Outside, Maggie dried her eyes and departed from the apartment.

Beside the road, a car awaited. Karl, spotting her, exited the vehicle and assisted with loading her suitcase into the trunk before courteously opening the passenger door for her.

“Thank you," Maggie uttered, her voice quivering with sobs.

Prior to her return to Wragos, she had reached out to Karl, seeking his assistance for a matter.

Karl, aware of her imminent departure and the end of her relationship with Sanford, caught sight of her tear-stained face. He hesitated, as if to speak, but ultimately restrained himself.

Silently, he drove off toward Wragos Airport.

Maggie, phone in hand, gazed vacantly at the night sky through the window.

A message alert brought her attention to a text from Brian.

"Come out." His message was cryptic and brief.

Puzzled, Maggie responded with a pair of question marks.

“I'm outside your room. My room is on the 28th floor. You sleep on the 28th floor tonight," Brian texted back.

The message left Maggie reeling.

Were they still in conflict? Had there been no reconciliation? She pondered.

"Mr. Hughes, didn't Rosalynn inform you I'm back in Wragos?" she inquired.

For a moment, Brian was at a loss for words, eventually replying, "Okay."

Maggie tucked her phone away and returned her gaze to the window.

The rest of the journey was enveloped in silence. After about thirty minutes, Karl arrived at the airport with Maggie.

Taking her suitcase, Maggie addressed Karl, "You don't need to accompany me further. Thanks for your help today. Please, keep my destination today a secret."

Concerned by her swollen, tear-stained eyes, Karl couldn't resist inquiring, “What's going on, Maggie? Why this sudden trip abroad?"

Maggie's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she bit her lip, responding, “Please don't ask, Karl. Just... don't tell anyone about where I am."