Chapter Fifteen

The ship docked smoothly at the Italian port just as the sun reached its zenith, bathing the coastline in a golden glow. The city spread out before them, a picturesque blend of cobblestone streets, terracotta rooftops, and vibrant markets bustling with life.

Alice stood on the deck, leaning against the railing, her gaze fixed on the enchanting view. Despite the beauty, a heaviness hung over her, one she couldn’t shake as Kelvin approached her from behind.

“We're set,” Kelvin said, his tone curt. “Anita is heading to the airport.”

Alice turned to face him, her expression neutral. She had insisted on seeing Anita leave herself to avoid any form of treachery. A huge part of her relished the closure it promised.

Within the hour, they disembarked the ship and entered a sleek black car waiting at the port. Anita was already inside, her sunglasses covering most of her face but not the bitterness that radiated from her like a second perfume.

Alice slid in beside Kelvin, maintaining a deliberate silence as the car pulled away. The drive to the airport was uneventful but suffused with tension. Anita was deep with anger but had no option but to control herself with the inward promise to herself, to get back at Alice. The scenic streets of Italy passed in a blur, their beauty overshadowed by the charged atmosphere in the vehicle.

When they arrived at the airport, Anita stepped out first, her every movement exaggerated with an air of entitlement. Kelvin followed, his posture stiff but his expression unreadable. Alice, ever the silent observer, walked behind them, her arms crossed as she surveyed the scene.

In the departure lounge, Anita finally broke the silence, turning to Kelvin with a dramatic sigh. “So, this is it, huh? You’re really sending me away like this?”

Kelvin’s jaw tightened. “You know why this is necessary, Anita. My grandmother’s suspicious, and if we don’t play this right, everything we’ve worked for will fall apart.”

“This bitch has won this round” Anita gestured sharply at Alice—“Promise me that you'll set her straight” Anita lowered her voice.

Alice raised an eyebrow but said nothing, standing a few steps away to give the couple their moment.

Kelvin’s reduced his tone. “I will. I will find a way. You just go back, stay quiet, and let me handle things."

Anita stared at him. For a moment, it seemed like she might protest, but then her shoulders sagged in reluctant defeat. “Fine,” she muttered. “I love you babe.”

Kelvin nodded, his expression softening slightly. “I love you too babe” They kissed while Alice looked away disgusted at it and a little pained.

Anita turned afterwards, her heels clicking against the tiled floor as she headed toward the security checkpoint. She didn’t spare Alice a second glance, though her departure felt like a victory for Alice all the same.

When Anita was finally out of sight, Kelvin exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Let’s go,” he said, his tone brusque as he turned toward the exit.

Alice followed, her silence deliberate. As they walked back to the car, she felt no pity for Anita or Kelvin. Instead, a faint sense of satisfaction curled in her chest. For the first time in days, she felt like she’d regained a sliver of control.

As they drove back toward the ship, the scenic streets of Italy felt less like a blur and more like an opportunity—a chance to explore, to escape the stifling constraints of her life, if only for a few hours.

“Drop me off in the city,” Alice said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Kelvin glanced at her, his expression hardening. “Why?”

“I want to see the town,” she replied evenly. “You’ve taken care of your business. Let me take care of mine.”

Kelvin hesitated, his jaw clenching as he considered her request. Finally, he nodded to the driver. “Fine. Make sure you're back on time We're going to have that call with Grandma tonight”

Alice said nothing, her gaze fixed on the passing streets. As the car slowed to a stop in the heart of the city, she stepped out without a backward glance, ready to claim the afternoon for herself.

*********

Alice strolled leisurely through the narrow streets of the Italian city, her heels clicking lightly against the cobblestones. She felt a sense of freedom for the first time since the cruise had started, the vibrant energy of the city infecting her. Cafés lined the streets, their tables spilling onto the sidewalks, where locals and tourists alike sipped espresso and enjoyed delicate pastries. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mingling with the faint tang of sea salt from the nearby harbor.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she pulled it out to see a text from Kimberly.

“I’m at the gelato shop near the fountain in Piazza delle Rose. Join me?”

Smiling at the idea of some company, Alice texted back a quick affirmative and made her way toward the square. When she arrived, Kimberly was already there, a cone of pistachio and raspberry gelato in hand.

“Alice!” Kimberly called out, her face lighting up. “You have to try this—it’s divine!”

Alice chuckled and ordered her own cone of hazelnut and dark chocolate gelato before joining Kimberly at the fountain’s edge. They chatted amiably about the city’s charm, Kimberly’s enthusiasm about every little detail drawing an easy laugh from Alice.

As they were talking, Alice’s phone buzzed again. This time, it was Daniel.

“Where are you? Thought you might want to explore together.” he sent.

Alice hesitated for a moment before responding, a part of her curious about what it might feel like to let her guard down.

“Piazza delle Rose. Come find us.”

Within minutes, Daniel appeared, his tall figure and confident stride making him stand out even in the bustling square. He wore a light linen shirt and trousers that made him blend seamlessly into the Mediterranean aesthetic.

“Ladies,” he greeted warmly, his smile widening when he saw Alice. “Enjoying the city?”

“Absolutely,” Kimberly said, offering him a playful grin. “And now you can join us. The more, the merrier.”

Daniel glanced at Alice, his gaze lingering for a moment. “What do you think, Alice? Up for some exploring?”

Alice nodded, surprising herself with how relaxed she felt. “Why not? Let’s make the most of it.”

She introduced Daniel and Kimberly to each other and together, the trio set off into the city. Their first stop was a local artisan market that Kimberly had spotted earlier. The stalls were filled with vibrant displays of hand-painted ceramics, intricately woven textiles, and jewelry crafted from sea glass.

Kimberly immediately gravitated toward a display of silk scarves, holding one up to Alice. “This would look amazing on me.”

Alice laughed. “Definitely.”

“Of course” Kimberly countered with a wink.

While Kimberly tried on various scarves, Daniel wandered to a nearby stall selling leather-bound journals. He picked one up, running his fingers over the embossed cover.

“You’re into journals?” Alice asked, stepping up beside him.

Daniel shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “I like writing things down. Thoughts, ideas, plans… It helps me sort through the noise.”

Alice nodded, her curiosity piqued. “What kind of plans?”

“Oh, you know,” he said, his tone light. “World domination, mostly.”

She laughed, the sound coming naturally. “Ambitious.”

“Always,” he replied, his eyes twinkling.

Alice left him to look at the jewelries and she got a bracelet for herself.

After leaving the market, they wandered to a centuries-old cathedral whose towering spires dominated the skyline. The interior was cool and serene, the stained glass casting colorful patterns on the stone floors.

“This place is stunning,” Kimberly said, her voice hushed.

Daniel and Alice exchanged a glance, both appreciating the moment of peace after the lively energy of the market.

As they left the cathedral, the group found themselves drawn to the harbor, where small fishing boats bobbed gently in the water. They decided to have lunch at a nearby trattoria, sitting at a table shaded by a bright red umbrella.

Over plates of fresh pasta and glasses of chilled white wine, the conversation turned more personal.

"Have you been to Italy before?" Alice asked Kimberly.

"No....I wasn't that luxurious to afford a trip round the world. This is my first time" Kimberly replied.

"I've bee here a couple of time for business, under Madame Janet Sander" Daniel spoke.

Kimberly's eyes grew wide on hearing Madame Janet's name. "You work for the Sanders?" she asked Daniel.

"Yes" Daniel replied

"Wow! you must be very very privileged. That's just so huge" Kimberly expressed her enthusiasm.

"I'm just someone Madame Janet would trust with certain business tasks but Alice here is her one and only daughter-in-law" Daniel said.

Kimberly shifted her shocked gaze to Alice, "You didn't tell me you were a part of such a big shot family in the country" Kimberly gave out and excited chuckle.

"It's nothing" Alice shrugged.

"It is everything. The sanders are the

biggest and wealthiest in the country. You're a luck girl" Kimberly said, "especially with what we discussed earlier" she winked at Alice.

Alice could not hold back her smile. Getting half of the Sanders fortune was indeed the greatest thing one could get.

"What did you discuss earlier?" Daniel asked, interested.

"About my situation with Kelvin" Alice replied promptly and Daniel understood.

A brief silence swept through and Kimberly started with a different angle of conversation.

Their conversation meandered from the cities they’d visited and hoped to visit, to their dreams for the future. Daniel shared his love of travel and how he’d always been fascinated by history. Kimberly talked about her what she planned on doing now that she was divorced with quite some wealth on her hands.

Alice, to her surprise, found herself opening up more than she expected. She shared snippets of her childhood, her love for books and dance, and her admiration for strong, independent women—something she quietly aspired to be.

Daniel listened intently, his admiration for her evident in the way he watched her speak. Kimberly, too, seemed genuinely engaged, her laughter and encouraging remarks creating a warm, supportive atmosphere.

As the afternoon wore on, the trio made their way back toward the ship, stopping occasionally to admire street performers or snap photos of the scenic views. By the time they reached the port, Alice felt lighter, as though the weight she’d been carrying had eased, if only slightly.

******

Alice entered her suite to find Kelvin, watching the television. She smiled to herself. He was bound to be miserable without his Anita, and she was sure he would spend all his time in the suite.

"When do we make the call to Grandma?" Alice asked him.

"Later tonight" Kelvin replied without removing his

gaze from the television.

"I'll be going for my dance class by seven this evening. We'll make the call after that" Alice informed.

Kelvin turned to her, "You take dance classes alone. For what, to have an opportunity to flirt with all the men on the cruise?"

"I'm not a whore like you Kelvin who marries one woman and cannot keep his pants zipped up before another" Alice threw sharply at him.

"Don't you dare insult me" Kelvin stood up, supressing his anger.

"I'm just saying the truth." Alice ignored his emotions, "It's not like you love me anyway so, I'll just have a good time here on this ship"

"You made me send Anita away and you think you can get to frolick around with other men? Since you want to play this game this way, I will have to accompany you in all you do on this

ship. After all it's out honeymoon" Kelvin spoke firmly, determined to restrain her as she had found a way to keep him from being with Anita on the ship.

"Whatever" Alice waved him off and walked into the bathroom to freshen up, leaving Kelvin to drown in his bitterness and anger, feeling helpless under a lowlife like Alice.