Chapter Seventeen

The sun hung high in the clear blue sky, casting a warm glow over the ship’s deck. Alice sat in her favorite spot, a secluded corner overlooking the endless expanse of ocean. The gentle sea breeze teased at the hem of her yellow floral gown, and she closed her eyes, letting the calm sounds of the waves lull her into a peaceful state. This was the only place on the ship she felt truly herself—away from the charade, away from the tension.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the soft footsteps approaching. Daniel stood at a distance, leaning against the railing as his eyes fell on her. The sunlight seemed to frame her perfectly, the yellow of her dress complementing the golden tones of her skin. Her serene expression tugged at something deep within him. He had gone there to escape the noise of the day, but finding her there felt like fate - the second time that day.

Gathering his courage, he walked toward her.

“Mind if I join you?” Daniel asked, his voice low but cheerful.

Alice opened her eyes and glanced up, her calm demeanor shifting to a more guarded one. “It’s a free deck,” she said lightly, gesturing to the seat beside her. "What do we call this? Meeting each other twice in less than twelve hours"

Daniel chuckled and sat down, resting his arms on his knees. “Actually, I came here for some me time and I didn’t expect to find you here. I thought this spot was my secret getaway.”

Alice smirked faintly. “I think I claimed it first.”

“Fair enough,” he conceded, smiling. He glanced at her, his gaze lingering just long enough to notice the way her hair swayed gently in the breeze. “You seem... peaceful.”

“For once,” she replied.

They fell into an easy silence for a moment, listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves.

"Now, tell me about your dance classes" Daniel broke the silence.

"What do you want to know about it?" Alice asked.

"Everything. Are you enjoying it? What have you learn so far?" Daniel replied.

"Well I've always loved dancing and I'm enjoying every bit of it. We've been taught the waltz and salsa at the dance class" Alice informed

“That's nice. I can do a basic waltz but Salsa..... I can't” he peered at her, "I would love to learn salsa. And since you’re an expert now…”

She laughed, shaking her head. “I’m hardly an expert.”

“Well, you’re more of an expert than I am,” he countered. “Come on, teach me.”

“Here? Now?” Alice asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Why not?” he said, standing up and offering her his hand.

“There’s no music,” she pointed out.

Daniel pulled his phone from his pocket, tapping at the screen until a lively salsa tune filled the air. “Problem solved.”

Alice sighed, trying to suppress a smile. “You’re persistent. How do you even have a Salsa song on your phone?”

“You’re stalling,” he teased, ignoring her question.

Reluctantly, she stood up and faced him. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—I’m not a patient teacher.”

“Noted,” Daniel said, stepping closer.

Alice showed him the basic steps, her instructions clear and precise. Daniel, however, was hopelessly clumsy, his feet stumbling over hers more than once.

“Left foot, Daniel,” Alice said, laughing as he went right again.

“I am using my left!” he argued, though his grin betrayed his lack of seriousness.

“Your other left,” she corrected, shaking her head in mock exasperation.

Despite the awkwardness, they both laughed, the sound light and genuine. For a moment, Alice forgot about everything else—the tensions with Kelvin, the doubts clouding her mind. Here, in this moment, she felt free.

The song faded into the next track on Daniel’s playlist, a slow, romantic melody. The shift in tempo caught them both off guard. Daniel hesitated, looking at Alice as if to gauge her reaction.

She wanted to opened her mouth to suggest stopping, but the softness of the song seemed to wrap around them, pulling them into its rhythm. Without a word, Daniel placed his hand gently on her waist, his other hand still holding hers. Alice didn’t resist.

They moved together, their steps instinctive now. The lightheartedness of the salsa was gone, replaced by something deeper, more intense. Daniel’s gaze softened as he looked at her, his admiration no longer hidden. His felt his heartbeat slow down, smitten and struck by the beauty before him. How he cherished that moment, holding her in his arms and dancing. He longed to lean in her ear and whisper sweet words to her - telling her how beautiful and how much she attracted him. He imagined her blush away at his words and in that second, he felt his heart stop. She was definitely killing him, every time and he loved dying over and over again.

Alice felt her heart flutter, her breath catching as she met his eyes. For the first time, she allowed herself to truly see him—not as the enigmatic man she distrusted, but as someone who genuinely cared. She had long for such a romantic moment with the man who would have her heart. When the marriage proposal came from Kelvin, she had imagined such romantic moments with him, but now, she was having it with another. Her heart seemed to love it, she was enjoying herself and he wished it would continue. Forgetting herself, she longed to place her head on his chest. She wished he would kiss her.

The world around them seemed to blur. Alice felt the warmth of his hand on her back, the way his touch was firm yet gentle. She let herself be carried away by the music, by the emotions stirring within her.

When the song ended, neither of them moved. The silence was filled with unspoken words, the tension between them palpable.

Finally, Alice took a step back, her cheeks flushed. “I think that’s enough dancing for now,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she coyly tucked her hair begin her ear.

Daniel nodded, his expression unreadable. “Thank you... for indulging me.”

She managed a small smile before sitting back down, her heart still racing. Daniel remained standing for a moment, watching her, before taking a seat beside her again.

The lightheartedness had shifted, but neither of them addressed it. Instead, they returned to the sound of the waves, both lost in their own thoughts about what had just passed between them.

The silence between them stretched for a moment, the sound of the waves filling the space. Daniel leaned back against the railing, his hands resting on the edge as he stole a glance at Alice. Her profile was illuminated by the soft glow of the sunset, her expression thoughtful, but there was a trace of sadness in her eyes that tugged at him.

"You know something," Daniel began, his voice gentle, "You are an amazing woman - beautiful, smart, fun to be with, attractive and my more. Kelvin must be the stupidest man alive."

Alice turned to him, startled. “What?”

“I mean it,” he said, his tone steady. “He has someone like you and he doesn’t see it. It’s absurd.”

Her lips parted slightly as she processed his words. She wasn’t used to compliments, especially ones that were contradicting what her husband had told her or subjected her to feel. For a moment, she wanted to brush it off, to dismiss his words as flattery, but something in his gaze stopped her.

“Daniel…” she started, her voice wavering.

“I’m serious, Alice,” he continued. “You deserve better than someone who doesn’t see your worth. Why are you still putting up with him?”

Alice’s throat tightened. She looked away, her fingers gripping the edge of the bench as emotions she had buried threatened to surface. “It’s not that simple, Daniel” she murmured.

“Maybe not,” Daniel said, his tone softer now. “But there is something you can do.”

Her breath hitched, and she finally allowed herself to speak. “Do you know why Kelvin married me?”

Daniel shook his head, his eyes fixed on her.

“To secure his inheritance,” she said bitterly. “That’s all I ever was to him—a means to an end. He deceived me, married me and dragged me into this world I don’t belong in, and then left me to fend for myself while he parades around with Anita.”

Daniel’s jaw tightened, his hands clenching the railing. “That’s cruel,” he said, his voice low but firm. “You deserve so much more than that, Alice.”

She laughed, but it was hollow. “Do I? Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake. Maybe I should have refused, but… I didn’t. I don't know why I couldn't see behind his sweetness and fake display of love then. And now I’m stuck.”

“You’re not stuck,” Daniel said, leaning closer. “You’re stronger than that, Alice. You’ve survived this far, haven’t you?”

Alice glanced at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Sometimes, I don’t feel strong. Sometimes, I feel like I’m drowning.” She took a

pause and continued, "He's divorcing me after he gets his inheritance in three years and then I'll be left to face the humiliation from the society. Well at least, I won't be that much at a loss, I have secured for myself a good amount of shares from his inheritance"

"What do you mean by that?" Daniel asked

"I threatened him that I was going to reveal everything to Grandma and he pleaded, then I demanded half of his inheritance" Alice said.

"He agreed?" Daniel was surprised.

"He did.... and we signed an agreement. I wasn't going to be able to give grandma such a heart break and risk her health deteriorating. I only made him believe that I don't care and would expose him, and he got scared and gave in to me. The same way he agreed and sent Anita away from this ship" Alice smiled, feeling a little secure.

"Now, that's why haven't seen them together since we left Italy" Daniel nodded his head, having found the answer to a question he has been pondering about.

There was another moment of silence. Daniel’s heart ached at her situation but was comforted that was was not totally losing out on everything.

He reached out, hesitating for a moment before placing his hand gently on hers. “You’re not alone, Alice. I’m here. Whatever you need, I’ll be here.”

She stared at their hands, his warmth seeping into her skin. For the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of comfort, of safety. She wanted to hug him but restrained herself.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Daniel nodded, his expression earnest. “You don’t have to thank me. Just promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Don’t let Kelvin or anyone else make you feel like you’re not enough,” he said, his voice firm. “Because you are. More than enough.”

Alice’s lips trembled as she tried to suppress a smile. “You’re good at this, you know.”

“At what?”

“Saying the right things,” she said, looking at him fully now. "Or maybe it's because you want to flatter your way into my head and mind.

He chuckled softly. “It’s not hard when it’s the truth...and it wouldn't be that bad if all you think about is me” he teased, smiling

"Stupid" Alice playfully hit his arm, chuckling.

For a while, they sat there, the weight of their conversation lingering in the air. But for Alice, the burden on her chest felt a little lighter. And as Daniel stayed by her side, she allowed herself, for the first time, to believe that maybe, just maybe, he was there for her with all sincerity and genuineness.