Chapter 1 - THE DANCE THAT STOPPED THE ROOM|
“Why would you teach my daughter to say that?”
Luca Moretti’s voice was quiet.
That made it worse.
Twenty-eight guests sat frozen beneath the crystal chandeliers of his Chicago mansion. The musicians had stopped playing. Champagne glasses remained suspended halfway to waiting mouths. Across the room, Vanessa Bellini stood beside the table, her red silk gown catching the light as her face drained of color.
Sophie clung to her father.
The eleven-year-old’s injured ankle rested on a folded napkin while Claire Bennett knelt beside her chair, keeping the swollen foot elevated.
Vanessa forced a laugh.
“Luca, darling, children misunderstand things. Sophie has been emotional all evening.”
Luca didn't look away from her.
“I'm asking you a question.”
Vanessa swallowed.
“I was trying to help her understand that our marriage means change. That's all.”
“By teaching her to kneel in front of me and announce that she doesn't need her father?”
“That isn't what I meant.”
“Then explain what you meant.”
Vanessa glanced toward the guests.
“Can we discuss this privately?”
“No.”
The single word silenced her.
Luca crouched beside Sophie, careful not to touch her injured ankle.
“Sweetheart, look at me.”
Sophie slowly lifted her face.
“Did Vanessa tell you to practice those words?”
The little girl nodded.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Did she tell you I wanted you to say them?”
Sophie hesitated.
Then she whispered, “She said you would be happier if I stopped acting like a little girl.”
Something changed in Luca's expression.
Claire had worked at the Moretti estate for thirteen months. She had seen Luca angry at business associates, impatient with household staff, and frighteningly calm when his security chief delivered bad news.
She had never seen him look devastated.
He gently brushed a tear from Sophie's cheek.
“You never have to stop being my little girl to make me happy.”
Sophie began to cry.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Luca, please. You're embarrassing me in front of everyone.”
He finally turned toward her.
“Your embarrassment is not the emergency here.”
Then he looked at his security chief, Marco DeLuca.
“Cancel the rest of tonight's program. Get Dr. Harris here immediately. Nobody leaves until I know exactly what happened to my daughter.”
Vanessa's face hardened.
“You can't be serious.”
Luca stood.
“I have never been more serious.”
Claire helped Sophie settle back into the chair while Marco called the doctor.
Then Sophie caught Claire's hand.
“Miss Claire?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Please don't let Vanessa take me upstairs.”
Claire looked at her.
“Why?”
Sophie's eyes moved toward the woman wearing her father's engagement ring.
“Because she said that if I told Daddy what happened yesterday, she'd make sure he never believed me again.”
Claire felt a chill run through her.
Luca heard every word.
May you like
He slowly turned toward Vanessa.
And for the first time that evening, his fiancée looked genuinely afraid.
