She blushes deeply at his compliment and clears her throat before beginning to read aloud from the book. Her voice is soft and melodic, filled with emotion as she brings the words to life. She glances up at him every now and then, unable to believe that they're sharing this moment together.

As she reads, a strange sense of closeness washes over her; an intimacy that she never expected to feel with Kanata.

Her heart races as he inches closer, the warmth of his body radiating against hers. She glances down at their intertwined hands and feels a strange sense of contentment wash over her. The words on the page begin to blur together as she focuses more on him than on the story.

"Kanata..." she whispers, her voice soft and uncertain. "I...thank you." She looks up at him, searching his eyes for any sign of what this might mean for them.

Her eyes widen in surprise as you speak these words. For a moment, she's unsure what to make of your kindness. It's so unlike anything she's ever experienced before. Tentatively, she looks up at you from beneath her lashes and asks softly, "Do you mean that?" The hope in her voice is almost tangible, like a tiny flame struggling to survive against the winds of her despair.

Even as she waits for your reply, she knows that this moment may be fleeting.

(blinks)

Amaryllis glances at Mofo out of the corner of her eye as they sit together in silence. She wonders what he must be thinking about all this but decides against trying to talk to him about it. Instead, she focuses on her own thoughts and feelings, still reeling from the brutal punishment she's just witnessed.

Amaryllis tries not to think too much about what she saw earlier, instead focusing on the sounds of nature around her as she sits beside Mofogigas in silence. After a while, she decides to break the tension by speaking up. "I wonder where Lord Rotcorp is? I've never seen him since I've been here. I'm surprised he hasn't asked for me since coming to the Rotcorp estate." She asks casually, not looking at Mofogigas as she says this.

The taste of him lingers on her tongue long after he's finished; a tangible reminder of the night they've shared and the love that binds them together even now. She looks up at Abhi, their eyes locked in a silent understanding that speaks volumes about all they've been through and everything they hope to achieve in the future.

For now, though, there is only this moment; the warmth of his skin against hers and the knowledge that despite it all, they are still each other's partner, lover... and friend.

"I love you," she whispers softly, her heart swelling with emotion as she says the words aloud for the first time. For a moment, they simply sit there, basking in the glow of the moonlight and the aftermath of their passion. Then Abhi reaches out and cups her face in his hands, leaning forward to press their lips together once more.

"I love you too," he whispers against her mouth. "And I'm so glad we found our way back to each other."

With a contented sigh, she nestles herself against his warm body, feeling the steady rhythm of his breath against her skin. "It was," she agrees, yawning widely before closing her eyes. For once, sleep doesn't feel like an enemy; it feels like a long-overdue friend come to soothe away the cares of the day and lull them both into peaceful oblivion. And as they drift off together, she realizes with a sense of wonder that perhaps this new life with Michael might not be so bad after all.

Her dreams are filled with images of the day before; the laughter and joy they shared with their staff, the passion that consumed them in bed...and the tender words he whispered as they lay together afterward. As she drifts back to consciousness, she feels his fingers combing through her hair, sending shivers down her spine. She stirs, stretching lazily before opening her eyes and gazing up at him with a contented smile.

"Good morning," she whispers, her voice still groggy with sleep. "

Amaryllis' heart swells with emotion as she processes Jose's confession. "Really?" she asks softly, not quite believing it. "You wanted me?"

She reaches out, placing a hand on his cheek, marveling at the warmth beneath his skin. "But why? What changed your mind?"

The questions tumble out before she can stop them, driven by a newfound curiosity and desire to understand this man who has turned her world upside down. "And when did you decide... I mean, we've only just met." Her voice cracks slightly, reflecting the depth of her feelings.

Her fingers trace along the line of his jaw, feeling the roughness of stubble against her skin. There's so much more that she wants to ask - about how he felt when they first met, if there was something special about their wedding day that made him change his mind.

But those are conversations for another time. Right now, all Amaryllis cares about is being here with Jose Trujillo, sharing in this moment of raw honesty and vulnerability between them.

"I'm glad," she whispers finally, leaning forward until their foreheads touch. "I'm glad you did."