Chapter 10 - THE EMPIRE ROMAN CHOSE TO LET FALL
Gabriel’s trial began eighteen months after Grace first entered the DeLuca estate.
By then Eleanor could not attend a courtroom safely.
Her deposition was recorded across two mornings.
Lucid.
Tired.
Precise.
She described Nora.
Luca.
The charity ledgers.
Gabriel.
Medication.
She admitted memory gaps.
That made testimony stronger, not weaker.
“I do not remember everything.”
Good.
“I remember enough.”
Grace watched from adjacent room only when Eleanor asked.
Roman testified publicly.
Not heroically.
He admitted his own crimes before defense could weaponize.
“Yes, I bribed officials.”
“Yes, I used intimidation.”
“Yes, I benefited from my father’s system.”
“No, none of those facts make my uncle’s signatures disappear.”
Gabriel’s attorney smiled.
“Mr. DeLuca, are you asking this jury to believe you suddenly became ethical after meeting a housekeeper?”
Roman looked toward gallery.
Grace sat back.
He answered:
“No.”
Good.
“I am asking them to believe evidence.”
Pause.
“Grace Miller did not rehabilitate me.”
Grace’s eyes filled.
“I changed because I became unable to keep pretending the cost of my choices belonged to other people.”
Silence.
“And because my mother remembered what our family did to someone she loved.”
Good.
No romance as cure.
Gabriel was convicted on major fraud counts, conspiracy, obstruction, elder-abuse facilitation, and unlawful surveillance.
Not every charge.
Enough.
Sentence likely decades due age.
He looked at Roman after verdict.
“You destroyed your father’s name.”
Roman answered:
“No.”
“My father did.”
There.
Roman’s own sentencing followed months later.
He pleaded guilty to financial and bribery offenses.
Judge cited cooperation, reforms, no prior conviction, and substantial restitution.
Sentence:
Twelve months home confinement.
Three years supervised release.
Major fines.
Forfeiture of certain holdings.
Five-year prohibition on serving as chief executive of DeLuca Capital.
Roman hated ankle monitor.
Grace loved teasing.
“Very fashionable.”
“Leave.”
“No.”
Eleanor stared.
“Does it come in gold?”
“Mother.”
Dr. Hayes laughed.
Home confinement changed him practically.
He lived estate because approved residence.
Grace did not move in.
Important.
She visited.
Sometimes stayed? Need rules perhaps guest stays allowed, but she remained own home.
Roman learned stillness.
Cooked.
Badly.
Read.
Joined video meetings without dominating.
Independent board ran DeLuca Capital better than he expected.
That hurt his ego.
Good.
A legitimate empire survived without him.
The illicit one did not.
Roman’s disclosures led to closure or sale of several private clubs, cash-security companies, and freight intermediaries tied to criminal operations.
He lost men who had called him boss since his twenties.
Some hated.
Some relieved.
Marco restructured security into licensed firm under external compliance.
Henry retired? Maybe later.
Roman donated? Not to cleanse. He placed forfeited? Better not.
He created no public redemption foundation.
Grace approved.
“Good deeds should not become billboard for bad deeds.”
“I know.”
Eleanor’s health stabilized.
Not cured.
She still had bad days.
One bad evening, she slapped Roman again.
Not because angry.
She thought he was Luca.
Grace entered.
Eleanor panicked.
“Don’t let him take you.”
Roman backed away immediately.
Grace sat beside.
“He isn’t Luca.”
Eleanor stared.
“That’s Roman.”
“Your son.”
Eleanor looked.
Slowly recognized.
Her face crumpled.
“Oh.”
Roman stood near door, destroyed.
“I hit you.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“No.”
Eleanor shook head.
“Don’t say okay when hurt.”
Roman swallowed.
“Then I forgive you.”
Better.
Grace looked at him.
He had learned.
Later he cried in kitchen.
Grace found.
He said:
“She is disappearing again.”
“Sometimes.”
“I hate it.”
“Yes.”
“I thought once medication stopped—”
“I know.”
“I wanted a villain because villains can be arrested.”
Grace’s heart broke.
Disease remained.
Not everything had conspiracy.
That mattered.
She held him.
He allowed.
Roman asked:
“Will you stay tonight?”
Grace thought.
“Yes.”
Not because he needed.
Because she wanted.
Months later, home confinement ended.
Roman’s first legal trip outside Illinois? Perhaps not necessary.
He asked Grace:
“Move in?”
She froze.
He saw.
“I’m asking.”
“I know.”
“No deadline.”
“I know.”
“Say no.”
Grace laughed.
“You’re terrible at romance.”
“Yes.”
She thought.
“No.”
His face fell.
Then:
“Okay.”
She touched his cheek.
“Not yet.”
His eyes lifted.
“Later?”
“Maybe.”
He kissed her.
No punishment.
No sulking.
They went on with evening.
Six months later, Grace came to estate carrying two boxes.
Roman stared.
“What?”
“Books.”
“Why?”
“Your library is underused.”
His heart started.
Grace continued:
“I am not moving everything.”
“Okay.”
“Two nights a week trial.”
“Okay.”
“My apartment remains.”
“Yes.”
“If you buy my building, I leave you.”
Roman laughed.
“Understood.”
She moved two boxes.
Then four.
Then a coffee maker because Roman’s remained criminal.
Eventually half closet.
Not all.
Choice by choice.
That was how they built.
May you like
Not one grand transfer.
No one disappeared inside the relationship.
