Livia did not invite Dante into her home because she trusted him.
She invited him because Noah had asked whether Mr. Dante could see his map collection, and Livia had realized with a tired ache that refusing every small request would turn Dante into forbidden fruit before she had decided how much truth Noah could hold.
The invitation came with conditions. Mateus would be present for the first hour. Helena would be there. Dante would come alone. No driver at the door, no bodyguard in the hallway, no gifts, no photographs, no comments about the apartment, and absolutely no conversation with Noah about family, fathers, surnames, or the past.
Dante accepted every rule in writing.
Still, when the doorbell rang on Saturday afternoon, Livia's heart behaved as if she had invited a storm indoor
