theo’s blanket.
She had wrapped him in the pale blue one.
Now he wore the cream blanket Marcia preferred.
Alessandra remembered clearly.
She remembered because the blue blanket had a tiny coffee stain near one corner.
She crossed the room and lifted her son.
Marcia watched.
“You’re making yourself sick.”
Alessandra said nothing.
That afternoon she opened the smart home application on her phone.
The house had cameras at the front entrance, garage, kitchen hallway, and nursery door.
She selected the nursery feed.
Unavailable.
She checked the kitchen.
Unavailable.
Front entrance.
Unavailable.
All security history from the previous forty eight hours was missing.
She called Colin.
“Did you reset the cameras?”
“I’m in a meeting.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“The history is gone.”
“Ask Mom.”
“She says she doesn’t know.”
“Then call the company.”
“Colin.”
“What?”
“Did you sign my name?”
Silence.
Then,
“I have to go.”
The call ended.
Alessandra sat on the bed staring at the screen.
Theo slept beside her.
A few minutes later, another notification appeared.
Your account password has been changed.
Not her camera account.
Her personal financial portal.
Alessandra immediately tried to log in.
Access denied.
She tried again.
Access denied.
Then her email refreshed.
A message from the Moretti Family Office appeared.
Thank you for confirming your requested changes.
May you like
Alessandra stared at the sentence.
She had requested nothing.
