Chapter Twelve

Alice stepped into the suite, the quiet click of the door behind her marking her arrival. The cool air of the room greeted her, a stark contrast to the bustling energy of the ship’s lobby she had just left. She longed for a moment of solitude, a chance to collect her thoughts after the strange mixture of lighthearted games with Daniel and the lingering bitterness of her marriage to Kelvin.

But as she moved further into the room, she froze. Kelvin was there, standing by the window, his back to her. He was stiff, radiating tension, a half-empty glass of whiskey clutched in his hand.

“You’re finally back,” he said without turning around, his voice clipped and tight.

Alice narrowed her eyes but said nothing, moving toward the small sitting area and perching on the arm of a chair.

Kelvin turned to face her, his expression hard. “We need to talk.”

“Do we?” she asked coolly, folding her arms.

“Don’t start, Alice,” he snapped, taking a step closer. “I just got off the call with Grandma. She’s suspicious. She didn't buy my excuse of you not being present, and now she’s threatening to come on board if she doesn’t see the two of us together on the next video call.”

Alice raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “That sounds like a problem for you, not me.”

“It’s our problem,” Kelvin retorted, his tone sharp. “If she comes here and sees what’s really going on, the entire plan falls apart. Do you have any idea what’s at stake? You will lose the chance to change your life and be a billionaire”

“Oh, I know exactly what’s at stake,” Alice said, her voice calm but cutting. “But I really don't care."

Kelvin’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then, he stepped closer, his tone lowering but losing none of its edge. “You've already secured a huge deal for yourself. I don’t understand why you’re making this so difficult.”

Alice stood, her arms falling to her sides, her eyes blazing with restrained anger. “You don’t understand, Kelvin? You brought me into this, you deceived me, left me alone to myself while you run off with Anita, and now you expect me to play the doting wife on a video call? I'm not a fool, Kelvin.”

Kelvin let out a frustrated sigh, setting his glass down on the table. “Alice, listen to me. I need you to do this. Just one call. Let grandma have no reason to doubt me and come here.”

Alice shook her head firmly. “No.”

“Alice—”

“No, Kelvin,” she interrupted, her voice rising slightly. “You can’t have it both ways. You and that trash, Anita cannot walk all over me. If you want me to do this, then you need to do what I have asked. Send Anita home. Next time we dock, put her on a plane and send her away.”

Kelvin stared at her, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, the room was silent, the tension between them palpable.

Finally, he let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Is that what this is about? I can see it now. You’re jealous of Anita?”

Alice’s eyes flashed with anger. “Don’t flatter yourself, Kelvin. This isn’t about jealousy. It’s about respect. I deserve respect!"

Kelvin turned away, running a hand through his hair. He hated feeling cornered, and Alice had a way of backing him into these impossible situations. He knew he has no choice. Alice obviously don't care but he can never ever lose his inheritance.

After what felt like an eternity, he exhaled sharply and turned back to her. “Fine. Anita will be gone by the next shore. But you’d better be ready for that call, Alice. No excuses.”

Alice held his gaze, her expression hard. “I'll make that call the moment I see her leave with my own eyes.”

Kelvin nodded reluctantly, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. Without another word, he grabbed his drink and walked past her, heading toward the door.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Alice exhaled slowly, her shoulders sagging. She was a little excited to have found a way to kick that idiot of a woman out of the slip. She had gained a small victory. And in this fragile, turbulent marriage, small victories were all she had.

******

Kelvin walked briskly down the ship’s hallway, his mind racing. He knew this conversation with Anita wouldn’t go smoothly, but he had no choice. Alice had forced his hand, and the stakes were too high to risk his grandmother's interference.

Stopping in front of Anita’s suite, he knocked firmly, ignoring the slight tremor in his fingers. The door opened moments later to reveal Anita, dressed casually in a sleek silk robe, her hair tied back in a loose bun. She smiled at him, though the look in her eyes quickly shifted to concern when she noticed his tense expression.

“What’s wrong, babe?” she asked, stepping aside to let him in.

Kelvin entered, shutting the door behind him. He didn’t bother with pleasantries, cutting straight to the point. “A lot a wrong.”

Anita folded her arms, her brows furrowing. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“It’s not,” Kelvin admitted, running a hand through his hair. He took a deep breath before meeting her gaze. “You have to leave the ship at the next dock.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said, his tone firm. “You need to pack your things and leave once we dock.”

Anita let out a short, incredulous laugh, shaking her head. “Kelvin, you can’t be serious. What is this about? Did Alice put you up to this?”

Kelvin’s jaw tightened. “This is about keeping things under control. My grandmother is already suspicious, and Alice won’t cooperate unless you’re gone. I need her to be present with me for the next call with my grandmother.”

Anita’s expression darkened, her voice rising with anger. “So that’s it? You’re letting her dictate how this goes now? I thought you were in charge of this whole arrangement. You let that illiterate villager control you?”

“This isn’t about power, Anita,” he shot back. “This is about survival. If my grandmother finds out the truth, the entire plan falls apart. That means no inheritance, no future. I get nothing, we get nothing. Do you understand what’s at stake here?”

“And you think tossing me off the ship is going to fix everything?” she snapped, her arms dropping to her sides. “What happens after that, Kelvin? What if she asks you to stop seeing me the next time?”

“It's temporary, Anita. Just for three years or at least till we find a way to paint her characterless before my grandma and have her being sent away.” Kelvin said, though even as the words left his mouth, he wasn’t sure he believed them. “For now you just have to leave, please babe.”

Anita stared at him, her eyes blazing with hurt and fury. “So you’re just going to throw me away like I mean nothing? We're meant to have the best times of our lives on this ship. We made plans and in just twenty four hours, you want me leaving?”

Kelvin sighed, his frustration mounting. “It’s not like that, babe. You know it isn’t. This is temporary—just until things settle down.”

“Temporary?” she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’re deluding yourself if you think Alice is going to make this easy for you. She doesn’t care about you or this plan.”

Kelvin stepped closer, his voice softening slightly. “I don’t have a choice, Anita. You know how much this inheritance means. If my grandmother cuts me off, everything falls apart. I won't be able to give you the luxurious life you deserve”

Anita looked away, her jaw clenched. For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the ship’s engine. The inheritance was very dear to her, even more than it was to Kelvin. It hurt her that Alice was already manipulating things to her will, separating her from Kelvin.

Finally, she exhaled sharply and turned back to him. “Fine. I’ll leave at the next dock. But don’t think for a second that I’m happy about this.”

“I don’t expect you to be,” Kelvin said quietly.

Anita stepped closer, her voice low and venomous. “You’d better find a way to put that little bitch in her rightful place.”

Kelvin met her gaze, his own filled with a mixture of guilt and determination. “I will. I promise you babe ” he said, though the words felt hollow.

Kelvin held her in his arms, comfortingly, the weight of his choices pressing heavily on his shoulders. He had convinced her to leave, but at what cost? He couldn’t shake the feeling that the walls of his carefully constructed plan were starting to crumble. Anita was right, he needed to find a way to put Alice in her rightful place and he would put all his effort to find a way to do that.

*****

After lunch, Alice felt the need to explore. She’d seen the spa listed in the ship’s brochure earlier and decided it was just what she needed—a moment of peace to herself.

The spa was nestled on one of the quieter decks, its serene ambiance a stark contrast to the lively buzz of the ship’s activities. Soft instrumental music played in the background, and the scent of lavender wafted through the air. Alice felt a sense of calm wash over her the moment she stepped inside.

She approached the reception desk, where a smiling attendant greeted her.

“Good afternoon, ma’am. How can we assist you today?”

“I’d like to book a massage,” Alice replied, her voice soft but firm.

“Of course. We have an opening in about fifteen minutes. In the meantime, you’re welcome to enjoy the lounge or the sauna.”

Alice nodded her thanks and made her way to the lounge area. She settled into one of the plush chairs, closing her eyes for a moment as the tranquil atmosphere began to work its magic.

“Mind if I sit here?”

Alice opened her eyes to see a young woman standing nearby. She had striking chestnut-brown hair that framed her warm, friendly face, and her smile was inviting.

“Go ahead,” Alice said, gesturing to the chair opposite hers.

The woman sat down. “I’m Kimberly,” she said, extending a hand.

“Alice,” she replied, shaking Kimberly’s hand.

“First time on a cruise?” Kimberly asked, sipping her tea.

Alice nodded. “It is. You?”

“Oh, no. I’ve been on a few,” Kimberly said with a laugh. “But this one is definitely the most luxurious. I had to try the spa as soon as I saw it on the map.”

Alice couldn’t help but smile. Kimberly’s enthusiasm was infectious. “It’s beautiful here. Just what I needed after a long morning.”

Kimberly tilted her head curiously. “Rough day?”

“You could say that,” Alice replied vaguely, not wanting to delve into the complexities of her marriage.

Kimberly seemed to pick up on her reluctance and smoothly changed the subject. “Well, the spa is the perfect place to unwind. I just had a facial, and it was heavenly. Are you doing a massage?”

“Yes, I’ve got an appointment in a few minutes.”

“You’ll love it,” Kimberly assured her. “The masseuses here are amazing. I’ve been on this ship for three days, and I’m already tempted to extend my stay just for the spa treatments.”

Alice chuckled. “That does sound tempting.”

The two women continued chatting, their conversation flowing easily as they talked about the ship, their favorite destinations, and even a few lighthearted stories about past vacations. Kimberly’s warmth and humor put Alice at ease, and for the first time in a while, she found herself genuinely enjoying someone’s company.

When the receptionist called Alice’s name, signaling that her massage was ready, she hesitated to leave.

“It was nice meeting you,” Alice said as she stood.

“You too!” Kimberly replied. Then, as if struck by an idea, she added, “Hey, are you doing anything this evening?”

Alice paused. “Not yet. Why?”

“There’s a dance class starting this evening. You should come! It’s another great way to unwind—and I hear the instructors are incredible.”

Alice hesitated. She wasn’t sure if dancing with a crowd of strangers was what she needed, but Kimberly’s excitement was infectious and she also loves dancing.

“Sure. I'll be there,” Alice said finally, a small smile tugging at her lips. It wouldn't hurt to relax and enjoy everything that would come her way. After all, she was on a vacation.

Kimberly grinned. “Great! I’ll see you there!”

As Alice made her way to the massage room, she found herself looking forward to the evening for the first time in a long while. Kimberly’s cheerful energy was a welcome reprieve from the heaviness that had followed her for weeks.