Chapter 3: The Scars He Wanted Hidden

"Because of the Whitmore Hotel?"

Daniel's words wouldn't leave Serena's ears.

Even after leaving the observation lounge, she didn't return to Adrian and the others.

The Whitmore Hotel.

Even now, the first image the name brought to mind was her father's back.

As a child, Serena had thought of the hotel as one enormous playground.

She had hidden behind the lobby pillars and jumped out to surprise him.

Once, she'd joined the staff preparing a banquet room and been scolded for tugging at the edge of a white tablecloth.

On days off from school, she did her homework in his office behind the front desk.

"Daddy, aren't we going home yet?"

"Some of our guests will only ever be here today."

Her father had smiled as he said it.

She hadn't understood what he meant then.

She'd only thought that he loved his hotel.

Now she understood.

For her father, the Whitmore Hotel had been more than a business.

That was why Serena couldn't let it go, either.

"Ms. Whitmore. I've been looking for you."

Serena turned at the voice.

The ship's wedding coordinator stood there, holding a tablet against their chest.

"Are we still going ahead with this afternoon's photo session?"

"Photo session…?"

"Yes. Your wedding portraits."

For a moment, Serena couldn't answer.

After what had happened last night, she was still supposed to stand beside her fiancé and have her picture taken.

The more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

But what was she going to do about the marriage?

How could she get off this ship?

And what, exactly, had they meant about the Whitmore Hotel?

She had no answers.

Behind the coordinator, staff members were carrying garment cases.

They must have been preparing for this for days.

"All right."

The words were out before she realized it.

That afternoon.

Light reflected off the sea and into the bridal salon on the Grand Lumière's top deck.

Several gowns hung on a rack.

"What do you think of this one, Ms. Whitmore?"

The stylist brought out an ivory gown.

It opened beautifully across the shoulders, with delicate lace layered over the left side of the neck and shoulder.

"We can adjust the lace a little. If there's an area you'd prefer covered, it will look quite natural."

The stylist glanced briefly at Serena's collar but asked no questions.

Serena reached for the gown.

"It's beautiful."

"The wind is gentle today. It would photograph wonderfully on the aft deck."

"Then I'll wear—"

"Don't you have something that covers more?"

Adrian's voice came from behind her.

Her hand stopped.

He approached with his tuxedo jacket draped over one arm.

"Something that goes all the way up her neck."

The stylist looked a little uncertain.

"The scars would be quite discreet in this one, too…"

"We're taking pictures on deck, aren't we?"

"Yes."

"Other passengers will see. Find something that covers them."

Serena looked at him.

"You don't want people to see them?"

"There's no need to put them on display."

That was all he said.

Her fingers slowly left the gown.

Beneath her clothes,

the burns still marked the left side of her neck and her shoulder.

That day.

Someone had told her Adrian was beyond the flames, and she'd run.

The heat.

Smoke so thick she couldn't see.

She thought someone had tried to stop her.

But when she'd found Adrian, she hadn't felt afraid.

She'd only wanted him to live.

The first time she'd seen the scars in the hospital, she hadn't been able to look away from the mirror.

Adrian had been beside her.

"You don't have to hide them like that."

He'd stopped her hand as it reached for her collar.

"They don't bother me."

She had never forgotten those words.

Even with these scars, Adrian, at least, knew.

He knew how she'd come by them.

He knew whom she'd suffered them for.

She'd thought that would be enough.

"Oh, that dress is gorgeous!"

A bright voice broke in.

Chloe.

She entered the salon in a pale pink dress.

"Aren't you wearing it, Serena?"

Before Serena could answer, Adrian spoke.

"She's wearing something else."

"Is she?"

Chloe studied the gown, then looked at Serena's neck.

"Oh… I see."

Her brows drew down in apparent concern.

"But you'll feel more comfortable if it covers your neck, won't you? Then you won't have to feel awful about people staring."

The stylist brought out another gown.

Soft lace covered it all the way to the throat.

"This should conceal them very naturally."

Serena looked at it for a while.

"Yes, please."

"Well, then."

Chloe reached for the first gown.

"If Serena isn't wearing this, maybe I'll wear it to tonight's party."

Laughing, she held it against herself.

"Adrian? Would it suit me?"

"Do whatever you like."

He answered without looking up from his phone.

Looking pleased, Chloe turned back to the mirror.

Serena said nothing.

The photo session began on the aft deck.

Beyond the white hull stretched an endless blue sea.

Each gust of salt wind sent Serena's veil billowing.

Beyond the stairs to the upper level, she could see a deck that was normally off-limits.

A large H stood in the center of a white circle.

The helipad.

Serena glanced at it for only a moment.

If she could fly, she could leave this ship.

The thought seemed foolish even to her. She looked away.

"A little closer together, please."

At the photographer's instruction, Adrian put his hand around her waist.

Her body stiffened slightly.

"A little more natural, if you can."

Natural.

With the man who had held Chloe in the room across the hall last night.

Serena let her gaze escape to the sea.

"This way, Ms. Whitmore, please."

The shutter kept clicking.

Adrian's fingers rested at her waist.

Seven years ago, that touch alone would have made her happy.

Now even the warmth of his hand felt far away.

"All right. Let's take a break."

At a staff member's voice, Adrian let go.

Serena stepped away, too.

"Oh, these turned out beautifully."

Chloe had come up beside them without Serena noticing. She peered at the monitor.

"Since we're here, could I get a picture with you?"

Serena looked at her.

"The three of us?"

"Yes. We've known each other since we were children. Surely it's okay, just for today?"

Chloe smiled blithely.

"Once you're married, we might not get to travel together like this as often."

"These are wedding photographs."

Serena spoke quietly.

"Oh… of course."

Chloe's brows dipped apologetically.

"I'm sorry. There I go, overstepping again."

She took a step back as she spoke.

"Chloe."

Adrian called her back.

"One picture won't hurt."

Serena looked at him.

"You don't need me in it."

"Serena, don't be angry."

"I'm not angry."

She gave the photographer a small, polite nod.

"I'm taking a short break."

She started to leave.

Behind her, Chloe's voice lifted brightly.

"Then just one of us, Adrian."

Serena hadn't intended to look back.

But the click of the shutter stopped her.

Chloe was holding Adrian's arm in both hands, her body pressed close to his.

In the place where Serena had just stood.

The white hull.

The blue sea.

Adrian in his tuxedo.

Chloe smiling beside him.

"Turn this way a little more, please."

The photographer, unaware of what was happening, guided them.

Chloe leaned so close that her cheek nearly touched Adrian's arm.

They might have been posing for their own wedding portraits.

Serena looked away.

Before the session resumed, Adrian stood at the edge of the deck, talking with Daniel and the others.

When Serena passed nearby, Daniel looked over.

"You've really committed to the look, Serena."

"What look?"

Another friend asked.

"The neck."

Daniel pointed to his own collar.

"She covered it this morning, and now even her wedding dress has a high neck."

"Daniel."

Chloe smiled awkwardly.

"That's rude."

"Sorry, sorry. I was just curious."

Laughing, he turned to Adrian.

"She's not planning to wear a turtleneck to bed on the wedding night, is she?"

For a moment, there was only the wind.

Serena stopped.

"Daniel, that's—"

Chloe sounded as though she were scolding him.

But there was laughter in her voice.

Serena looked at Adrian.

Don't say that. Not even as a joke.

She waited for him to say it.

Instead, his gaze began to drift toward Chloe.

"Adrian."

Serena spoke without taking her eyes off him.

"You heard what he just said, didn't you?"