‘Okay, yeah,’ he replies, standing up. ‘I completely get it. Well, I’m just next door, if you want me.’

‘Thanks,’ I reply.

Freddie takes off, leaving me to my blank document.

I hope I wasn’t too hard on him by telling him I want to be alone, but even if I weren’t still absolutely mortified by everything that has happened so far, it feels so weird and wrong to even be entertaining dinner with another man – on my honeymoon, too. I mean, I know it isn’t technically my honeymoon, even if it was supposed to be, but unsurprisingly, my new status is taking a lot of sinking in.

Why hasn’t Daniel called me? That’s what I can’t get out of my head. He’s unblocked now, so why isn’t he trying my phone non-stop? If he called me, it would make me feel sick, I’d panic, I wouldn’t answer, I never want to speak to him again… but why hasn’t he called? Why doesn’t he care? How can our four years together mean so little to him that he could ruin our wedding and then not call me, not to apologise, or explain, or even just make sure I’m okay?

I know that Freddie is gorgeous and it’s a very odd coincidence that he is here on his own too, but how can I go for dinner with him, with all this on my mind, and with all this work to do?

It’s a nice idea, but I think I just need to keep myself to myself. I’m sure Freddie will be fine – after all, he did come here unaccompanied too. The thing I can’t help but wonder though, is… I know why I’ve come here on my own, but what is Freddie running away from?

10

Day 4

Today is a new day, and the first proper day that I have left my suite during the daylight hours. The sun is shining, there isn’t a cloud in the sky, and there’s a wonderful breeze.

I might not be loved-up, but I have fallen in love with Valentine Island this morning. I got up early, had a shower, put on my gorgeous new cream sundress and a brave face, and left the safe confines of the villa to explore the island.

In the glorious light of day, I can see that the top part of the driveway to the luxury villas is lined with white columns. Neat green hedges sit on top of them, forming archways. With the warm sun gently beaming down on me, my mood feels lifted. I weave in and out of the columns for fun, high on the smell of sea air. There’s just something about feeling the sun on your shoulders and filling your lungs with the salty scent of the ocean that instantly relaxes a person – you can’t beat it.

On the right-hand side of the wall is an army of trees, the start of the island’s massive forest, where you can bike, hike or just lose yourself in nature. On the left is where the built-up part of the island is.