Page 48

The fog in my head cleared. His absence, Anya's sneaky glances, the whispers in the study—it all clicked. They'd been planning this.

"You guys—" My voice broke, tears streaming as emotions overwhelmed me.

Gennady pulled me into his arms, his chin resting on my head. "Cassie, you're not some afterthought. You're everything to me, a gift I never thought I'd get."

"Gennady," I whispered, trembling in his embrace. "Do I really deserve this? I'm just… ordinary."

He pulled back, cradling my face, his eyes fierce with conviction. "I love you, Cassie." The words were clear, deliberate, shattering me. "From the moment I saw you, you stole my heart without me even realizing it."

His voice dropped, raw and vulnerable in a way I'd never heard. "I thought my heart was done, broken for good after everything. Then you came along, like a goddamn ray of light, and changed everything."

His confession broke me open. Tears poured, not from sadness but from the overwhelming shock of being seen, accepted, and loved so fiercely.

Anya, catching our emotions, dropped her violin with a clunk and barreled into me, hugging my legs, her face buried in my skirt. She looked up, her blue eyes brimming with tears, and shouted, "I love Miss Monroe too! The most, most, most!"

I scooped Anya up, hugging her tight. "Thank you, both of you."

"No, Cassie," Gennady said, his voice rough with emotion. He wrapped his strong arms around us both, pulling us close. "Don't thank us. We thank you. For coming into our lives, for making this house feel like a home, for making us whole."

Time melted away. The three of us stood there, wrapped in each other, tears mixing in the sea of roses. No words, just hearts colliding. Every doubt, every fear, every moment of confusion washed away in that embrace.

For the first time, I felt truly, deeply loved.

Eventually, the emotional tide ebbed. Gennady pulled back, brushing a tear from my cheek, his eyes bright with anticipation. "Now," he said, offering his hand with a graceful, encouraging gesture, "this is your moment, Cassie. Your stage. Let us hear your soul. Let me see Cassie Monroe's light shine again."

His gaze was so intense, so focused, like my next move was the only thing that mattered in the world.

Excitement and nerves surged through me. My hand shook as I reached for the violin, my heart pounding like a drum. How long had it been since I played for anyone? Would I still be any good?

"But—" I licked my dry lips, nervous. "What if it sounds bad?"

"No, ??? ???????," Gennady said, his hand on my cheek, his voice steady and sure, cutting through my doubt. "You can do this. I believe in you."

"Yeah! Miss Monroe's the best!" Anya chimed in, clapping her little hands, her face glowing with pure adoration, her eyes like tiny sparks igniting my courage.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and lifted the violin to my shoulder. The cool chinrest felt familiar, grounding. I set the bow on the strings.

The first note trembled, tentative, unsure. It was D Major Violin Concerto, my old favorite.

Then, something miraculous happened.

As that first note bloomed, the music took over. My fingers found their place on the fingerboard, muscle memory kicking in like a river breaking free. The melody flowed, alive, every note a piece of my soul. I didn't need to think—it was instinct, carved into my bones.

I felt Gennady and Anya watching, their gazes not heavy but lifting, like a warm embrace. The music became my world, the notes no longer just technique but a song from my heart, swirling through the greenhouse, mingling with the scent of roses.

When I hit the cadenza, the music soared, and I felt it—a power I'd forgotten. I wasn't that scared girl anymore. Here, bathed in love and expectation, I was a woman commanding the room with her music, her light.

The final note lingered, trembling, then faded.

The greenhouse fell into a sacred silence.

I opened my eyes, lashes wet with tears.

Gennady stood there, his green eyes shining with something new—shock, pride, and a love so deep it stole my breath. Anya'sface was red with excitement, tears in her eyes as she clapped wildly. "Miss Monroe! You're like an angel! A glowing angel!"

Gennady stepped forward, brushing a tear from my cheek. "Cassie, you're a goddamn miracle."

My heart shook at his words.