But the cast he wore, I am told, became a kind of permanent private symbol to everyone who knew the story — the mark of the exact moment a man’s delusion of ownership met a woman who declined to be owned, and shattered against her.

Chapter 18 — He Still Doesn’t Understand

There was a note clipped to the back of the file, from my attorney.

Luca’s counsel had reached out, it said, requesting a confidential meeting to discuss — the phrase was extraordinary — reconciling public perceptions, and to explore amending the protective order.

Per my standing instructions, the request had been flatly refused, and his lawyer reminded that any further contact would violate the court decree.

I set the note down and let out a slow breath, because it told me that Luca, even now, even after everything, still did not understand the first thing about what had happened to him.