Chapter 4 - the night Giorgio came through the door)
Colin arrived at 6:18.
Alessandra was waiting in the kitchen.
Theo slept in his infant seat nearby.
Three printed documents lay on the counter.
Colin saw them.
His face changed for less than a second.
It was enough.
“What are these?”
Alessandra asked.
He placed his keys down.
“Where did you get them?”
“Answer me.”
“Family office?”
“Did you sign my name?”
“No.”
“Did your mother?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Colin removed his jacket.
“This is not the time.”
“It is exactly the time.”
“You’re exhausted.”
“Stop saying that like it makes me stupid.”
“I didn’t say you were stupid.”
“You changed my password.”
“No.”
“My cards were declined.”
“I’ll fix it.”
“You used my assets to guarantee something.”
Colin looked toward the dining room.
“Keep your voice down.”
“Why?”
“Theo is sleeping.”
“Theo has heard more arguments in three weeks than he should hear in three years.”
Colin’s expression hardened.
“You’re becoming hysterical.”
The word hit her like a slap.
“Hysterical?”
“You’re barely functioning.”
“Because I haven’t slept.”
“Whose fault is that?”
Alessandra stared at him.
Colin immediately looked away.
Something inside her became quiet.
“Where do you sleep every night?”
“What?”
“Where do you sleep?”
“In our bed.”
“Exactly.”
“Alessandra.”
“How many bottles have you made since Theo came home?”
“This is ridiculous.”
“How many diapers?”
“I work.”
“How many times have you gotten up at night?”
“Stop.”
“How many?”
“Stop interrogating me.”
She looked toward Marcia.
The older woman stood in the dining room doorway.
Listening.
Alessandra pointed to the documents.
“You both knew.”
Marcia’s face remained calm.
“Those papers protect this family.”
“They steal from me.”
“They give Colin independence.”
“With my money.”
“Your money came from your father.”
“My money came from an inheritance my mother left me and from shares I earned.”
Marcia laughed.
“Earned.”
Alessandra turned toward Colin.
“Tell her.”
He said nothing.
“Tell your mother what I did for six years.”
“Not now.”
“Tell her.”
Colin rubbed his forehead.
“Fine. You worked hard.”
Marcia smiled faintly.
As if allowing a child a compliment.
Alessandra understood then.
Colin was not trapped between his wife and his mother.
He had chosen.
Long ago.
He had simply never told Alessandra.
She picked up her phone.
Colin’s eyes moved toward it.
“Who are you calling?”
“My father.”
He stepped closer.
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because we can fix this.”
Alessandra almost laughed.
“We?”
“Give me twenty four hours.”
“For what?”
“To explain.”
“You’ve had three weeks.”
Marcia crossed her arms.
“If you call Giorgio, you’ll destroy Colin’s company.”
Alessandra looked at her.
“So there is something to destroy.”
Marcia said nothing.
Colin reached for the phone.
Alessandra pulled back.
“Don’t touch me.”
“I’m not touching you. Give me the phone.”
“No.”
“Alessandra.”
“No.”
Theo began crying.
The sound tore through her.
She turned toward him.
Colin grabbed the phone from her hand.
Alessandra stared at him.
“Give it back.”
“Not until you calm down.”
Something in her face must have frightened him.
He softened his voice.
“Listen to me. I love you.”
She felt nothing.
“I love Theo.”
Still nothing.
“I made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“I was trying to protect the company.”
“By forging my signature?”
“I didn’t forge anything.”
“Then who did?”
Colin looked at his mother.
That glance told Alessandra more than a confession.
Marcia stepped forward.
“You signed the authorizations.”
“No.”
“You don’t remember.”
“I didn’t.”
“You were tired.”
“I did not sign them.”
Marcia shrugged.
“That’s the problem, isn’t it?”
Alessandra stared.
“What?”
“You don’t remember half of what you do anymore.”
The words sounded practiced.
Almost rehearsed.
Alessandra felt cold.
Colin looked at his mother sharply.
“Mom.”
But Marcia continued.
“You forget bottles. You forget conversations. You fall asleep holding the baby.”
“I have never fallen asleep holding Theo.”
“You did yesterday.”
“No.”
“I saw you.”
“You’re lying.”
Marcia’s voice became almost gentle.
“Alessandra, everyone can see you’re struggling.”
Everyone.
The word frightened her.
“Who is everyone?”
Marcia did not answer.
Alessandra looked at Colin.
“What have you told people?”
“Nothing.”
“What have you told people?”
“Stop.”
Her vision blurred.
She had not eaten since breakfast.
Her hands were shaking.
She needed to sit down.
Instead, she moved toward Theo.
“I’m taking him upstairs.”
Marcia stepped between them.
“No.”
Alessandra froze.
“Move.”
“You’re not steady.”
“Move away from my child.”
“I’m trying to keep him safe.”
The room became silent.
Colin whispered, “Mom.”
Alessandra looked from Marcia to Colin.
Then she saw it.
Not just financial theft.
Something else.
Something worse.
“You’re trying to make me look unfit.”
Nobody answered.
Her pulse hammered.
“You’re documenting me.”
Marcia’s expression changed.
Just slightly.
Enough.
Alessandra backed away.
“You are.”
Colin said, “Nobody is doing that.”
“You’re lying.”
“Alessandra.”
“You’re trying to take Theo.”
“No.”
“Then let me pick him up.”
Marcia did not move.
Alessandra stepped around her.
The room tilted.
She grabbed the dining chair.
Marcia rolled her eyes.
“Here we go again.”
Alessandra tried to breathe.
The front door opened.
She heard footsteps.
Then her knees gave way.
The last thing she heard before hitting the floor was Marcia saying,
May you like
“She’s lazy. Let her get herself up.”
And then Giorgio Moretti walked into the room.
