Chapter 15 - Back to the Ballroom
Roman gave Sophie the choice.
No pressure.
No speeches about being brave.
If she wanted cake somewhere else, they would eat cake somewhere else.
Sophie wanted the gala.
Mostly because Nora told her there would be strawberries.
The ballroom looked almost unchanged one year later.
Same marble.
Same chandeliers.
Same long banquet tables.
Roman noticed every detail.
Sophie noticed the dessert table.
She wore her new pink dress.
Clean.
Untorn.
Her hair was loose.
No one touched it without asking.
Nora wore a dark blue gown.
She entered through the front doors this time.
Not the staff entrance.
Thomas accompanied her.
He looked uncomfortable in formal clothes.
Sophie thought that was hilarious.
Guests turned when Roman entered.
He hated that.
Then Sophie grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the cake.
The room stopped being about Helena.
At least for a while.
The foundation announced the new family-safety fund.
Nora spoke briefly.
She never mentioned Helena by name.
She talked about financial isolation.
About how wealthy families could hide abuse behind reputation.
About giving employees, partners, and caregivers independent access to help.
Roman watched her from the side of the ballroom.
He realized he was proud of her in a way that had nothing to do with their past relationship.
Nora had survived.
Then she built something.
Thomas stood near the back wiping his eyes.
Sophie eventually became tired.
Roman carried her.
As he crossed the marble floor, she pointed toward the exact place Helena had dragged her.
Roman’s chest tightened.
Sophie stared at it.
Then asked whether that was where Grandma had fallen down.
Roman almost laughed.
A child’s memory had rearranged the event.
Helena was no longer the giant figure controlling the room.
She was someone who fell.
Someone gone.
Someone unable to hurt her now.
Roman did not correct the memory.
He kissed Sophie’s forehead.
On the way out, Nora touched Roman’s arm.
Not accidentally.
They looked at each other.
Three years ago, Helena convinced each of them the other had disappeared.
One year ago, the truth forced them back into the same room.
Now neither wanted to rush.
But neither wanted to keep pretending nothing remained.
They agreed to dinner again.
A real date this time.
Then Sophie woke enough to complain that adults talked too much.
Roman carried her outside.
The ballroom doors closed behind them.
No fear.
May you like
No screaming.
No Helena.
