Chapter 15 - Serena Makes Her Choice
The city woke to scandal.
By eight in the morning, Judge Everett Shaw’s arrest was public.
By nine, reporters surrounded the courthouse, the Duca Crown Hotel, the hospital, and the gates of Roman’s home.
By ten, three state agencies announced investigations.
By noon, every television station in the city was asking the same question:
How deep did the corruption go?
Roman ignored the television.
For once, the crisis outside his marriage felt easier than the silence inside it.
Serena stood in their bedroom finishing the suitcase she had begun packing the previous night.
Roman watched from the doorway.
He did not stop her.
That was the hardest thing he had ever done.
She folded a sweater.
Placed it inside.
Roman finally said, “Where will you go?”
“My sister has a guesthouse.”
“I can arrange—”
He stopped.
Serena looked over.
Roman corrected himself.
“Would you like security?”
“Yes.”
He blinked.
She almost smiled.
“But not six men.”
“Four?”
“Two.”
“Three.”
“Two.”
Roman sighed.
“Fine.”
Serena zipped the suitcase.
Roman’s chest tightened.
“So this is it.”
She looked at him.
“I don’t know.”
“Serena.”
“I need space.”
“I understand.”
“No, I don’t think you do.”
He waited.
She sat down.
“I still love you.”
Roman’s expression changed.
“That is what makes this difficult.”
He approached slowly.
“But loving you cannot mean disappearing inside your fear.”
“It won’t.”
“You can’t promise that after one night.”
“I know.”
“You have twenty years of habits to unlearn.”
“I know.”
“And I have six years of resentment.”
“I know.”
Serena frowned.
“Stop agreeing with me.”
“I thought that was progress.”
Despite herself, she laughed.
Roman smiled.
It vanished quickly.
“When will I see you?”
“I don’t know.”
He looked toward the suitcase.
Serena saw fear return.
This time Roman did not hide it.
That mattered.
“I’m scared,” he said.
She swallowed.
“Of what?”
“That once you discover what peace feels like without me, you won’t come back.”
Serena’s eyes filled.
Old Roman would never have said that.
Old Roman would have arranged cars, lawyers, property, security.
Anything except vulnerability.
She approached.
Touched his face.
“I’m not leaving because I want a life without you.”
Roman closed his eyes against her palm.
“I’m leaving because if I stay right now, we’ll fall back into the same patterns.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
“And Roman?”
He opened his eyes.
“Don’t follow me.”
A faint smile.
“I’ll try.”
“I mean it.”
“Yes.”
“Do not buy the house next door.”
Roman looked offended.
“I wouldn’t.”
She stared.
He sighed.
“I considered it.”
“Roman.”
“I said considered.”
She laughed through tears.
Then she picked up the suitcase.
Roman reached for it.
She let him carry it.
Downstairs, Marta cried openly.
Marcus pretended to receive an extremely interesting email.
Outside, two security officers waited beside a car.
Roman placed Serena’s suitcase in the trunk.
Neither knew how to say goodbye.
Finally Serena held out her hand.
Roman stared at it.
“That feels very formal.”
“It’s public.”
The words landed between them.
A memory of the balcony.
Roman’s expression softened.
Then he ignored her offered handshake.
He stepped forward and embraced her.
In front of guards.
In front of cameras beyond the gates.
In front of anyone watching.
Serena froze.
Then wrapped her arms around him.
Reporters outside immediately began shouting.
Roman did not release her.
Six years earlier, he would have viewed the photographs as a threat.
Today he let cameras capture everything.
When they separated, Serena whispered, “That was reckless.”
“Yes.”
“You’re changing.”
“I’m terrified.”
“Good.”
Roman almost laughed.
Serena entered the car.
As it drove away, Roman remained at the gates.
He did not order anyone to turn cameras away.
By evening, the photograph was everywhere.
ROMAN DUCA EMBRACES WIFE AMID SHAW SCANDAL
But one photo did not repair a marriage.
Over the next six weeks, Roman did something much harder.
He changed when nobody was watching.
He called Serena without asking where she had been.
He answered questions she had stopped asking years ago.
He began therapy, though he told Marcus that information would result in permanent dismissal if repeated.
Marcus immediately told Serena.
Roman attended meetings with investigators.
He opened old records.
Admitted his younger involvement publicly.
Restitution funds were expanded.
Several families received apologies without cameras present.
Serena watched from a distance.
She did not return home.
Not yet.
Then one evening, an invitation arrived.
Cream paper.
Roman’s handwriting.
No assistant.
No staff.
No security instructions.
Only:
The Imperial Hotel. Friday. 8 p.m.
Beneath it:
I owe you a dance.
Serena stared at the card for nearly a minute.
Then she smiled.
May you like
For the first time in six weeks, she opened the burgundy dress bag hanging at the back of her closet.
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