CHAPTER 245

Henry’s POV

I watched the gentle sway of the yacht from where I sat inside, the faint creak of the vessel almost soothing against my frazzled nerves. The only light in the small cabin came from the smoldering end of my cigarette, the embers casting a dull orange glow that danced across the wooden walls.

My fingers drummed restlessly against the polished mahogany table, the rhythmic taps barely masking the anxiety that gnawed at my insides.

“Julia, I'm so sorry,” I whispered into the void, my voice barely audible over the lapping waves outside. “I can’t be with you now, but I have to plan this well so we can both be free.”

I drew in a deep breath, the smoke filling my lungs as if it might somehow clear away the weight of the situation. I knew every day that passed without being able to help her made it harder. The walls of this yacht felt like a cage of their own, despite its opulence. The comfort of the surroundings did little to ease the turmoil inside me.

Just as I was about to tak