Evening arrived with harsh sea winds as the yacht docked at port. Half-asleep, Marisol was woken. Still groggy, she changed into a deep blue chiffon gown with puffy sleeves before coming to the deck. There, she saw the brilliant lights on shore and the ancient cultural city under the night sky.Only then did she realize where they were—they had arrived in Lumero. This was the capital of the once-glorious Ancient Lumero Empire, the pride of the Lumero people, the Immortal City. It was also the final stop of their journey."Dear, let's go."On the deck, the tall, handsome man approached. His tailored black suit fluttered slightly in the sea breeze as he reached out a hand to her with a faint smile. However, she sidestepped without a glance and walked past him. Lucian chuckled. Unbothered, he withdrew his hand, turned to follow her, and wrapped his arm around her slender waist without question, affectionately guiding her off the ship. Francis shook his head and followed behind th
Elizabeth didn't continue speaking, but Marisol's heart skipped a beat....Marisol wondered how Elizabeth had found out about it. Quitting her job wasn't exactly a big deal, but the problem was that she'd used this excuse to turn down Elizabeth's invitations many times when she wanted to separate herself from the Mullers completely. If Elizabeth knew she had quit, then she also knew she had lied. Elizabeth had always trusted and cared for her deeply. Yet she'd lied to her.When Marisol didn't respond, Elizabeth's voice grew anxious on the other end. "It's okay, Mari. I know you're not upset with me, and I'm sure you have your reasons. As long as you're doing well, that's what matters. I shouldn't have asked...""I'm sorry."Elizabeth was stunned. "Huh?"Marisol's eyes reddened as she took a deep breath and said very seriously, "I was in a bad place during that time, and I lied to you. I'm sorry..." She hesitated for a moment, sighed inwardly, and finally called out that fami
Lucian stepped out from the cabin, setting a freshly made glass of lemonade beside her. With a smile, he said, "You could have just asked me." Marisol didn't look at him or acknowledge him. Ever since they'd returned from diving, she felt something was off and had a pretty good idea what it was. She didn't want any more contact with Lucian, preferably not even conversation.She'd always known that if Lucian put his mind to it, he could charm the hearts of almost any woman. It wasn't just about his looks either. However, she also knew equally well that this kind of flirtation was mostly just a man's whim. Once the fish was hooked and he was satisfied, he'd immediately pull away and leave. She had lived through that show more than once. Sure, he'd outdone himself this time. The dive had been spectacular, but she knew him too well. She was prepared.There was no way she would fall for it; she didn't want to be hurt again."Dear, why won't you talk to me?" Lucian noticed she kept
No matter how much Marisol resisted, she was eventually dragged into the warm-up session to listen to Coach Matthias Lloyd explain the diving rules and safety precautions. She did pay attention, though. Since she couldn't refuse and diving wasn't something to mess around with, she knew she had to be extra careful and alert. Lucian was experienced in this area. He noticed her worried expression and whispered in her ear with a smile, "Don't worry. The place we're going isn't deep. Even if you've never dived before, it'll be fine. I'll protect you." "That's exactly why I feel even less safe!" she thought. "Matthias, is it really not deep?" Marisol asked anxiously.Matthias was a burly, cheerful man with a hearty laugh. He chuckled and replied, "Don't worry! The deepest dive spot is only about 30 feet, and most are about 15 feet. The scenery down there is spectacular, and lots of couples have been there and had great experiences. Don't let fear make you miss out." "We're not a c
"Oh my, how did your face get swollen?" Francis circled him, clearly enjoying this."Want to know?" Lucian asked with a smile.Seeing him grin with complete satisfaction, looking refreshed and happy, Francis suddenly felt something was wrong and immediately raised his hand. "Stop! I don't want to know! Don't tell me!"He didn't want to hear it. Lucian's happiness would only make him more miserable!"Man, I'm out here working my ass off while you're living it up," Francis muttered. "You're a real piece of work.""Correction." Lucian smiled faintly, lightly sipping his coffee and speaking leisurely. "I only had a taste." Just a small sample. He wasn't satisfied at all."No difference!" Francis slammed the table. "I can't take it anymore! I need a drink, a big one!""No way." Lucian rejected the idea without hesitation. "Once we finish business in Lumero, you can drink yourself unconscious for all I care. But right now, if you so much as touch a drop, I'll make sure every bottle
Marisol could even hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She tried to move away, but Lucian's arm was locked around her waist. His voice rumbled through his chest and into her, low and uneven. "Dear, you... I..." He seemed to want to ask or say something, but he grew silent. After a long while, he finally spoke, gently and calmly."Dear, would you dance with me? After all, I did put a lot of effort into preparing this galaxy projection. It's such a beautiful night with a perfect view." A beautiful night? The scenery was indeed nice.She lightly raised her hand, and her fingertips passed through a star that rotated past her. Then, she said calmly, "But fake is still fake."That was her refusal.That night, they didn't return to the hotel but stayed in the wooden house. Probably exhausted, Marisol fell asleep quickly, but Lucian, who was beside her, never went to sleep.Under the dim starlight, his eyes remained alert. He quietly gazed at Marisol's back as she faced away fr