Erika

“Are you lost, baby girl?” a deep, raspy male voice asked from behind, and I felt my soul leave my body in an instant.

I turned around but saw only darkness. Then, from one of the shadowy corners, a man stepped forward and stopped beneath a lamp hanging on the wall. He wore a maroon-red satin robe and leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed. He smiled warmly, and his eyes looked unexpectedly kind.

I knew him—I had seen him before. He was Ry’s crush. Still, my mind went blank as I tried to recall his name. I had only glimpsed him once on a broadcast that played on the LED screen in the dining area.

“No, I’m just finding my way out,” I said as calmly as I could, though my heart raced.

“Out of my suite, huh? Interesting.” His lips curled into a playful smile. “Anyway, my name is Alexis, Ms. Carter. I believe this is an attempt at escape.” He stretched out his hand toward me.

I froze, astonished that he knew me. But eventually, I accepted his hand, greeting him with a sheepish smile while clutching the strap of my bag like a lifeline.

Is he going to kill me?
The thought alone made my stomach drop, and a cold sweat broke across my skin.

“Does Master even let you leave the training center?” he asked, narrowing his eyes in confusion. This man knew far too much about me. My feet felt like heavy stones, and dread twisted my insides.

Then, without warning, Alexis pulled a phone from his robe pocket.
“Let me ask him,” he said calmly, dialing a number. As the line rang, my fingers fussed anxiously at the hem of my dress.

“Yes, Alexis,” a deep, commanding voice finally answered on the other end.

My fear peaked instantly. I dropped to my knees, pressing my palms together in a pleading gesture, begging him silently not to tell Mr. King about me.

Alexis gave me a hollow smile before stepping aside toward the balcony. When he opened the door, only the faint sound of crashing waves reached my ears. Through the glass, I saw him motion for me to stand up before he sat down on one of the couches outside.

Shakily, I obeyed, though my legs trembled beneath me. I buried my head between my knees, struggling to calm the storm inside me.

A few moments later, he returned, chuckling softly.
“Hahaha, you look cute like this.”

My head snapped up, and heat rushed to my cheeks at his unexpected comment. His tone was cheerful, even playful, though I remained utterly confused by him.

“Congratulations, Ms. Carter. Master has granted you freedom.”

I stared at him in disbelief, my mouth falling open.
“H-how is that possible?” I stammered, my voice weak with shock. None of this made any sense. Why would Mr. King just let me go?

“Believe it, Ms. Carter. In two days, this cruise will reach the nearest port—a large city. Master has instructed me to drop you off on the coast. You’re lucky.”

He spoke with casual calmness as he sank into the couch beside me, keeping a respectful distance.

My eyes narrowed. Suspicion and mistrust churned in my chest. Still, his words filled me with a sliver of hope I couldn’t ignore.

The silence between us dragged on until his phone vibrated again. Alexis excused himself and returned to the balcony, where his expression grew noticeably tense as he spoke. This time, I couldn’t hear his words. He turned briefly, catching me staring, and waved with a lighthearted smile. Embarrassed, I quickly looked away.

When he came back, my heart was already pounding with worry.
“Did he change his mind?” I blurted, anxiety written all over my face.

He shook his head, almost pitying in expression.
“No. Why would you think that? Master only told me to take care of you for the next two days. Until we reach shore, you are free to explore the cruise and enjoy its luxuries.” His stern tone made it sound like a rule, not a gift.

He gestured casually toward the suite.
“You may use this entire suite as your own. The bedroom is untouched, and you can order whatever you like.” He handed me a menu before disappearing into one of the rooms.

The menu looked ridiculously extravagant: leather-bound with glossy, high-quality pages. The dishes were listed in elegant italic font alongside vivid photographs. Each page bore a ‘K’ logo topped with a crown—the unmistakable symbol of Mr. King’s empire.

Moments later, Alexis reappeared, now fully dressed, and stood at the suite’s door.
“I have a meeting to attend, Ms. Carter. Please make yourself comfortable. You may use the first bedroom; don’t worry—it hasn’t been used.”

He inserted a black key card and left it behind as he stepped out. For once, I was free to roam—no locks, no chains. Unlike Daniel, Alexis hadn’t treated me like a prisoner.

Mr. King set me free? Finally?

The thought filled me with an eager, restless excitement. First, though—I needed food. Desperately.

I grabbed the intercom, brows wiggling mischievously as I placed my order. If Mr. King wanted to be generous, then I was going to take full advantage of it. An evil little smile curved my lips.

Not long after, two maids rolled in a food cart, neatly arranging the dishes on the dining table before bowing politely and leaving.

I wasted no time. The table was filled with all the food I had craved: lime prawns, rich fish rice, spicy crabs, and fresh lobster. I dug in hungrily, savoring every bite as though it were my last meal.

Satiated and pleasantly full, I took a warm shower before curling up in the impossibly soft queen-sized bed. But despite the comfort, sleep evaded me. I tossed, turned, and finally gave up, climbing out of bed to draw back the curtains.

Beyond the glass wall stretched the vast ocean, adorned by a dazzling sky. Stars glittered above like scattered jewels, and the moonlight spilled across the horizon, painting a breathtaking scene. The peaceful beauty left me breathless.

Yet as I gazed at the night, a sudden wave of sadness gripped my chest. I missed Allen. I missed Dylan. More than that, I missed my home—the life I once had before all this chaos swallowed me.

My heart hardened with resolve. Someday soon, those bastards would pay dearly for their cruelty.

Leaning against the wall, I let my eyes devour the endless sky, clinging to the promise of freedom, and the vengeance that awaited.

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