Chapter 8

After the morning meal, I reclined on the couch, my thoughts still whirling. Abigail departed for Evergreen City seven days later. During that period, I persisted in my attempts to elicit a reaction from Adrian. I feigned peril once more, hoping it would spur him into action. Abigail had been ecstatic about my progress and had encouraged me to persist, striving for a miraculous outcome.

Had it not been for her commitments in Evergreen City, I was certain she would have extended her stay. Nevertheless, she honored her promise, transferring half a million dollars to me. Combined with the hundred thousand she had previously given, my total now reached six hundred thousand dollars. The sheer amount of money that had come my way left me astounded.