"Here it is." Max shoved the garbage bag containing $200,000 in cash to the man wearing a black suit.

The kidnappers opened the passenger seat door, removed Caroline's blindfold, pulled her out from the car and pushed her toward Max. "She's all yours." They went in their car and zoomed away.

"Max!" Caroline put her arms around Max. I knew you'd come through. I had no doubt about it.

Max held on to Caroline. "Thank God you're alright. You're safe now." She whispered.

I know I'm safe when I'm with you. Her eyes glistened as she looked into Max's eyes and she swiftly darted them away.

"How did you get the $200,000?", asked Caroline curiously. She knew that they had nowhere near this amount saved up in their dream fund.

Max thought for a second whether she should tell Caroline the truth. She replied briefly. "I have my ways." Then, she asked. "Do you recognise any of the kidnappers? Why would they target you? Everyone knows you or your dad have no money left. Unless they have been living under a rock for the past year and a half…"

"I was blindfolded the entire time so I was not able to see any of their faces. But I did hear one of them say they wanted to get back at Martin Channing." Caroline shrugged. "I guess some people still hold a grudge against my dad for what he did. Some people lost their life savings because of him. You saw how the people in the trial were…it was like my dad was the devil." Martin Channing may be an amazing dad and the best dad that she could ever hope for. But to the rest of the world, he was a fraud, a con man, a hustler. She already learned to accept this fact.

Max understood what she meant. Had she been one of the victims of such fraud, she probably would have harboured a deep hatred and desire for vengeance against the Channings too. She glanced at Caroline. Her eyes were droopy and her shoulders sagged. It was the first time she'd seen her without her usual glow, her radiance, her energy. "You've had too much for the day. I'll flag down a cab to take us home."

—

Caroline lay on her bed staring up at the ceiling. She couldn't sleep at all. Her mind struggled to make sense of what she was feeling. Should I tell her? Am I sure about this? What if she dismisses it like she's done many times before? Would she still want to be my friend?

She heard Max coming out of her bedroom, heading towards the kitchen counter. She yawned and noticed that Caroline was already awake as well. "Why are you up so early?"

Caroline sat up on her bed. "I couldn't sleep. I need to talk to you about something."

"I have something to tell you too. But you go first. Yours sound more serious than mine." Max replied, as she prepared the coffeemaker.

"When I was kidnapped, I really thought my life would end." She paused as she wiped away the tears that started to form in her eyes. "The only thing that kept me going was…I knew you would come for me. The thought of seeing you again…"

"Stop it. You're making me cry." Max sniffed. She went over to Caroline and gave her a hug. "Of course, I'd come get you. You'd do the same for me."

"My mind is still overwhelmed with everything that's happened. I'm still confused…all these emotions are running through me right now." She paused and bit her lip softly. "I think I'm falling - "

Before she could finish her sentence, something on the wall caught her eye - a new painting. It reminded Caroline of Johnny's sketches that Max used to keep. "Oh, did you buy one of Johnny's paintings?" She asked, pointing to the work of art. "It accents our wall nicely. I can't believe such a jerk could create something so pristine and beautiful."

"He gave it to me."

"What? Why did you accept it?" Caroline asked incredulously. "He cheated on you, remember?"

She didn't want to take it but she had no choice. He forced it on to her. It was a daily reminder of their pact. "I know that. Maybe I'm hoping that he has changed." Max responded, trying her best to be convincing. Sadly, she couldn't even fool herself into believing her own words.

"Once a cheater, always a cheater. What's gotten into you?"

"You sound like Donald Duck now. Stop quacking on me!" Max said sternly. As if she could forget what happened with Johnny. She was all over him that time and he broke her heart.

Caroline put her hands up. She didn't want to argue with the person who just saved her life. "Okay, I will get off your back. I just can't believe you're trusting him so easily."

"Just stop now. Can you just be silent…for like one day? Geez."

I don't get it. How can she get over it just like that? Caroline kept quiet. She didn't dare press her more. I'll just tell her tomorrow. Maybe she'll have cooled off by then.

The tension in the room was broken by three knocks on the door. Max peeped through the hole and saw Johnny standing tall with a confident smile on his face. She let her in.

"I did overhear snippets of what you girls were talking about." Johnny said casually. "I have to agree with Caroline. I was a jerk, even an asshole. But I'm a changed man." He grabbed on to Max's hands and caressed them. He gazed into her eyes and said. "I don't care if it takes ten, twenty or even thirty years. I'll prove it to you, Max. I love you and I'm really serious this time." He brought her closer into his arms and leaned in to kiss her lips.

There was no point resisting. She owed him and she was obliged to keep her word. She kissed him back gently.

Caroline observed them in disbelief. How can Max fall for all his crap? I will kill him if he breaks her heart again. Then, her heart sank as the realisation set in. I missed my boat again.