Chapter 52

Vanessa

The rhythmic pounding in my chest competes with the soft shuffle of sand under my feet as I trail behind Danny to the ocean. The night air is warm, and the only sound is the calming rhythm of the waves crashing against the shore.

Wasn't this what I wanted? A chance to build a connection with him? Despite the monster I know he is, he's still my husband. We'll have to find a way to coexist, at least for now. Maybe I'll consider Alicia's plan to escape when I return. By then, I could completely earn Diego's trust, and he wouldn't suspect a thing until we're already out of the country. It's a last resort, though. I shudder at the thought of spending the rest of my life on the run, especially knowing he'd undoubtedly come looking for me.

My heart flutters when I see that Diego has laid out a blanket on the sand with two plates of food and glasses of champagne. The soft glow of battery-operated candles casts a warm ambiance around us, accentuating the large, beautiful moon that