The message Mariana had sent lingered like a warm whisper in George's heart. He read it again in the quiet of his room, the soft glow from his desk lamp casting golden light across the words she'd carefully chosen. It wasn't just a message; it was a reminder that even across worlds, they were still walking together—side by side in spirit.
George stood up, heart pounding. He opened the drawer and pulled out a small notebook—his mother's old one, the one Lucia had given him after the funeral. Inside, he had started writing ideas for the foundation, but now, a new page called to him.
He scribbled one word at the top: "Unity."
Across the city, in a cold cell where light barely filtered in, Susana lay awake. Her once-sharp gaze was now vacant, her mind twisting in the echo of voices only she could hear. In her delusions, she believed George was to blame for everything—Mary's death, James's downfall, even her own imprisonment.
She gritted her teeth and whispered to herself, "He'll pay. They'll all pay."
Back in Hammer, Mariana received a reply through her system. George had answered her message.
"No matter how far you are, I feel you. Thank you... for everything. I will protect what you loved. And one day, I'll tell you in person."
Mariana smiled softly. Her time in the small world was nearing a turning point, and she felt the energy shifting around her. The system pulsed gently, reminding her: A new path was about to open.
She closed her eyes and whispered into the wind, "Wait for me, George."