“I know,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “I promise, from now on, no more secrets. We’ll do it all together.” Together,” she repeated, her voice filled with both forgiveness and resolve. “But you have to show me this cottage. I want to see what you’ve been working on.”
The next day, Paul guided Melissa through the forest, taking care to ensure her journey was as easy as possible. When they reached the clearing, the cottage stood in its full, restored glory, a testament to Paul’s hard work and love.