Epilogue

Adam sat up, and Mariah helped him, sitting beside him on the bed. As they found themselves alone, Adam’s demeanor hinted at emotions he was struggling to contain. Mariah, sensing the turmoil within him, waited in confusion until Adam decided to share his thoughts.

“At first, I thought I was dreaming. I thought I was going to die, and then I heard your voice after a while, and something triggered inside my head. And then I knew it wasn’t the first time you were saving my life. It had happened before, and…” Adam paused, capturing Mariah’s full attention. Their eyes met, and she noticed tears streaming down his cheek. “And all the memories came crashing down. The first time you saved my life, when I had you kidnapped, and all our time spent together at the mansion. I always felt a strange feeling that hung between us, but I wasn’t quite able to grasp what it was, and now, finally, I’ve realized what it was…”

Adam’s voice faltered, and both of them were now shedding tears,