Chapter 1 - The Doorway Bianca Was Terrified to Look At
Livia was already crying when Alessandro opened the bridal-suite door.
The room had been prepared for a wedding.
Warm daylight crossed cream-colored walls. Cosmetics covered the lighted vanity. A large mirror reflected the yellow-and-white bridal gown Bianca had chosen for the ceremony.
But blonde hair covered the floor.
Three-year-old Livia stood beside the vanity in her cream floral dress, sobbing while Bianca drove a buzzing pair of clippers through another section of her hair.
BUZZZZ.
More blonde locks fell.
The child’s once-neat hair was now jagged and patchy.
Her scalp remained unharmed.
But she was terrified.
Bianca looked down at her with open disgust.
“YOU STUPID BRAT, YOUR HAIR IS NOTHING BUT TRASH!”
Then the door opened.
Alessandro stepped inside.
Black wedding suit.
Tall.
Broad.
Ready to marry the woman holding electric clippers over his daughter.
He stopped dead.
Hair on the floor.
Livia crying.
Bianca still holding the clippers.
“Dad…”
That single word changed his face.
Shock became rage.
Alessandro crossed the room.
He ripped the clippers from Bianca’s hand.
Then stepped directly between her and Livia.
Rosalie, Livia’s nanny, rushed in behind him and pulled the little girl safely away.
“Stay away from my daughter.”
Bianca opened her mouth.
Alessandro hurled the clippers.
They struck Bianca across the face.
THUD.
She staggered backward, and a dark bruise began forming around one eye.
Before she could regain her balance, Alessandro drove one powerful kick into her stomach.
Bianca flew backward into the vanity.
Cosmetics, brushes, bottles, and powder containers exploded across the floor.
She collapsed beside the ruined vanity.
Dazed.
Conscious.
Alessandro did not attack again.
Rosalie kept Livia safely behind him.
The little girl buried her face against the nanny’s dress.
Then Alessandro reached down to his own hand.
Removed his engagement ring.
And threw it onto the floor in front of Bianca.
CLATTER.
Bianca stared at it.
Alessandro’s voice became cold.
“YOU ARE NO LONGER THE NEW OWNER.”
Bianca’s anger vanished.
Fear replaced it.
But she did not look at Alessandro.
She looked toward the doorway.
As if she already knew who might be standing on the other side.
And that was when Alessandro realized Bianca had never been terrified of losing the wedding.
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She was terrified of losing something she believed the wedding was going to give her.
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