Chapter 2: What He Saw in the Hallway
He didn't raise his voice when he said the wedding was canceled. That was what made the room feel colder than the marble. Bianca's hands tightened once more on the crystal jug and then loosened, like she couldn't decide if holding it helped her or made her look worse. She was still in the foreground of that chandelier-lit room, and Alessandro was close enough now that I could see the silver watch on his left wrist catch every small movement.
I was still on my knees. My right wrist throbbed under the yellow glove where the skin was scraped, and a thin line of water had run down into the cuff. I tried to keep my breathing even the way I do when Sofia has a nightmare and I need to stay calm for her. The housekeeper's office where Sofia waited was down the side hall past the pantry. I couldn't see her but I knew she had heard. That first small plea, "Please help my mama, the pretty lady is hurting her," kept replaying in my head in her exact voice.
Alessandro looked past Bianca toward the hallway, then back at me. His expression didn't soften, but it shifted from scrutiny to something more focused, like he was sorting what was verifiable from what was performance.
"Stand up," he said to me, not unkindly. It wasn't a request. I pressed my gloved palm flat to the floor and pushed up. My knees ached. The apron had a damp spot where water had pooled. Bianca took a half step back when I rose, putting the jug down now on the low table beside the French doors with a soft glass clink that sounded too loud.
"Alex, listen," Bianca said. Her tone tried to go warm and thready at once. "She became hysterical. I was trying to help her and she —"
He cut her off without lifting his hand. "You were holding a pitcher over her while she was on the floor."
Bianca's mouth opened. She blinked once, fast. "I asked her to clean the scuff and she started shouting. I thought she was going to — " She stopped and looked at me. "Tell him. Tell him you overreacted."
I didn't look at her. I looked at the doors. The hallway beyond was pale blue and empty now, but a shadow moved near the pantry. Probably Mrs. Keller, the housekeeper, who must have heard Sofia.
"My daughter is in the back office," I said. My voice was steadier standing. "I didn't shout."
Alessandro studied my wrist. "May I see?" he asked. I hesitated, then pulled the yellow glove down just enough. The red abrasion stood out sharp against my skin, moist at the edge where water had gotten under. He didn't touch it. He just looked, brow furrowed, breathing slow.
Bianca made a small sound. "It's not what it looks like. She said my daughter would disappear if I told — wait, no, I didn't —" She caught herself, realizing she'd repeated my words wrong.
He turned his head to her fully. "She said my daughter would disappear if I told," he repeated, quoting me exactly, and his eyes stayed on Bianca. "Did you say that to her?"
Bianca's face went pale under the makeup. She gripped the edge of the table. "Alex, you can't believe — I was upset. We have the engagement dinner this weekend and she's been —"
"Bianca." His voice was flat. "What did you hear, Bianca? The wedding is canceled."
The phrase landed again and this time she heard the finality in it. She swallowed. Her eyes went to the hallway, as if looking for an exit that wouldn't make her look like she was fleeing.
From the side hall, Mrs. Keller appeared in the doorway, holding Sofia's hand. Sofia was six, her hair in a ponytail, her backpack too big for her shoulders. She pressed against Mrs. Keller's leg and stared at me, then at the jug. Mrs. Keller didn't come in. She just stood at the threshold, waiting to be told what to do.
Alessandro saw them. He lowered his hand. "Mrs. Keller, take the child to the kitchen," he said. "Stay there."
Mrs. Keller nodded and gently turned Sofia away. Sofia looked back once over her shoulder at me and I gave her a small nod that I hoped said I was okay. When they were gone, Alessandro turned back to us.
May you like
"Bianca, step into the hall," he said. "Elena, come with me to the kitchen in a minute. I want to hear what happened without anyone else in the room."
Bianca's lips parted like she wanted to argue, but his stare held. She let go of the table, lifted her white skirt just enough to step around me without touching me, and walked toward the pale blue hallway. Her sleeves brushed the doorframe. I remained standing by the low table where the crystal jug sat empty, my gloved hand at my side, while Alessandro waited until she was fully out of the room before he looked at me again and tipped his head toward the hallway, indicating I should follow, but not before he glanced once more at the red mark on my wrist as if memorizing it.
