Chapter 9 - The House of Sunshine
One year later.
The grand courtyard of the Cross estate was decorated with hundreds of fairy lights, white roses, and golden banners. Upbeat jazz music played softly from the terrace speakers as over two hundred guests—business partners, community leaders, and close friends—gathered on the lawn.
Today was a double celebration: Aria’s seventh birthday, and the official opening of The Nora & Aria Pediatric Foundation—a fifty-million-dollar charity built by Damian and Maren to provide free medical care and safe housing for widowed mothers and sick children across Chicago.
Near the grand fountain, Aria and Nora—now five—were running around in matching white party dresses, wearing flower crowns in their hair, laughing as they pulled Leo by his hands toward the birthday cake.
"Uncle Leo! Come on! It’s chocolate!" Aria cheered, pulling the giant security chief effortlessly toward the table.
"I'm coming, Miss Aria! I'm coming!" Leo laughed, entirely wrapped around the finger of both little girls.
On the terrace balcony, Damian stood with his arm wrapped tightly around Maren’s waist.
Maren wore an elegant emerald green gown, a stunning diamond ring sparkling on her left hand. She leaned back against Damian’s chest, watching the children play in the sunlight below.
"Look at them," Maren whispered happily, resting her hand over Damian’s arm. "A year ago, Aria wouldn't leave her bed."
"A year ago, I didn't know what it felt like to live," Damian replied, pressing a soft kiss against her neck. "You saved us, Maren. Both of us."
Down on the lawn, Nora stopped running, holding her stuffed lion high in the air. "Look, Barnaby! The sunshine is everywhere!"
Aria ran up beside her, grabbing Nora’s hand, both little girls turning toward the balcony to wave at their parents.
"Mommy! Daddy! Look!" Aria shouted, her bright, beautiful smile lighting up the entire estate. "The featherless dragons are flying away!"
Damian and Maren laughed together, waving back at their daughters.
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The darkness that had once ruled the Cross family had vanished completely, burned away by the innocent courage of a four-year-old child and the unconditional love of a mother.
The broken mafia boss was broken no longer. He was a husband, a father, and a man who had finally found his home in the warmth of the sunshine.
