CHAPTER 10

Dawn light filtered through the penthouse windows as Marisol emerged from the bedroom, having spent a sleepless night. She froze when she saw Santiago sitting at their kitchen island, her missing passport and printed emails revealing her escape plan laid out before him. "How long have you known?" she asked, her voice raspy from crying. "I found these when I was looking for a place to hide the deed to your surprise." Santiago's eyes were red-rimmed from his own sleepless night. "You hid them in the anniversary gift you never opened." Marisol approached cautiously. "What deed?" Santiago slid a legal document across the counter. "The Valencia Museum of Recovered Art. Built on the coast, just outside the city." "You built a museum in Valencia?" Marisol struggled to comprehend. "It's the final phase of the Estrella Project. A place to house your family's collection, where you could connect with your roots." He smiled sadly. "I never imagined you'd be going there without me." Marisol