Third person's POV
Tabitha wasn't sure how long she had been asleep, but she gradually woke from her slumber in a daze.
She moved her fingers, and the numbness and weakness spread throughout her body as if every muscle was silently protesting the previous ordeal.
Before even opening her eyes, her body felt as if it was being pricked by fine needles, with waves of soreness following one after another.
However, a strange coolness emanated from a certain part of her body, which instantly brought her back to her senses.
She slowly lifted the covers and, upon seeing the unfamiliar yet soft and comfortable pajamas, was taken aback before a blush crept onto her cheeks.
She subconsciously clenched her legs, her mind involuntarily recalling the previous ambiguous scenes, thinking to herself, "He was so meticulous..."
The bed was filled with a faint scent, a mix of some cleaning products and a masculine aroma, suggesting that the man had meticulously cleaned her body and even applied medicine to her private parts.
That's why she didn't feel any swelling or pain, but this considerate care made her heart even more flustered.
Recalling what had happened, Tabitha's cheeks flushed red.
How would she face Wilmot from now on?
Her side was devoid of Wilmot's presence.
She scrutinized her surroundings and realized this wasn't her original room, and the constant rocking sensation from being on a ship was gone.
They were on land.
She was puzzled about how she had simply slept and then found herself ashore.
Tabitha surveyed the unfamiliar environment. Her heart was enveloped in unease.
Suddenly, she thought of her child.
This thought flashed through her mind like lightning, dispelling all embarrassment and confusion.
Her heart raced with anxiety, disregarding her weak and exhausted physical state. She abruptly sat up, and as soon as her legs touched the ground, her knees buckled.
"Thud," she fell face-first to the floor.
Fortunately, a thick plush carpet cushioned her fall, preventing any injury.
However, the impact still left her seeing stars, and she lay there, hands on the ground, gasping for air.
Fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and a few strands of hair stuck messily to her cheeks.
Hearing the commotion in the room, a childish voice called out, "Mommy!"
Ayla ran out from the inner room.
Seeing Ayla unharmed, Tabitha breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ayla," she said, spinning Ayla around to ensure she was unhurt.
Tabitha's mind was still foggy, with no clue about what had transpired.
Her head was filled with questions.
She propped herself up on the edge of the bed and slowly stood, waiting for her body to adjust before leading Ayla out of the room.
As she opened the door, Tabitha was stunned.
Snowflakes were swirling and falling from the sky.
The familiar scenery, the familiar smell, the familiar temperature - everything filled her with both joy and a sense of daze.
She didn't know how to describe the emotions welling up inside her, and tears unconsciously filled her eyes.
"Mommy?" Ayla, not understanding the drastic change in her emotions, held her hand and gently swayed it.
Tabitha wiped away her tears, marveling to herself that this was Seattle.
She had been racking her brain on how to return, only to wake up here after a single sleep.
The events of the past year seemed like an illusory dream: from amnesia to memory recovery, from mother-daughter separation to reunion, from being critically ill to now standing here enjoying the snow.
Only she knew how arduous the journey had been.
She slowly stretched out her hand to catch the snowflakes falling from the sky.
At the turn of the year, she was already twenty-three, yet at this moment, she cried like a child.
"I'm back, I'm finally back!"
"Ms. Hartley," Forrest's voice came through, prompting Tabitha to wipe her tears.
"I apologize. I lost control for a moment. I'm just too excited."
"It's alright," Forrest said softly.
Once Tabitha's emotions settled a bit, she asked, "Where is Wilmot? What happened? How did we end up here?"
Forrest began to explain patiently, "I was about to tell you. Don't worry. I'll go through it step by step. After you disappeared, Wilmot searched everywhere for you. When he found out you were taken to such a dangerous place, he immediately contacted Dr. Romero and borrowed a large sum of money from him."
"As a precaution, Dr. Romero enlisted his friends' help and spent a fortune hiring mercenaries, and that's how we were rescued from the ship. We came back by helicopter. By the way, Dr. Romero also arranged this house. He said it's a place you used to live."
"Dr. Romero?"