Book 3: Chapter 42

Diego nodded, a look of earnestness softening his expression. Without another word, he stood up and, instead of remaining at a distance, moved to kneel in front of her, his posture open and vulnerable in a way she hadn’t seen before. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with regret.

“Esme, I’m sorry. I know this isn’t enough to make up for the mistakes I’ve made, or the pain I’ve caused you. But I’m here, and I want to do better, to prove that I can be the husband you deserve. I don’t expect forgiveness right away,” he added, his voice almost a whisper. “I just want to start, one step at a time.”

Esmeralda felt her resolve wavering, her heart torn between the lingering resentment and the tentative hope he was awakening within her. She had spent so long planning her escape, nurturing her grievances, and now he was offering her a genuine chance at freedom, not through revenge, but through empowerment.

“Let’s take this slow,” he continued. “No pressure, no expectation