Chapter 5: Marcia's Move
Colin arrived at Giorgio's building at seven forty-five the next morning.
He was not alone.
There was a woman beside him in a grey suit carrying a leather document case.
She introduced herself as Petra Solano, family law attorney.
The front desk called upstairs.
Giorgio told them to send both up.
He met them in the entrance hall.
He did not offer coffee.
He did not offer seats.
"Colin." He looked at his son-in-law.
"You brought a lawyer to my home."
"I have rights," Colin said.
His voice was steadier than it had been the night before.
Someone had coached him.
"Theo is my son.
You can't just take my family."
"Your family." Giorgio repeated the words without inflection.
Petra Solano stepped forward.
"Mr.
Ferrante, we're here to discuss a temporary parenting arrangement while—"
"Ms.
Solano." Giorgio turned to her.
"Are you aware of the prenuptial agreement your client signed?"
A brief pause.
"I've been briefed on—"
"Are you aware of the medical report filed last night documenting four separate bruise injuries on my daughter's body, including injuries consistent with physical force applied three weeks after she gave birth?"
Petra Solano's expression did not change.
But her hand tightened slightly on the document case.
"Are you aware," Giorgio continued, "that I have photographic evidence from a neighbor, timestamped across eight months, including images of my daughter carrying hospital bags up a stairwell alone while the elevator was fully operational?"
Colin's jaw moved.
"Those photos could show anything—"
"They show dates, Colin.
Dates and a woman alone in a stairwell." Giorgio looked at him.
"Your lawyer will tell you what that means in a custody proceeding."
Petra Solano turned to Colin.
Something passed between them — a look that was not reassuring.
"We'd like to speak with Alessandra directly," Colin said.
"No."
"She's my wife—"
"She is currently under medical observation and resting.
You will not speak with her today." Giorgio's voice remained level.
"If you have legal correspondence, send it to my attorney.
His number is on file with your firm.
I checked."
Colin took a step forward.
"You can't keep my son from me."
"I'm not keeping anyone from anyone." Giorgio didn't move.
"When Alessandra is ready to speak, she will speak.
When she decides what she wants, she will decide.
You had two years to be someone she could trust.
You used them differently." He looked at Petra Solano.
"I believe we're done."
She touched Colin's arm.
He shook her off.
"My mother was right about her," he said.
The words came out fast, like something he'd been holding.
"She was always running to you.
Always making herself the victim.
We had a normal life before you started interfering—"
"Colin." Petra Solano's voice was sharp.
But he wasn't finished.
"She wanted to leave me before Theo was born.
Did she tell you that?
She threatened to leave and I talked her out of it.
I did everything I could to keep this family together and she—"
"She stayed," Giorgio said quietly.
"Because she was afraid.
Not because she was loved." He looked at his son-in-law for a long moment.
"That's the difference between what you think happened and what actually happened."
Colin's mouth closed.
Petra Solano guided him toward the door with a firm hand.
At the threshold, Colin turned back.
"This isn't over."
"No," Giorgio agreed.
"It isn't."
The door closed.
Giorgio stood in the entrance hall alone for a moment.
Then he walked to his study and called Renzo.
"They came this morning," he said.
"Colin and a lawyer."
"I know.
I was watching the lobby feed."
"Marcia sent them.
He didn't decide that on his own."
"Agreed."
"I need to know where Marcia is staying.
Her sister's address.
And I need to know if she's made any calls to the building management company for the apartment.
She has no legal standing there anymore but she may not know that yet."
"I'll have it within the hour."
Giorgio hung up.
He looked at the prenuptial folder still open on his desk.
Then his phone rang.
It was his lawyer, Benedetto.
"The deed transfer paperwork is ready," Benedetto said.
"But there's something you need to know before we file."
"Tell me."
"Colin signed a secondary document eighteen months ago.
When you arranged the logistics contract for his firm." A pause.
"Marcia co-signed as a guarantor.
She has a financial stake in the contract.
If you withdraw it, she loses the guarantee and becomes personally liable for the firm's outstanding credit line."
Giorgio sat down slowly.
"How much?"
"Two hundred and forty thousand."
The room was very quiet.
"She knew," Giorgio said.
"She knew the whole time what was at stake if Alessandra left."
"It appears so."
He looked at the window.
The city outside was bright and indifferent.
"Then she wasn't just controlling Alessandra," he said.
"She was protecting her investment."
"That would be my reading, yes."
Giorgio closed his eyes for one second.
Then he opened them.
May you like
"File the deed transfer," he said.
"And pull the contract."
