"That you love me, Cass," Franklin said quietly but firmly. "I want to hear it from you."
His tone stripped the moment bare, no teasing, no playfulness, just truth. Everything about her mattered to him. Her words, her silences, the way she hesitated before opening her heart.
He didn't just want her beside him, he wanted to be etched into her life, into her memories, into every version of her future.
Cassie glanced around the room one last time, as though grounding herself. She had always known she loved him. That part was undeniable.
What unsettled her was how overwhelming his love felt, deep, steady, unquestioning. Still, she met his eyes, her voice soft but sincere. "I love you, Frank," she said. "And I want it to be forever."
Relief washed over him instantly. He exhaled
