Chapter 17 - MASSIMO TRIES TO BAN ETHAN
Dad decided Ethan should not see Elena.
He announced this to me while I was pumping breast milk at two in the morning.
Poor timing.
“He stands beside his mother while you are locked in a room, he does not deserve—”
“Stop.”
Dad stopped.
Elena slept in a bassinet beside me.
Home four days.
Finally.
Tiny.
Three-hour feeding schedule.
I looked at Dad.
“You do not decide who sees my daughter.”
“He endangered—”
“He failed me.”
“Yes.”
“He did not lock the door.”
“He knew—”
“I know what he knew.”
Dad’s jaw tightened.
“I am protecting you.”
“No. You are deciding.”
That word.
He heard it.
I continued.
“Ethan is Elena’s father. If I believe he is unsafe, I will act through law. If I believe he is safe with her, you do not get a veto because you hate him.”
Dad stood.
Walked to the window.
Then:
“I do hate him.”
“I know.”
“Very much.”
“Still not a court order.”
He looked back.
“I raised you badly.”
I laughed.
“You are being dramatic.”
“Finally you admit it.”
He did not ban Ethan.
His bodyguards received explicit instruction:
Ethan permitted if I permitted.
May you like
No one else.
Simple.
