Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Julian's POV

I had planned to propose to Cassandra in the coming week and also start planning our wedding together, but with Tristan's wedding coming up in two weeks, I decided to postpone our plans until after his wedding.

Cassandra was one of the bridesmaids, but because of her condition, she was not actively involved in the wedding preparations. I was happy that she was taking care of herself, eating well, wasn't at all fussy, looked after Max, and stayed positive and happy. Ever since she left the academy, her health had improved and she looked more energetic. It gave me satisfaction that I was the reason behind her happiness as well. I could do anything to make her happy and the material things I bought for her were nothing in comparison. She looked after me with so much love that I was sure that she loved me.

She enrolled herself in an undergraduate course specializing in Elementary Education and wanted to follow it up with a Montessori Teacher Training course later. I was proud of her. It took a lot of courage to start afresh and she had proved herself again. I had no idea that she was so bright at studies and felt glad that I could give her a chance to chase her dreams.

This time we decided to take Max along for Tristan's wedding and introduce him to the whole family. The last time, I had promised Cassie. Now nothing would make me change my mind. I knew my family. I was sure that they would accept Max just like mom, dad and gran did. So as the days drew nearer, Nora helped Cassie pack up for a three-day trip to Lake George. This time there was no rush to get back home. Cassie explained to Max and he was excited to go "bye-bye". He associated vacationing with the farm that we visited. I explained to him that this time we will see real boats, water, fish, ducks, geese, and fly kites, catch fish, make paper boats, and set them off in the water. He was a bundle of energy asking every day when we would be leaving.

Three days before the wedding we arrived at Tristan's penthouse. The whole family was already gathered as they looked at us surprised. Gran, mom, dad, Anna, and Amelia already knew. So Cassandra introduced Max to the rest of the family.

"This is Maxwell, my 20-month-old son," she said while everyone looked a little stunned but they recovered soon and smiled at Max. "Max, this is great granny, say hello," said Cassie introducing gran to him.

Gran pulled him closer and kissed his cheek and hugged him. "Ale you my daddy's mommy too," Max asked deep in thought.

"No, sweetie, I'm your grandpa's mommy," gran said as Max widened his eyes with realization, staring at dad with curiosity. Amelia came forward to squeeze his cheeks which he didn't like. He squeezed Amelia's cheeks instead.

"Oh, but why your hair is white?" asked Max touching gran's silver-grey hair.

"I'm old, sweetie," said gran looking at him lovingly.

"I don't want mommy to be old," he said, pouting at Cassie.

I picked him up and took him to everyone, introducing him personally. He made friends with Arielle and baby Alexander who immediately bonded with him like long-lost siblings. It amazed us and we repented for not having brought Max before to meet them. It was so easy! Cassie looked quite pleased with the way my family accepted Max and soon we then left for the venue.

It was a beautiful 20-acre lakefront property with panoramic views of the Adirondack mountains, with two private sandy beaches on Lake George. We had a beautiful beachfront family cottage with a private deck offering breathtaking views of the lake.

After checking in, Cassie fed Max, and he went to play and explore, with Stefan, Jason, and Amelia's brother Leo and their children. I wanted to go with Max but Tristan asked me to stay to support him, as he fought his family boycotting the wedding traditions that they deliberately wanted him to follow. He wanted to spend the night before his wedding with Amelia while they wanted to separate them.

The next day was the bridal shower party, and Max and I went kite flying and boating with the rest of the children and all the dads, Stefan, Jason, and Amelia's brothers Leo, Brandon, and Caleb. With everyone accepting me as Max's dad, I felt proud when Max looked up at me the same way Arielle did to Stefan. The children bonded well and had fun. I had never seen Max so excited and happy and I was glad that we had brought him along. He was really a handful when excited. He loved me immensely, I could see, as he kept checking up on me even while playing. By the time we were done, he was too tired to walk so I placed him on my shoulders and walked back.

The next day was the bachelorette party as we attended for a short while, gifting Amelia and Tristan a designer satin bed linen set complete with duvet, pillow covers, and everything. We excused ourselves early as Cassie was nauseous and we went to our room to relax. Max was busy playing with the children as Beth, Arielle's nanny, and Martha, gran's housekeeper looked after them.

I ensured that Cassie was better to attend the wedding the next day. Thankfully the medicine prescribed worked wonders on her health and she fell asleep finally.

The next day was the wedding but a deep longing started in the pit of my stomach. I longed to belong to Cassie for life, to seal our relationship just like Tristan and Amelia would do. Therefore I couldn't help but wonder throughout the ceremony what it would feel like to get married to Cassie. I wished this was our wedding instead. Cassie looked so beautiful and happy that I was in good mood throughout seeing her infectious grin and se*y smile. I couldn't take my eyes off her. She looked so good in her bridesmaid's dress that I couldn't wait to get back home and propose to Cassie and see her happy reaction. I was also waiting to hear what she felt for me. Does she love me as I do? I knew that she loved me and was just too shy to confess her feelings yet I was really impatient to hear it from her mouth.

The reception party was in full swing and I pulled her finally into my arms for a close romantic dance. With everyone dancing with their better halves, Cassie relaxed and danced with me. At that instant, I knew that our wedding would be the one to come up next. I could feel all inquisitive glances upon us but I avoided their curious looks. I had a lot of hard work to do before that.

"Thank you," she whispered, seeing Max in Adrian's arms. The way my family had accepted him unconditionally had touched both of us.

"Thank you for bringing him into our lives." I meant it sincerely and was rewarded with a peck on the lips with a promise for more in the night. She kept her promise and it was my turn now to keep mine.

We left the next day. Tristan and Amelia had gone to Greece for their honeymoon.