"Mariana... please, you need to calm down."
Caitlin's voice was a soft plea, laced with worry as she held Mariana close.
Mariana's sobs wracked her body, a torrent of grief and confusion. "Cait, I can't! You don't understand. This emptiness, this fog... I'm so lost, so tired of this, of everything."
Caitlin tightened her grip, her heart breaking for Mariana. She'd been Mariana's nurse for almost two months now, all she thought about was her health and safety, and making her feel better no matter how bad the news might be. But now, she was forced to be a silent observer, a silent witness to Mariana's pain, unable to offer the comfort she desperately craved. Alton had been adamant, he wanted her to not let Mariana know about the kidnapping incident. He feared it would shatter Mariana further. But how could they keep this truth from her forever? When it was the key to understanding her fractured reality.
"Mariana, it's not good for you," Caitlin whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "Please, I can't tell you."
Mariana pushed away, her eyes blazing with a mixture of pain and defiance. "Why, Cait? Why are you keeping this from me? This is my life, my memories, my right to know! Even if it hurts, I need to understand!"
Her voice echoed through the room, a raw cry of desperation.
The door creaked open, and Alton stood frozen in the doorway, his face etched with concern. He saw Mariana's tear-streaked face, her body trembling with anguish.
"Mariana, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice gentle, hesitant.
Mariana turned to him, her eyes fixed on the magazine article clutched in her hand. "Tell me! You said I had an accident? I can't remember, Al, but I'm not stupid. Tell me what happened!"
Alton took a deep breath, his heart heavy. He didn't expect this to happen right now.
"I was trying to protect you, Mariana. You've been through so much, I didn't want to burden you with more pain. I just wanted you to heal."
His voice cracked, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. He had been so afraid of the truth, of the pain it would unleash on her. To remind her of the trauma she had endured. He had wanted to shield her, to give her a chance to rebuild her life with him.
"You don't understand," Mariana said, her voice hardening. "I need to know the truth. If that man hurt me, he deserves to pay. I need him behind bars. He needs to suffer as well."
Her words were laced with a fierce, undeniable anger. The pain she had endured, the confusion she was grappling with, had ignited a fire within her, a desire for justice, for making her feel whole again.
Alton reached out, his hand gently cupping her cheek, wiping away a stray tear. "He's already in jail, baby."
His words hung in the air, his confidence was almost visible in his words. But Mariana shook her head, her eyes filled with a chilling certainty.
"That's not true. I saw him yesterday, in the park. He was there."
Alton's heart sank. He never intended to hear that from her. It made him worried and angry. The first thing that infiltrated his mind was Jack Bryant betraying him, letting his son go near Mariana. And he could never tolerate it. He knew she was telling the truth.
"You need to call the police, Cait."
He commanded. Caitlin, her face pale, rushed to the phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed 911.
"Did he hurt you? What did he do to you?" Alton's voice was a low growl, his concern morphing into a simmering rage.
"He didn't hurt me," Mariana said, her voice trembling. "But he said he'd be waiting for me at a certain location this afternoon."
Alton's eyes narrowed, his green eyes blazing with fury. "We will let the police know about this, Mariana. I'll make sure he never comes near you again. You understand?"
He held her face in his hands, his touch firm yet comforting. Mariana nodded, her trust in him was unwavering. She knew, deep down, that he would protect her and not do anything to make her disappointed.
"I'm sorry for acting like a lunatic," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
Alton leaned down, his lips brushing her forehead. "No, Mariana, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for hiding the truth. I'm just a coward. I just found you, and I don't want to lose you again."
His words were a raw confession, a plea for forgiveness. He had made mistakes, but his love for her was undeniable.
"Tell me what happened, Al," Mariana said, her voice resolute. "I promised you, I'll stay by your side, no matter what."
Her words were a promise. She was ready to face the truth, to confront her past, to heal. But first, she needed to understand it, it didn't matter if she remembered it or not.
"Calum Bryant," Alton began, his voice low and steady. "He kidnapped you. He held you captive for almost three months. There was an operation where the police found him involved, the police found you with him, he shot you, and when you woke up in the hospital, you had amnesia. I was terrified, Mariana. Every day, I was so scared knowing that man had you. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't rest. And when I finally found you, I was dying seeing you in that hospital bed, while the doctors were saying you might not make it."
Tears streamed down his face, his voice breaking.And he continued.
" I don't want to feel that worry again, I love you,and I cannot afford to lose you.
God, I will die without you. "
He had carried the weight of her absence, the fear of losing her, for so long.
Mariana wrapped her arms around him, her body trembling with a mixture of grief and relief.
She didn't say a word.
She understood now, the fear in his eyes, the pain in his voice. She understood the depth of his love, the lengths he had gone to protect her.
They held each other close, their tears mingling, their bodies a testament to the strength of their bond. In that embrace, they found solace, a shared understanding, a promise of healing. She was neglecting that missing piece that her heart had been searching for. Even if he had already found her, her heart was doing its best to keep her lost.
***