Chapter 2

After we arrived and put our luggage away, I stepped outside and saw Gwen and Joanna chatting and laughing together. As soon as they noticed me, their expressions shifted, and they quickly stepped apart.

"Gwen, what were you and Ms. White talking about?" I asked. "You looked really happy."

"It's nothing. She came to get us for dinner. We were just making small talk."

…

During dinner, my fork fell, and I bent down to pick it up. Under the table, I saw a pair of slim, fair legs spreading slightly as a pair of large, dark feet rubbed up and down between them.

Across from me sat Joanna. I vaguely remembered that the person sitting next to her was a middle-aged man traveling alone. Then a hand suddenly dropped onto her thigh and slowly slid under her clothes.

"Darling, did you lose your fork?" Gwen asked, lightly tapping my shoulder.

Everything across from me came to a sudden halt.

I sat up with my fork in hand, pretending I hadn't noticed anything as I continued my conversation with Gwen.

After all, it would have been far too awkward if I had been caught noticing something like that. We were all in the same tour group for the next few days and would keep running into each other. It was better to keep things polite on the surface.

I had assumed Joanna and that man were just indulging in a bit of excitement. But when I looked up and saw Joanna silently crying, her eyes red, I realized something was wrong.

I hadn't meant to get involved in anyone else's affairs. If it didn't concern me, I would have stayed out of it. But then two things happened that changed my mind.

The first came after dinner, when Gwen suddenly told me that Joanna was her cousin.

I stared at her in shock. "Why didn't you tell me that earlier?"

I had just witnessed my wife's cousin doing something inappropriate on the bus, and then she was taken advantage of during dinner. What on earth was going on?

"I forgot to tell you earlier. I only just remembered that you didn't know. Darling, keep an eye on Joanna for the next few days. She's still young, and being a tour guide isn't exactly safe.

"Since we're here, we should help her out. I came on this trip mainly to see how this job is working out for her parents. If it doesn't work, she'll need to switch to something else."

At her words, I pursed my lips.

What could Joanna possibly do? She was constantly being taken advantage of. Tonight's dinner was a clear case of it.

I considered telling Gwen everything I had seen, but at the last second, I hesitated and held myself back. I had already promised Joanna I wouldn't tell anyone. If Gwen found out and let it slip, it would be far too awkward to face Joanna afterward.

"Take these to Joanna," Gwen said, handing me several jars. "They're specialties from home. I brought them on purpose. While you're at it, take the time to explain things to her properly.

"I haven't seen her in a long time, so she probably doesn't even recognize me. I also didn't tell her in advance that I'd be joining her tour group either. Her parents only just called her, so she should only now be realizing who we are."

She shoved the jars into my hands and pushed me out the door.

The second thing happened the moment I stepped outside.

Without saying anything, Joanna grabbed me and urgently led me toward her room. Before I could react, she suddenly broke down in tears.

"Duncan, please. Don't tell my cousin or my parents. If they find out, they'll make me quit this job. If I had known you and Gwen were coming, I never would have done any of that. Please don't tell them, okay?"

I looked helplessly at Joanna, who was crying uncontrollably in front of me.

I hadn't even said anything yet.