I walked over to the table and looked down at the papers.

The freedom I had wanted for months was sitting right there, within reach of my hand.

But as I looked at Ethan, I saw the strain in his face, the quiet determination that had kept him alive.

“You don’t have to decide now,” Ethan said gently.

“The storm is bad tonight. You should stay in your room until the roads are clear.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Vivian stood up, her hand resting on the back of Ethan’s chair.

“We have a lot of work to do to clean up the company,” Vivian said. “But the threat is gone.”

She looked at me one last time, a small, genuine nod of respect passing between us.

“Goodnight, my dear,” she said.

She turned and walked slowly out of the library, leaving the two of us alone.

The rain continued to beat against the glass, but the heavy, suffocating feeling in the house was gone.

I looked at Ethan, and for the first time since I had arrived at the Thornton estate, I felt the cold grip of fear release my chest.

“Are you going to sign them?” Ethan asked quietly, gesturing to the papers.

“I don’t know yet,” I said.

I walked to the window, looking out at the dark Hudson River winding through the storm.

The long night was finally over, and the morning would bring whatever choice I decided to make.