Chapter 4 - LUCA WON’T GO TO HER
For three days, Luca rejected Bianca.
Not dramatically.
Babies rarely performed clean narratives for adults.
He ate when she fed him if Dominic sat nearby.
He tolerated her in the room.
He even laughed once when she made a spoon disappear behind her back.
Then she tried to lift him.
His body stiffened.
Both hands closed against his chest.
He turned toward Dominic.
“Da.”
Bianca froze.
Dominic noticed the movement.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You stopped.”
“He’s being difficult.”
Dominic’s expression changed.
“Don't call him difficult.”
Bianca stared.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
That was the problem.
He did.
For months, Bianca described any resistance from Luca as misbehavior.
Talia described it as communication.
Dominic had considered the distinction sentimental.
Now it bothered him.
He began watching.
Not testing Luca.
Not deliberately staging interactions.
Simply being present.
Bianca entered the nursery.
Luca’s shoulders rose.
Bianca left.
He relaxed.
Martin entered.
No response.
Housekeeper Ana entered.
Smile.
Dominic entered.
Arms up.
None of this proved abuse.
A fourteen-month-old could prefer familiar caregivers.
And Talia had spent more daily time with him than Bianca.
Dominic knew enough not to turn attachment into evidence.
But he also knew enough not to ignore patterns.
The pediatrician, Dr. Priya Menon, examined Luca that afternoon.
The faint wrist redness had nearly disappeared.
“No injury,” she said.
“Could you tell how it happened?”
“No.”
“Could someone gripping him cause it?”
“Yes.”
“Could a caregiver carrying him cause it?”
“Potentially, depending on pressure.”
Dominic nodded.
No miracle answer.
Dr. Menon looked at him.
“Are you asking because there was an allegation?”
“Yes.”
“Then document without leading.”
“He can’t talk.”
“Children communicate before language.”
Dominic’s eyes moved.
She continued:
“But behavior is not a lie detector. Don’t decide first and interpret him afterward.”
That sentence stayed with him.
At home, Bianca asked:
“What did she say?”
“No injury.”
Relief flashed across her face.
Then:
“So Talia exaggerated.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Talia never said he was injured.”
Bianca stopped.
“What?”
“Her log says no injury observed.”
Bianca recovered.
“Well, good.”
Dominic watched her.
“Did you read the log?”
“No.”
“Then how did you know what she wrote?”
Bianca stared.
He had not intended to trap her.
The question simply arrived.
“She complained about everything.”
“That's not what I asked.”
“Dominic, this interrogation is getting ridiculous.”
She walked away.
He did not follow.
That evening, Aaron Pike sent the full audit report.
The deleted note had been removed from Bianca’s iPad using her administrator credentials.
No ambiguity.
Dominic read the report in the library.
Then reread the original note.
Talia had not accused Bianca of abuse.
She had written a neutral childcare recommendation.
Support under torso rather than arm.
No injury observed.
Why delete that?
Because the note created a record that Bianca had been corrected.
Dominic thought about status.
About her obsession with what staff said.
He called Serena Walsh.
“This is Dominic Rinaldi.”
A pause.
“Yes, Mr. Rinaldi.”
“Do not close your investigation.”
“We won't.”
“I also do not support a conclusion that Talia hurt Luca.”
Serena was silent.
“Would you put that in writing?”
“Yes.”
“Why now?”
Dominic respected the question.
“Because I have information that complicates the complaint.”
“Can you share it?”
“Through counsel.”
“Fine.”
Then Serena said:
“Mr. Rinaldi.”
“Yes.”
“Talia’s career is already being affected.”
His jaw tightened.
“How?”
“Families have withdrawn inquiries.”
“Because of your agency?”
“No.”
Serena’s tone cooled.
“Someone outside our process is discussing the allegation.”
Dominic knew exactly who.
He found Bianca in the dressing room.
“Did you speak to anyone about Talia?”
Bianca did not turn.
“Define anyone.”
His expression hardened.
“Did you tell other families she hurt Luca?”
“I warned people.”
“About an allegation that has not been established.”
“She hurt him.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
Dominic’s voice grew quieter.
“You were the only person who claimed to see it.”
Bianca turned.
“And I’m not enough?”
He looked at her.
“For truth?”
A long pause.
“No one is.”
Bianca stared as though he had betrayed her.
Dominic left.
Behind him, her face changed.
Fear now.
Not because he knew everything.
May you like
Because he had stopped treating her certainty as proof.
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