Chapter Eighteen

Alice sat on the edge of her bed, a towel wrapped around her damp hair and the soft cotton of her robe warming her freshly showered skin. She had just returned from her dance class that evening, and though the session had been enjoyable, her thoughts weren’t on the lessons or the other participants. Instead, they lingered stubbornly on Daniel.

Her mind replayed the scene on the deck—the way he had looked at her, the warmth in his touch. And that dance. It had been silly and awkward at first, but when the music shifted, it became something else entirely. Something that made her heart race in a way she hadn’t expected.

Alice exhaled sharply and shook her head, as if that would rid her of the thoughts. No, this isn’t right, she told herself. He’s just a friend… nothing more.

Kelvin pushed the suite door open, stepping inside with his usual air of entitlement, startling Alice out of her thoughts. As he entered the bedroom, his presence immediately shifted the atmosphere, and Alice’s guard went up.

“I’ve made plans for us tonight,” Kelvin announced, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Alice raised an eyebrow. “Plans?”

“A romantic dinner,” he said, leaning against the doorframe. “We need something convincing to show Grandma. She wants to see us acting like a real couple.”

Alice’s stomach turned at the thought, but she masked her discomfort with a shrug. “Fine. What time?”

“Now,” Kelvin replied. He studied her for a moment before adding with a hint of disgust, “Wear something elegant. It’s a classy place.”

With that, he left the bedroom and settled in the living area of the suite, leaving Alice alone once more, her thoughts racing. The idea of sitting through a forced dinner with Kelvin was far from appealing, but she knew she had little choice.

Alice got up from the bed to get ready. She took her clothes and entered the bathroom to dress. She slipped into a sleek black dress that hugged her figure in all the right places. She left her hair loose, its natural waves framing her face, and applied a touch of makeup to enhance her features. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she thought, It’s all a façade anyway. Might as well play the part.

Kelvin was waiting outside their suite, already dressed in a tailored suit that only added to his polished appearance. He took the moment to dress as Alice entered the bathroom. For a moment, Alice couldn’t deny that he looked handsome. But the thought was fleeting, replaced by the memory of his coldness and the way he had disregarded her for Anita.

“Shall we?” he said, offering his arm.

Alice hesitated before taking it, and together they made their way to the restaurant.

The restaurant was exquisite, its ambiance dripping with opulence. Soft candlelight illuminated the room, and a live string quartet played gentle melodies in the background. Waiters moved seamlessly between tables, their movements precise and unobtrusive.

Alice and Kelvin were seated at a table near the center, where a bottle of fine wine awaited them. The meal was impeccable, each course meticulously prepared and presented, but the atmosphere between them was tense.

The silence grew heavier with each passing minute. Alice picked at her food, her thoughts wandering once again to Daniel. She could still hear his laugh, feel the way his hand had steadied hers during their impromptu dance. A small smile crept onto her lips before she quickly wiped it away.

Kelvin, noticing her distant expression, cleared his throat. “This isn’t working.”

Alice looked up, startled. “What isn’t working?”

“This,” he said, gesturing between them. “We’re supposed to be convincing, and right now, anyone looking at us would think we were strangers.”

Alice sighed, setting her fork down. “Well, maybe that’s because we are strangers, Kelvin.”

He ignored her jab and stood, walking around to her side of the table. “Dance with me.”

“What?” she asked, genuinely surprised.

“Dance with me,” he repeated, holding out his hand. “If we’re going to make this believable, we need to create some kind of atmosphere.”

Alice hesitated, but she knew refusing would only prolong the ordeal. With a resigned nod, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead her to the small dance floor.

The quartet shifted their melody to something softer, more intimate, as Kelvin placed one hand on her waist and held her other hand gently. They began to move, their steps slow and deliberate.

For a moment, Alice focused on the rhythm, the way her heels clicked softly against the polished floor. But then her mind began to drift. She thought of Daniel again, of how easy it had been to laugh with him, to let her guard down. The memory of his steady gaze and warm smile filled her mind, and she felt a pang of guilt.

Across from her, Kelvin was having his own internal battle. Dancing with Alice that moment felt different. He couldn’t ignore the way the candlelight brought out the golden undertones in her skin or the way her dress accentuated her graceful movements. For the first time ever, he was struck by how beautiful and attractive she was.

But he shoved the thought aside, reminding himself of her status and his hot girlfriend. Still, the pull was there, subtle but undeniable.

Alice, oblivious to his growing awareness, kept her focus on maintaining the charade. Yet, as the song reached its crescendo, she couldn’t help but wonder why thoughts of Daniel lingered, even in a moment like this.

When the music ended, Kelvin released her and stepped back. “That should do,” he said curtly, breaking the moment.

"How are you going to get grandma to see this?" Alice asked him, wondering.

"I have one of the workers get us on video" Kelvin replied curtly.

Alice nodded, retreating to the table to collect her things. As they walked back to their suite, side by side but worlds apart, her mind was already racing with excuses to avoid him the next day.

Alice stepped into their suite with a sigh of relief, letting the door close behind her. The weight of the evening pressed on her, and she immediately kicked off her heels, the soft carpet soothing her aching feet. Kelvin walked in behind her, loosening his tie. The faint sound of the ocean outside their window filled the tense silence between them.

"That went well," Kelvin said, his voice devoid of enthusiasm.

Alice raised an eyebrow as she picked up a glass of water from the bedside table. "If by 'well' you mean painfully awkward, then sure, it was a success."

Kelvin ignored her sarcasm and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples. “At least we have something to show Grandma. This would keep her off our case for a while.”

Alice placed the glass back down, "You would be surprised how she already has the next task lined up for you" she stiffled a mocking laugh

Kelvin looked up, noticing her “You seem to be enjoying all these, aren't you?”

"One hundred percent" Alice replied. "Seeing you this miserable helps to soothe my own pain. You deserve this for your deceits"

Kelvin’s jaw tightened. “I really hate you Alice, for coming into grandma's life and making her force me to marry you”

"Please tell me something I don't know." Alice scoffed, "Are you a child that your grandmother will be picking a wife for you?" Alice threw at him and increased his indignation.

"Don't you dare insult me." Kelvin warned, "I had to do all these to secure my inheritance"

"Do you know what a real man would do?" Alice continued, "He would man up, damn his grandmother and take a stand for himself and for the woman that he loves, and not let his grandmother control him and give him silly tasks every now and then. You should not hate me, Kelvin. You should have yourself for being such a puppet in the hands of your grandmother"

Kelvin opened his mouth to retort but hesitated. For a brief moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something meaningful, something real, but the moment passed.

Alice turned away and walked to the bedroom. The flicker of vulnerability she’d seen in Kelvin’s eyes a moment ago had caught her off guard, but she refused to let it soften her resolve.

******

Alice woke in the middle of the night. The bedroom was dark with light rays coming in from the living area. She rolled onto her side and saw Kelvin still in the armchair in the living area, asleep with his phone resting in his lap. His tie was undone, his head tilted at an uncomfortable angle.

For a moment, she considered waking him, but the thought of an awkward interaction made her stay put. Instead, she stared at him, her emotions a conflicting storm. She hated how he treated her, but she couldn’t completely ignore the remnants of humanity she saw in him when he thought no one was looking.

Why am I even thinking about this? she thought, turning her back to him. As her eyes closed, her thoughts wandered, not to Kelvin, but to Daniel.

******

The next morning, Alice woke early and slipped out of the suite quietly, letting the fresh sea air calm her as she walked toward her favorite spot on the deck.

The deck was serene in the early hours of the morning, bathed in soft hues of blue and gray as the sun began its slow ascent over the horizon. The ocean stretched endlessly, calm and reflective, its gentle waves the only sound accompanying the stillness of dawn.

Alice stood by the railing, wrapped in a light cardigan over her gown. Her thoughts were restless, bouncing between her growing confusion about Daniel and the suffocating dynamics of her marriage to Kelvin. The events of the past day—the dinner, the dances, the forced smiles—felt like a blur. And then, there was Daniel. She couldn’t shake the memory of his warmth, his steady gaze, the ease with which he made her laugh.

She sighed, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the railing, allowing the calmness of the ocean to settle her nerves.

“Alice.”

The deep, familiar voice startled her, and she turned quickly to see Daniel approaching, his hands tucked into the pockets of his light jacket. The faint morning light softened his features, but there was no mistaking the genuine smile that lit up his face.

“Daniel,” she greeted, her voice quieter than she intended, her pulse quickening.

“Why are you awake this early?” he asked, walking to stand beside her.

“Nothing actually,” she shook her head. “Guess I couldn't sleep that long, You?”

Daniel sighed, "My mind is been occupied with a lot....of things. I thought I might come here for some comfort"

He held her gaze for a while before she blinked away and his gaze shifted to the horizon. “It’s beautiful out here at this hour. Peaceful.”

They stood in companionable silence for a moment, the breeze tousling Alice’s hair. She tucked a stray strand behind her ear, feeling acutely aware of his presence beside her.

"Can I share something with you?" he asked, facing her

Alice turned to him, "What is it?"

"Promise me that you won't freak out" He said, "And you won't run away, and you won't hate me"

Alice wondered, "What is it?"

"Promise me first" he insisted on a playful tone that Alice found somewhat cute.

"Okay...." Alice said, "I promise, I won't"

"Okay." Daniel braced himself, "Actually, I had a crush on you when I first saw you, back then in your little village"

Alice sensed his nervousness and that made her a lot confident, "What?" he asked, amused.

"Yeah" Daniel shied away, looking at the horizon before them, still feeling the soft gaze of Alice. "Grandma had sent me to do some task back home and I saw you, coming out from a shop, wearing your beautiful smile" He took a deep breath, "....and I'd say that I was smitten - by you".

"I can't believe this!" Alice chuckled.

"Yeah, I know" Daniel said.

"Why didn't you say anything then?" Alice asked

him.

He faced her, "Well, I didn't know how to go about it and how you would have reacted" he shrugged

"Well, I certainly would have given you a tight slap, if you had walked up to me that day with the words, 'hey, I like you' - or any other cheesy line" Alice said.

"Ouch" Daniel playfully brought his palm to his cheek as though to soothe the pain of a slap. "But I will not approach a girl for the first time with those words" he defended.

"Good for you" Alice smiled. "So, do you still have a crush on me?" Alice asked.

"Nah..." Daniel lied, "It was all in the past and that's why I can boldly confess that feeling to you now".

"Hmmm." Alice nodded.

They lapsed into silence again, but this time it was heavier, charged with an unspoken tension that neither could ignore.

“....but I still admire you, you know,” Daniel said suddenly, his voice breaking the quiet.

Alice turned to him, startled “Why?”

“For your strength,” he said simply. “You’ve been dealt a difficult hand, but you carry yourself with so much grace. Most people would have crumbled under the weight of it all, but not you.”

Alice’s heart skipped a beat, and she looked down, unsure how to respond.

“I don’t know about that,” she murmured. “Sometimes, I feel like I’m barely holding it together.”

“That doesn’t make you any less strong,” Daniel said firmly.

When she looked up at him, there was something in his eyes that made her breath catch—a warmth, a sincerity, and something deeper that she couldn’t quite name.

The world seemed to slow as he stepped closer, his presence filling the space between them. “Alice…” he began, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her heart pounded as he reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against hers where they rested on the railing. The contact sent a jolt through her, and she couldn’t bring herself to move away.

Daniel leaned in slowly, giving her every opportunity to stop him, his eyes locked on hers. Alice’s mind screamed at her to pull back, to think about Kelvin, about Madame Janet, about the consequences, but her heart betrayed her, aching for the closeness, the warmth that she hadn’t felt in so long.

And then his lips met hers, gentle and tentative, a question more than an assertion. For a fleeting moment, Alice let herself get lost in it, her eyes fluttering closed as her heart surged with emotions she could no longer suppress.

But reality crashed down on her like a tidal wave.

“No,” she whispered, breaking the kiss and pulling back abruptly. Her eyes were wide, her breath uneven as she stepped away from him.

“Alice—” Daniel began, concern and regret etched into his features.

“I can’t,” she said, shaking her head. Her voice trembled as she backed away. “I can’t do this, Daniel.”

Before he could say anything more, she turned and fled, her bare feet padding quickly against the deck as she made her way back to her suite.

When she reached her room, Alice leaned against the closed door, her chest heaving as she tried to calm her racing heart. She pressed her fingers to her lips, still tingling from the kiss, and squeezed her eyes shut.

“What am I doing?” she whispered to herself, her voice thick with anguish.