Chapter 1 - THE LAST MEAL“Daddy…” she cried. “But I’m a human being.”

Lucy’s voice shattered the silence of the breakfast room.

For several seconds, Vittorio Bellini simply stood there.

He stared at his twelve-year-old daughter.

Then he stared at the silver dog bowl on the floor.

Then at Bianca.

His fiancée was smiling.

Not nervously.

Not apologetically.

Smiling.

Marcus Hale stood beside the breakfast table, one hand resting casually on the back of a chair as if he were watching some private comedy.

Lucy’s cheeks were wet.

Her knees were bruised.

Her school uniform was stained with crumbs and spilled milk.

And directly in front of her was the bowl.

The same bowl Vittorio had seen his old Labrador eating from every morning for eleven years.

“You were told to finish breakfast,” Bianca said calmly.

Lucy swallowed.

“I said I was full.”

“And I said you eat what you’re given.”

“I don't want dog food.”

Bianca’s expression hardened.

“You’re becoming difficult.”

Vittorio felt something cold crawl through his chest.

He had arrived at the mansion five minutes earlier than expected.

He had planned to surprise Bianca.

Instead, he had walked into a nightmare.

He had seen Bianca pushing Lucy toward the bowl.

He had heard Marcus laughing.

But he still didn't know how long this had been happening.

Then Emma Clark stepped out from near the doorway.

The housekeeper was trembling.

She held her smartphone with both hands.

“Mr. Bellini…”

Vittorio turned.

Emma looked terrified.

But underneath that terror was something else.

Determination.

“Show me.”

She unlocked the phone.

The video began.

Bianca appeared on screen.

The same room.

The same bowl.

The same Lucy.

But this footage had been recorded earlier.

Bianca forced Lucy down by the shoulder.

“Open your mouth.”

“No.”

Marcus laughed from behind the camera.

“She’ll learn eventually.”

Bianca pushed the bowl closer.

“Animals eat when they're hungry.”

Lucy cried.

“I’m not an animal.”

“You behave like one.”

The video continued.

Vittorio’s jaw tightened.

Then Marcus suddenly lunged toward Emma.

“Give me that!”

Emma screamed.

The phone nearly fell.

Vittorio moved.

Fast.

He stepped between Marcus and Emma, caught Marcus by the arm, twisted, and sent him crashing backward through the antique map rack.

Wood exploded.

Glass shattered.

Marcus hit the floor.

Bianca screamed.

“You psycho!”

She lunged toward Lucy.

Vittorio knocked her hand away.

Bianca stumbled backward and fell onto the leather ottoman.

The room became silent.

Vittorio picked up the dog bowl.

He walked toward Bianca.

She stared at him.

“What are you doing?”

He placed the bowl directly in front of her.

“Enjoy your last meal.”

Bianca went pale.

Marcus struggled to sit up.

“This is insane.”

“No,” Vittorio said quietly.

“What happened here is insane.”

His eyes returned to Emma’s phone.

The video was still paused on Bianca’s face.

But there was one thing Vittorio couldn't understand.

Emma had begun recording before he ever entered the house.

That meant she hadn't been surprised.

She had been waiting.

“Emma.”

“Yes, sir?”

“How long?”

Emma’s lips trembled.

“Three months.”

Vittorio froze.

Three months.

Three months of Lucy being humiliated.

Three months of his fiancée abusing his daughter while he traveled between New York, Milan, and London.

Three months of Marcus being present.

Three months of silence.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

Emma looked down.

“I tried.”

“When?”

“Twice.”

Vittorio frowned.

“I never received anything.”

Emma looked toward Bianca.

“She made sure you didn't.”

Bianca suddenly screamed.

“She's lying!”

Emma flinched.

Vittorio stared at Bianca.

“Then explain the video.”

“I was disciplining her.”

“With dog food?”

“She was disrespectful.”

“She was twelve.”

“She needs structure!”

“She needs protection.”

Bianca stood.

Her face had lost all color.

“You're choosing her over me?”

Vittorio looked at Lucy.

Then back at Bianca.

“I should never have needed to choose.”

Lucy suddenly whispered.

“Daddy…”

Vittorio moved toward her.

But Lucy didn't run into his arms.

Instead, she looked toward the staircase.

And whispered something that made Vittorio stop cold.

“Daddy…”

“She isn't the only one.”

Vittorio slowly turned.

“Who?”

Lucy pointed upstairs.

“To the room you told me never to enter.”

A silence fell over the room.

Emma covered her mouth.

Bianca stopped breathing.

Marcus looked at the floor.

And Vittorio suddenly remembered something.

For the past three months, every time he'd asked where the old study key had gone, Bianca had smiled and said:

“I must have misplaced it.”

Vittorio looked at Bianca.

“You've been keeping someone upstairs?”

Bianca said nothing.

Lucy began crying again.

“Daddy…”

“What is in that room?”

Before Bianca could answer, a loud sound came from upstairs.

Three knocks.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Everyone froze.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Then a woman's voice drifted down the staircase.

“Vittorio?”

His blood ran cold.

Because he knew that voice.

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