Chapter 10 - The Song of the Sun
One year later.
The grand dining room of the Russo estate was bathed in golden afternoon sunlight.
The long thirty-foot diplomatic table was gone. In its place stood a beautiful, warm round oak table surrounded by comfortable woven chairs.
The walls were decorated not with expensive classical oil paintings, but with framed crayon drawings—purple butterflies, wooden birds, golden puppies, and bright yellow suns drawn by three happy little girls.
At the center of the table sat a birthday cake decorated with five bright candles for Mia's fifth birthday.
Surrounding the table were Arthur, his wife, several family friends, and the estate staff—all laughing, chatting, and enjoying fresh grilled food and wine.
At the head of the table sat Dominic, holding a camera, capturing every smile, every laugh, every second of his family's paradise.
Elena stood beside Mia’s chair, helping her blow out the candles on her cake.
Mia took a deep breath, blew out all five candles in one go, and the entire room erupted into happy cheers and applause.
"What did you wish for, Mia?" Lucia asked eagerly, taking a bite of her strawberry slice.
Mia looked up at her big sisters, then looked at Dominic, and finally reached up to wrap her small arms tightly around Elena’s neck.
"I don't need to wish for anything," Mia declared loudly and proudly, her clear, beautiful voice echoing through the entire room. "I already have everything!"
Elena kissed Mia’s chubby cheek, setting her down on the grass so she could run off to play with the puppy and her sisters near the open garden doors.
Dominic walked over to his wife, setting his camera down on the table. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest, looking down into her eyes with endless devotion.
From the sunny garden outside, the voices of his three daughters drifted back into the warm house.
They were running through the purple lavender, holding hands, singing together in clear, sweet, joyous harmony:
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine... You make me happy when skies are gray... You'll never know, dear, how much I love you... Please don't take my sunshine away...”
Dominic leaned down and kissed Elena deeply on the lips—a slow, passionate, soul-bound kiss that sealed every promise, every triumph, and every dream they had fought for.
The darkness was gone forever.
The ice had melted.
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And in the warm, golden light of their home, the music would never end.
THE END
