Chapter Ten

The gentle knock at the door stirred Alice from her restless sleep. She blinked against the morning light filtering through the curtains, disoriented for a moment before the events of the previous night came rushing back.

She sat up slowly, running a hand through her tousled hair. The knock came again, firmer this time.

“Who is it?” she called, her voice still groggy.

“It’s Daniel,” came the familiar voice from the other side. “I brought breakfast.”

Alice’s stomach twisted—not from hunger, but from the complicated emotions his presence always seemed to stir. She glanced at herself in the mirror across the room, noting her rumpled appearance, but decided she didn’t care.

“Come in,” she said, her tone guarded.

The door opened, and Daniel stepped inside, carrying a tray laden with a steaming pot of coffee, a plate of croissants, fresh fruit, and a small vase with a single rose. He looked effortlessly charming in a crisp white shirt and dark slacks, his easy smile softening as his eyes met hers.

“Good morning,” he said, setting the tray on the small table near the window.

Alice raised an eyebrow. “Bringing me breakfast now, are we? What’s the catch?”

“No catch,” Daniel said, his tone light but sincere. “I thought you might need something after... last night.”

Her expression hardened slightly at the reminder, but she forced herself to stay composed. “I’m fine, Daniel.”

“Of course,” he said, pulling out a chair and gesturing for her to sit. “But even fine people need breakfast.”

Reluctantly, Alice got out of bed and made her way to the table. She sat down, eyeing him warily as he poured her a cup of coffee.

“You didn’t have to do this,” she said, her voice quieter now.

“I wanted to,” he replied, taking the seat across from her. “You seemed... troubled last night. I thought a good meal and some company might help.”

Alice wanted to refuse the breakfast but decided it meant no harm. She took a sip of the coffee, savoring the warmth as it spread through her. “You’re awfully attentive for someone who claims to have no ulterior motives.”

Daniel leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. “Can’t a man simply be kind without suspicion?”

“Not in my experience,” she said, her gaze steady.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The ship rocked gently beneath them, the sound of waves lapping against the hull filling the silence.

“Why are you here, Daniel?” Alice asked finally, her voice cutting through the quiet.

He tilted his head slightly, studying her. “You mean, why am I on this ship? Or why am I here, in your room?”

“Both,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.

Daniel sighed, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. “I’m here because I care about you, Alice. As a friend,” he added quickly when her eyes narrowed. “And because I know you’ve been dealt a hand that’s... less than ideal.”

Alice’s lips twitched, but the humor didn’t reach her eyes. “That’s putting it mildly.”

“You deserve better than this,” he said softly, his gaze unwavering.

She looked away, focusing on the rose in the vase. “What I deserve doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me,” Daniel said firmly.

Alice’s eyes flicked back to him, searching his face for any sign of deception. But all she saw was sincerity, and that frightened her more than she cared to admit.

“Why do you care, Daniel?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “You barely know me.”

“On the contrary, I know you,” he admitted. "I see you, Alice. I see your strength, your resilience. I see someone who’s been manipulated into a situation but refuses to let it break her.”

Her throat tightened, and she quickly took a bite of the croissant to avoid responding.

Daniel leaned back again, giving her space. “I’m not here to make things harder for you,” he said after a moment. “I just want you to know you’re not alone. That there’s someone on your side.”

Alice swallowed hard, her defenses wavering. “It’s not that simple, Daniel. Nothing about my life is simple.”

“Then let me help,” he said, his voice steady. “Even if it’s just being someone you can talk to.”

She hesitated, torn between the part of her that wanted to trust him and the part that screamed to keep her walls up.

“I don’t trust easily,” she said finally, her gaze meeting his.

“I know,” he replied. “But I’m not asking for your trust. Just your time.”

Alice considered his words, the sincerity in his tone chipping away at her resolve, but she did not reply.

Daniel chuckled, he sensed that he was making progress with her.

They sat in silence for a while, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the table. For the first time in a long time, Alice felt a flicker of something she couldn’t quite name. It wasn’t trust. Not yet. But it was a start.

Alice continued with her break, sipping her coffee in silence, her fingers brushing absently against the edge of the delicate cup. The warm sunlight streamed through the window, catching strands of her still slightly tousled hair. She looked serene, almost out of place in the chaos that surrounded her life, and Daniel couldn’t help but watch her.

He’d only meant to bring her breakfast, to offer a small moment of comfort, but sitting across from her now, he was captivated. There was something about her—the quiet strength in her posture, the way her brow furrowed slightly when she was deep in thought—that he found impossible to ignore.

She glanced up suddenly, her eyes sharp. “Why are you staring at me like that”

Daniel blinked, caught off guard, before letting out a soft chuckle. “I'm sorry. I was just... thinking.”

“About what?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.

He hesitated, his gaze flickering to the coffee pot. “About how you take your coffee black. It suits you.”

Alice frowned slightly, tilting her head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s straightforward, no frills. Like you,” Daniel said with a small smile.

She narrowed her eyes at him, though there was no real malice in her expression. “Are you trying to flatter me, Daniel?”

“Would it work if I was?” he countered smoothly.

She snorted softly and shook her head, reaching for a croissant.

For a moment, the air between them shifted, the light banter giving way to something heavier. Alice broke the gaze first, focusing on her breakfast. Daniel leaned back in his chair, letting the moment pass but unable to stop the small smile tugging at his lips.

“How many ladies have you brought breakfast in bed for?” she asked, her tone lighter now.

Daniel laughed lightly in comprehension “Only the one lady who looks like she could use a friend,” he said easily.

Alice froze briefly, the croissant halfway to her mouth. She set it down carefully and met his gaze. “I don't need your friendship.”

He held her eyes steadily, the sincerity in his voice unmistakable. “Yet you accepted my breakfast." There was a brief silence then he added "I want to be a friend, just let me be.”

Alice looked away, her walls creeping back up. “Friends are a luxury I can’t afford right now.”

“That’s your choice,” Daniel said gently. “But I’ll still be here if you change your mind.”

She didn’t respond, instead focusing intently on her plate. The conversation lulled into silence, the only sound the faint hum of the ship and the clinking of cutlery against porcelain. Daniel allowed himself another glance at her, marveling at how someone so guarded could hold so much strength.

When she finally finished her coffee, Alice set the cup down with a decisive clink. “Thank you for breakfast,” she said, standing and brushing crumbs from her hands.

Daniel stood too, sensing his time was up. “Anytime,” he said simply.

He lingered at the door for a moment, as if wanting to say more, but thought better of it. With a nod, he stepped out, leaving her alone.

Alice sighed, rubbing her temples. Daniel was... confusing. Too kind, too persistent. And too much of a distraction.

She headed to the bathroom to shower and change, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of the morning. When she emerged, refreshed and dressed, she was met by an abrupt

entrance into the room.

Kelvin pushed his way in, his expression dark with annoyance.

“We need to talk,” he said curtly, shutting the door behind him.

Alice crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. “What now?”

“The video call with Grandmother,” Kelvin said, his tone brooking no argument. “We missed last night, and we’re doing it today. No excuses.”

“I'm not doing it,” Alice said, already irritated.

Kelvin’s face hardened. “You will do it, Alice.”

Alice laughed bitterly. “I'd like to see you try”

“We have a deal. Don't you want that fifty percent of my inheritance?,” Kelvin tried manipulating, his voice depicting a hint of weakness and defeat.

“Do I look like my entire life depends on that money?,” Alice replied. Even though that money was a huge step up for me after the divorce, she did not want to give Kelvin the upper hand to think that he could control her because of it.

Kelvin took a step closer, taking a deep breath. He reduced his tone, like he was pleading “Come on Alice. Grandma is expecting our call. She will be worried if we don't do it together. I don't know what excuse to give her”

"Oh Kelvin, you know you're a master at lying and deceiving. You could deceive me into marrying you, you could deceive your grandmother into thinking that you're okay with marrying me while you go about enjoying with your girlfriend. It shouldn't be that hard to come up with a

lie as to why we're not able to make that call together as expected" Alice smiled at him.

"What do you want?" Kelvin asked reluctantly. He wished he did not have to but he could not afford anything tampering with him getting his inheritance. He would do anything till he would come up with a way to silence Alice and her annoying audacity.

"What?" Alice chuckled. She was enjoying every bit of the torment Kelvin was in.

"I said, what do you want for you to agree to make this call with me?" He repeated, annoyed at himself and how bruised his ego felt before an ordinary girl like Alice.

"You'd really do anything?" Alice wanted to confirm and to smash his ego my making him repeat his willingness to do her bidding.

"Yes" Kelvin released with pain.

"Send Anita away from this ship" Alice demanded immediately.

Kelvin's eyes shone, "You're joking."

"I'm not. This vacation was meant to be my honeymoon with my husband and she is here interfering that since we've been on this ship, we haven't had one moment as a married couple. You even spent the first night with her" Alice said.

"I can't send her away. I love her and this is one opportunity I get to spend with her without any fear of people who know me and my family" Kelvin moved away from her.

"Fine then." Alice replied.

She immediately grabbed her bag from the dresser, her expression unyielding. “Have a good time with Grandma when you call her.”

Without waiting for a response, she walked out, closing the door behind her. Leaving Kelvin confused and feeling stuck without any assistance in a quagmire.