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His words were the catalyst I needed. Standing up from the bed, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead—a seal on our conversation and a promise made.
“I will,” I whispered against his skin.
Pulling away, I felt an unfamiliar lightness—a clarity that danced like sunlight on water. It was as if his understanding and support had cut through all hesitation, leaving only courage in its wake.
***
Josie’s eyes lit up, a mirror to the hope flickering in my chest. I recounted every word Dad said, his voice still clear in my mind despite the weakness that gripped him.
“He actually said that about Cass?” Josie’s disbelief softened into a smile that stretched from ear to ear. “Uncle Theo’s always been a tough cookie. If he’s on board, that’s like the universe giving you a thumbs up.”
“Yeah, he sees something in Cass… something good.” My fingers danced along the edge of the kitchen counter, tracing patterns as if they could draw out the future. “It’s strange. It feels like I’ve been holding my breath and now…”
“Now you can breathe, Mila.” Josie reached across the counter, her hand squeezing mine with enough warmth to melt away any lingering frost of doubt.
I let out a laugh, airy and light, like the bubbles in the champagne I sipped at the masquerade ball. “I guess I can.”
“And you’ve got us.” Josie gestured between herself and an imaginary Melody by her side. “We’re your ride-or-die, remember? Cass or no Cass, community center or penthouse parties—we’re here.”
In that small kitchen I felt it—a sense of unity that no masquerade could disguise. This was my circle, my unwavering foundation.
Dad had given his blessing, Josie radiated joy for me, and even though Melody wasn’t there, I knew she was cheering us on. Together, we’d turn this page. Together, we’d write the next chapter—one where love didn’t just exist in fairy tales but stood resilient in the face of reality.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Cassius
The boardroom bristled with tension, the air heavy with unspoken accusations. I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, my gaze shifting from one stony face to another. They weren’t just business partners; they were old friends who had stood by me through the grit and grind of building an empire.
“You’ve lost your edge, Cass,” Michael, the most vocal among them, said with a scoff. “Ever since you started seeing that… what’s her name? Mila?”
The rest nodded, their agreement silent but potent.
I straightened up, eyes narrowing. “What’s this really about?”
“It’s about you putting some community center above our investment returns,” Sarah chimed in, tapping her pen against the polished table. “You’re letting personal matters cloud your judgment.”
I let out a short laugh. “My judgment has never been clearer.”
“Come on, Cass.” Tom leaned forward, elbows on the table. “We all know you’ve got a soft spot for rags-to-riches stories, but this is going too far.”
Their words circled like vultures over a carcass, picking apart the changes they saw in me.
“You’re letting her get to you,” Michael added with a shake of his head.
They were right. Mila had gotten to me. She’d gotten under my skin and rewired my priorities without even trying.
I rose from my chair, the leather creaking under the shift of my weight. “Maybe I have changed,” I admitted as I walked over to the window overlooking the city we had helped shape. “But not in the way you think.”
Turning to face them, I saw the reflection of who I once was in their eyes—hungry for success at any cost.
“Mila reminded me that there’s more to life than profit margins and shareholder value,” I continued, meeting their gazes one by one. “She showed me what real struggle looks like—fighting for something that genuinely matters.”
“You’re talking about a community center like it’s some kind of noble cause,” Sarah said with a snort.
“It is to those people.” My voice was firm, resolute.
“And what about us?” Michael asked, spreading his arms wide. “What about our plans? Our investments?”
