Chapter 6
The estate’s former night nurse changed the direction of the investigation.
Her name was Janice Keller.
She had worked for the Rossetti household during Luca’s infancy and occasionally returned during family trips.
When news of the hospital incident reached her, she called Claire.
“I think I need to tell you something.”
They met at Claire’s office.
Vittorio attended only after Janice agreed.
She looked uncomfortable from the moment he entered.
“Two years ago, Mrs. Rossetti asked me about something to make Luca sleep during a flight.”
Vittorio remained still.
“What did you tell her?”
“That medication should not be used simply to make a healthy child sleep unless his doctor specifically directed it.”
“And?”
“She was annoyed.”
“Did she ask again?”
“Several times.”
Janice remembered Bernadette complaining that Luca cried during formal dinners and disrupted adult conversations.
“She said children used to understand when they were supposed to disappear.”
That phrase stayed with Vittorio.
Disappear.
Not behave.
Not settle.
Disappear.
Janice refused to recommend anything.
A month later, Bernadette stopped asking.
Janice assumed the matter ended.
It had not.
The family had another pattern.
Luca’s late mother, Sofia, had died when he was eleven months old.
Afterward, Bernadette increasingly involved herself in household decisions.
She chose nannies.
Organized meals.
Set schedules during family events.
Vittorio had been grieving and running the family organization.
He welcomed the help.
That was the uncomfortable part.
He had handed Bernadette space.
She gradually converted space into authority.
Claire asked Janice:
“Did Mr. Rossetti know she wanted medication for Luca?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
Janice looked at Vittorio.
“Because she told me not to bother him with nursery problems.”
Vittorio lowered his eyes.
Nursery problems.
The phrase explained too much.
Bernadette had taken things Vittorio considered minor and built a private system inside them.
He thought he was delegating.
May you like
She thought he was surrendering jurisdiction.
The distinction had nearly harmed his child.
