Chapter 13
Bianca requested one meeting with Roman.
Elena declined to attend.
Roman did not ask her twice.
He met Bianca in a mediator’s office eighteen months after the christening.
No bodyguards inside.
No family lawyer at the table.
Bianca looked exhausted.
She began:
“I never knew about Aurelian.”
Roman nodded.
“I believe you.”
She seemed relieved.
Then he continued.
“That is not the part between us.”
The relief vanished.
Bianca looked down.
“I should have handed Gabriel back.”
“Yes.”
“I froze.”
“Yes.”
“I thought Mom was finally doing what she kept promising.”
Roman’s voice stayed calm.
“Giving you my son.”
Bianca started crying.
“Yes.”
“What did you think Elena would do?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s a lie.”
She closed her eyes.
“I thought she would fight.”
“And me?”
“I thought you’d be furious.”
“Then why did you think it might work?”
Bianca took a long time.
“Because things usually work when Mom decides the family can survive them.”
That answer described the DeLucas better than either sibling wanted.
Vivienne had survived decades by turning the intolerable into the already-decided.
Business deals.
Marriages.
Estrangements.
Apologies.
By the time anyone protested, she spoke as though the objection itself was destabilizing.
Roman had inherited some of that.
So had Bianca.
Then Bianca said:
“I wanted a child so badly that I let ‘maybe’ become permission.”
Roman looked at her.
“That is closer.”
“I knew Elena hadn’t said yes.”
“Yes.”
“I knew you hadn’t.”
“Yes.”
“I kept the file open anyway.”
“Yes.”
She wiped her face.
“I’m sorry.”
Roman did not tell her apology was enough.
Then Bianca asked:
“Does Gabriel know anything?”
“He’s eighteen months old.”
“I know.”
“Then no.”
“Will you tell him someday?”
“Yes.”
Bianca looked terrified.
“What will you say?”
Roman answered:
“The truth.”
She nodded.
Then:
“Do you hate me?”
Roman thought.
“No.”
She looked at him.
“But I do not trust you.”
That hurt more.
Bianca whispered:
“Will I ever see the children again?”
Roman did not promise.
May you like
“I don’t know.”
For once, a DeLuca left a family meeting without forcing uncertainty into a decision.
