Sofia tightened her arms around the rabbit.
"I made him a picture."
Lorenzo's expression changed.
He hated being ignored, especially by a child.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you."
Sofia slowly raised her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
She did not know.
She simply wanted him to stop being angry.
Lorenzo grabbed her arm.
The little girl winced.
"Come with me."
"But I want to see Uncle Alessandro."
"I said come with me."
He pulled her toward a nearby corridor.
Sofia stumbled, nearly dropping her rabbit.
At that exact moment, the enormous entrance doors opened.
The conversations inside the ballroom slowly faded.
Two security officers entered first.
Then came a tall, broad-shouldered man with silver hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and eyes that seemed capable of seeing through every lie.
Alessandro Moretti had returned.
He wore a black tailored suit over a black turtleneck. His expression was emotionless, his movements controlled, and his presence immediately commanded the attention of everyone in the room.
Behind him walked Victor, his most trusted bodyguard, a former military officer who had protected Alessandro for fifteen years.
The guests rose.
Nobody wanted to remain seated when the most powerful man in the room had arrived.
"Welcome home, Don Alessandro," one of the older businessmen said.
Alessandro gave a slight nod.
"Thank you."
His eyes moved across the room.
He noticed the guests, the security personnel, the expensive decorations, and the familiar faces.
Then he saw something that made him stop.
A young man was pulling a little girl by the arm.
The child was struggling.
Her head was lowered, and her small hands were desperately trying to protect the stuffed rabbit she was holding.
Alessandro's expression hardened.
"What's happening?"
Nobody answered.
Lorenzo looked up.
For one brief second, his face showed genuine surprise.
Then he smiled.
"Uncle. You're back."
He released the little girl's arm and walked toward Alessandro.
"Everything is under control."
Alessandro did not look at him.
He was watching Sofia.
The little girl had recognized him.
Her lips parted slightly.
"Uncle..."
It was barely a whisper.
But Alessandro heard it.
He took one step forward.
Sofia tried to run toward him.
Lorenzo immediately caught her again.
"Not now, Sofia."
The little girl flinched.
That tiny movement changed everything.
Alessandro's eyes narrowed.
"Let her go."
Lorenzo hesitated.
"Uncle, she's been misbehaving."
"I said let her go."
The second command was quieter.
And infinitely more dangerous.
Lorenzo released her.
Sofia immediately ran toward Alessandro.
But before she could reach him, she stumbled over the edge of a decorative carpet and fell to her knees.
Her stuffed rabbit slipped from her arms.
She began crying.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
It was the quiet, frightened crying of a child who had learned that making noise could bring more trouble.
Alessandro stared at her.
For a moment, he saw Elena.
He saw the little girl who used to run through the garden, laughing as he chased her beneath the trees.
He remembered carrying her on his shoulders.
He remembered promising that nobody would ever hurt her.
Then he looked at the child kneeling before him.
And something inside him broke.
He immediately lowered himself to one knee.
"Sofia?"
The little girl looked up.
Her blue eyes were filled with tears.
"Uncle Alessandro?"
He gently touched her cheek.
"I'm here, sweetheart."
She stared at him as though she was afraid he might disappear.
Then she threw both arms around his neck.
Alessandro closed his eyes.
He had received death threats without blinking. He had watched powerful men beg for their lives without feeling sympathy.
But the moment that little girl hugged him, his hands began to tremble.
"I'm sorry," Sofia whispered.
Alessandro pulled back slightly.
"Sorry? For what?"
"I didn't mean to make trouble."
His expression changed.
"Who told you that?"
Sofia looked toward Lorenzo.
The room became silent.
Alessandro followed her gaze.
Lorenzo immediately raised his hands.
"Uncle, please. This is a misunderstanding. She's emotional. Children exaggerate things."
Alessandro slowly stood.
He was still holding Sofia's hand.
"Victor."
His bodyguard stepped forward.
"Yes, sir?"
"Take the child somewhere comfortable. Find Maria. Make sure she gets something warm to drink."
Sofia tightened her grip on Alessandro's fingers.
"No."
He looked down.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"Please don't leave me."
Those five words struck him harder than any bullet.
He crouched again.
"I'm not leaving you."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
She studied his face.
Then she finally allowed Victor to take her gently toward a nearby sitting room.
Before disappearing through the doorway, she turned around.
Alessandro smiled faintly.
It was the first genuine smile anyone had seen from him in months.
Then the door closed.
And the smile disappeared.
He turned toward Lorenzo.
"Explain."
Lorenzo swallowed.
"She's been difficult since her mother died. You know how children can become after losing a parent. We've tried everything to discipline her."
"Discipline?"
"She refuses to listen. She interrupts important meetings. She cries constantly. Sometimes she refuses to eat."
Alessandro remained silent.
Lorenzo interpreted that silence as an opportunity.
"Someone had to establish boundaries. You were away, and the household needed someone responsible."
Alessandro slowly approached him.
"How long have you been responsible for this household?"
"Three weeks."
"And how long has Sofia been crying?"
Lorenzo's confidence began to disappear.
"I don't know what you mean."
"How long?"
"I..."
Alessandro grabbed the front of his jacket.
Not violently.
Not yet.
But firmly enough that every person in the room understood that Lorenzo was no longer in control.
"She apologized to me because she was afraid of making trouble."
Lorenzo tried to pull away.
"Uncle, you're overreacting."
Alessandro leaned closer.
"She is six years old."
Nobody moved.
"Six years old, Lorenzo. She lost her mother. She lost her father. And the one person who was supposed to protect her has been making her afraid to breathe."
Lorenzo's face turned pale.
"That's not true."
Alessandro released him.
Then he looked toward Victor.
"Bring me the household records. Every report, every medical appointment, every disciplinary note, and every security recording from the past eight months."