The ship was lively that evening, guests scattered across different entertainment spots, enjoying the luxury the cruise had to offer. Alice, however, had no interest in the grand dinners or the glamorous social events. After spending most of the day forcing smiles beside Kelvin for Grandma Janet, and her mind centered on Daniel and his feelings for her - she subtly excused herself from their company.
Soon, she found herself in the dimly lit corridor leading to the deck—a place where she could be alone. Or so she thought. Just as she reached for the railing to steady herself, a voice stopped her. "Why do we always end up being alone?" Alice froze. She didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. The familiar depth of Daniel’s voice sent an immediate shiver down her spine. Taking a slow breath, she composed herself before facing him. He stood a few feet away, arms crossed, his sharp gaze never leaving her. The ship's soft lighting illuminated his face, casting shadows that made him look even more dangerously irresistible. "Maybe it's because you're following me," she said, her voice quieter than she intended. Daniel took a step closer. "Or maybe it's because, something wants us to get close to each other" Alice clenched her fists, not trusting herself to speak. He wasn’t wrong. She had thought about the same thing too because, every time she tried to avoid him, he kept appearing. Daniel studied her, his eyes darkening with understanding. He took another step, and she backed up until her spine met the cold metal of the ship's railing. "You can tell me to leave, if you don't want me. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t feel anything when I’m near you." Alice swallowed, her heart hammering against her chest. "Daniel… just go." His lips twitched, his eyes searching hers as if trying to find the lie. "Say it like you mean it." Her breathing was uneven. She couldn’t look away from him, from the way his presence seemed to wrap around her, drowning her in warmth and danger all at once. And then, before she could stop herself, the words slipped past her lips—the confession she had been burying deep inside. "Fine, I think about you all the time, Daniel," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Even when I shouldn’t. Even when I tell myself it’s wrong, I still—I still want to be with you. In your arms. I wish you're my husband. Sometimes I wish I was yours". The weight of her confession hung thick between them. Daniel’s entire demeanor had changed. His breathing had turned heavier, his jaw clenched as though he was holding himself back from something dangerous. "Alice," he murmured, voice strained. "Do you even know what you’re doing to me?" She bit her lip, guilt and desire warring within her. "I know… but I don’t know how to stop. You tell me all those sweet things, and make me dream, dream about you, about your love. Daniel why did you come into my life at this point? Why?" Daniel’s hands twitched at his sides. "I can't explain it. I just see myself loving you so much." Her breath caught. "Daniel…" His fingers ghosted over her arm, not quite touching, but enough to make her skin tingle. The tension was unbearable, the air thick with everything left unsaid. For a moment, it felt like he might just close the distance, might finally take what had been threatening to consume them both. But just before he could, Kelvin's voice echoed from the hallway. "Alice!" They both snapped out of it, breathing hard, the spell broken. Alice jerked away from Daniel, her body trembling. She had to go. She had to leave before Kelvin would see her in a compromising position with Daniel. Without another word, she turned and left. Daniel watched her go, jaw tight, fists clenched, wishing that she was his. ********* Alice tried staying away from Daniel. She had blurted her feelings to him and who knew what was going on in his head. She thought of what would happen should Grandma Janet catch her together with Daniel. It would not be as light as she imagined. The only way to stay safe was to avoid him. But no matter how hard she tried, fate seem to keep being Daniel her way. And so it was that night, after having an early dinner with Kimberly, Alice took the elevator to her suite and it got stuck. Alice sat on the floor, her back against the wall, trying to steady her breathing. The emergency lights cast an eerie glow, and the air felt heavy. She had tried everything—pressing the alarm, shouting for help—but no one had come. Till she heard a familiar voice, "Hello? Alice? Are you there?" Daniel called from above. It was deep and calm, cutting through her panic. "Daniel? Yes! I'm stuck!" Alice shouted, jumping to her feet. She craned her neck, looking up at the ceiling of the elevator. "Please, help me!" "Hold on, I'm coming down," Daniel said. "Okay" Alice said, her voice trembling. "It's so tight in here." "Alright, Alice. I need you to stay calm. I'm going to get you out" She nodded, then realized he couldn't see her. "Yes. I'll try." "Good. I'm going to open the hatch on the top of the elevator. Stay back, okay?" Alice stepped to the side, her heart pounding. She heard the screech of metal as Daniel pried open the hatch above her. A beam of light pierced the darkness, and she squinted as dust rained down. "Almost there," Daniel muttered. With a final grunt, he pulled the hatch open completely. Alice looked up to see his familiar face against the light, his presence instantly calming. "Hey," he said, offering a small smile. "Ready to get out of here?" Alice nodded, her throat too tight to speak. Daniel lowered a rope ladder, securing it to the top of the elevator. "Climb up slowly. I've got you." She hesitated, battling the fear within her, "I... I don't know if I can." "You can," Daniel said firmly. "Just focus on one rung at a time. I'll be right here." Taking a deep breath, Alice grabbed the ladder and began to climb. Her hands shook, but she forced herself to keep moving. When she reached the top, Daniel reached out and pulled her up, his grip strong and steady. "You're safe now," he said, helping her onto the narrow platform at the top of the elevator shaft. Alice looked around, her eyes wide. The shaft was dark and cramped, with cables and machinery looming in the shadows. "How do we get out of here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Daniel pointed to a maintenance ladder bolted to the wall. "We climb. It's not far, I promise. I'll go first and guide you." Alice nodded, her heart trusting his every word. Daniel climbed onto the ladder and reached back for her hand. "Ready?" She took his hand, her fingers trembling but determined. Together, they began the ascent. The climb was slow and nerve-wracking, but Daniel kept up a steady stream of encouragement. "Almost there," he said as they reached a service door. He pushed it open, and cool, fresh air rushed in. Alice nearly cried with relief as they stepped onto the deck, the night sky stretching endlessly above them. "Thank you," she said, her voice breaking. Daniel smiled, his eyes warm. "You don't need to thank me, Alice. I'll always be here for you" There was a moment silence with Alice taking in his words Then, she asked, "How did you know I was in the elevator?" Daniel ran a hand through his hair. "You do know it's very impossible for to stay away from you" "So, you were following me?" she asked again. He simply nodded. Alice said nothing and slowly looked away. "I wasn't stalking you.... It's just that seeing you always give me peace. And, I enjoy it" he said. Alice didn't look at him but simple said, "I should be going now. Good night"Having escaped Grandma Janet's wrath hours ago by the skin of her teeth, Anita knew she wasn’t out of the woods yet. Church service was looming, and if Grandma Janet so much as sensed her exhaustion or suspicion, it would all come crashing down. She couldn’t survive hours of hymns and sermons—not after a sleepless night of dancing and dodging. Every muscle in her body ached, and her eyes burned behind her lashes. So, she did what she had to do. A hint from Kelvin’s excuse the night before gave her the perfect idea. After scrubbing off the last traces of smeared makeup and trading her party dress for soft nightwear, Anita tucked herself into bed and wrapped the blankets tightly around her. She carefully tousled her hair into something messy enough to look like “cramp suffering” and took a few deep breaths to summon the right frail tone. Then she waited. The room was still dim, light just beginning to seep in through the curtains, when it came— Three soft knocks. Her heart
Breakfast had just ended and the house staff of the Sanders mansion began clearing the breakfast table. Grandma Janet was the first to leave the dining room. Immediately she left, Anita could practically feel freedom stretch its arms beside her. She placed her napkin delicately on the table, then leaned back into her chair, crossing one leg over the other, slowly and purposefully. Kelvin was sipping the last of his coffee, dressed in a casual white shirt as it was a Saturday morning. He was scrolling through something on his phone. "Kelvin..." Anita's voice was a soft hum — teasing, playful. She reached across the table and ran a finger lightly over his wrist, just enough to make him glance up. "Hmm?" he murmured, raising an eyebrow, intrigued by her sudden sweetness. She gave him a slow smile, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “I was thinking... maybe we could go out tonight. Just unwind a little. There’s a new lounge Valerie told me about. It’s exclusive, quiet, and n
Exactly three weeks after the divorce between Alice and Kelvin was finalized, Anita moved into the Sanders mansion. Her life was about to take a significant turn — one she had long fantasized about. As Grandma Janet had decreed, Anita was now to live under her strict supervision, not as a guest or a lover, but as a woman-in-training, being groomed to meet the family’s age-old standards. It was the beginning of what Grandma Janet referred to as “the transformation” — a process to strip away Anita’s carefree city lifestyle and instill in her the morality, modesty, and values that the Sanders family prided themselves on for generations. Anita, who had long awaited this moment, was almost giddy with anticipation. For years, she had imagined herself as Kelvin’s wife, mistress of the grand Sanders estate, and the elegant hostess of the family’s prestigious gatherings. The sprawling estate with its chandeliers, mahogany floors, and echoing hallways had always felt like a world she belonged
A few days later, Alice sat alone in Daniel’s quiet home, the late morning sunlight filtering gently through the curtains. The house — Daniel’s house — had become her sanctuary since the day she walked out of the Sanders’ mansion. It wasn’t grand or imposing like the mansion, but it was warm, lived-in, and filled with a calming peace she hadn’t realized she needed. Though Daniel was often out during the day, he had gone above and beyond to make her feel welcome. From preparing meals to redecorating the guest room for her comfort, his quiet gestures gradually helped dissolve the lingering tension that had clung to her after leaving Kelvin. She was beginning to breathe again, to move about without fear of being watched or judged. Slowly, she was adjusting to this new life. Still, the shadow of the Sanders loomed in the corners of her mind. No matter how much she tried to push it away, the incident haunted her. Every time the house fell into silence, her thoughts drifted back to Gran
After Alice’s quiet but heavy departure from the Sanders mansion, Kelvin wasted no time. As soon as he got into his bedroom, he pulled out his phone and sent a message to Anita. “Alice is finally gone. Grandma's verdict was the annulment of our marriage and Alice has just left the mansion for good” It didn’t take long for Anita to respond. Seconds later, she called him, her voice bursting with barely-contained excitement. “She’s really gone?” “Yes,” Kelvin said flatly. “She just left.” On the other end, Anita let out a triumphant gasp. “Oh my God, Kelvin! Finally! I can’t believe it. She’s out of your life at last! Our of our lives.” Her joy echoed through the phone, but Kelvin didn’t return it. Still, he allowed her to speak. Anita was thrilled. That was the news she had long waited for. No more hiding. No more watching from the sidelines while Alice, the “nobody from nowhere,” walked beside Kelvin in public, bore his name, slept in his house. Now, the path was finally cle
The next morning, everyone was present in the Sanders mansion's grand living room. Grandma Janet, Kelvin, Alice and Daniel. Grandma Janet was seated poised in her favourite chair. Her silver hair was neatly pinned, her hands folded on her lap, her eyes cold, unreadable. Gone was the warmth, the soft grandmotherly glow. In its place sat a woman of steel — a matriarch prepared to deliver judgment. She had called for them urgently. And both Alice and Daniel had wondered what the urgent matter was, unlike Kelvin, who was fully aware of what was about to happen. Alice had no idea what awaited her. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she took in the brief silence in the room after everyone was seated. Grandma Janet’s expression had told her that something was very, very wrong. Grandma Janet didn't go through the long speech way. She instantly demanded for Kelvin's phone, and when he had given it to her, she raised the phone to both Alice and Daniel revealing the picture of both of