Chapter 4

I didn't wait in the room like Augusta told me to.

I found a quiet corner instead, and let the sea wind blow over me.

This was the first time I'd ever been on Augusta's ship. It would also be the last.

At some point I made a call to a real estate agent.

Once this voyage ended, Augusta and I were supposed to get married.

We'd bought the wedding home a year ago.

Augusta was busy, so the renovations, the furniture, the transfer of the deed, all of it had been handled by me. Selling it now would at least save some trouble.

That evening at dinner, Evan showed up too.

Augusta had chosen a restaurant the crew didn't usually frequent.

Even so, we ran into a few foreign crew members, and I heard Augusta introduce me to them as her friend.

She thought my English was bad. But even a three-year-old can hear the difference between "friend" and "boyfriend."

Seeing that I said nothing, Evan leaned in. "Darren, how many days are you planning to stay this time?"

I gave the two of them a mocking look. "How many days do you want me to stay?"

Evan raised his eyebrows and put on an excited face. "As long as possible, of course. Darren, we haven't seen each other in months. You have no idea what it's like out here day after day, nothing but the ocean and the passengers. I've been bored out of my mind."

"Is that so?"

I looked at the two of them with a heavy meaning behind my eyes, but I didn't call it out.

Augusta didn't say anything either. She peeled a shrimp and, out of habit, set it on Evan's plate.

For a moment all three of us froze.

Evan recovered first, turning to me all flattered surprise. "Darren, you don't know this, but Augusta's usually really strict with us. Thanks to you, today I actually got a shrimp she peeled with her own hands."

Augusta caught herself too, and awkwardly peeled a new one for me.

The food had no taste at all.

After dinner, Augusta walked me back to my room.

We'd just reached the door when she spoke. "Darren, I've already checked you out. You should get off the ship tomorrow."

I turned back, stunned. "I never said I was leaving."

I'd booked a two-week cruise. This was only the second day.

Augusta's face was cold, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Darren, this isn't a place you belong."

I let out a scoff.

"Then who does?"

"Evan? Or his parents?"

My question made Augusta force down her temper as she explained. "Darren, stop imagining things. We're getting married soon. I'm busy with work, and the wedding still needs you to plan it. You shouldn't waste your time here."

"Besides, with you here, I'll get distracted."

I just looked at her.

"Augusta, are we really going to get married?"

Augusta answered without even thinking. "Of course. You're the only man I want to marry in this life."

The words almost came out of me. "What about Evan?"

But they reached my lips and I swallowed them back down.

Augusta had already checked me out, so no matter how unwilling I was, the next day I still got off the ship.

Through the porthole, she and I looked at each other across the distance.

Before long, my phone buzzed twice.

【Darren, wait for me.】

【When we're back, we'll go register the marriage.】

I glanced down at it and found it almost laughable.

She'd thrown me off the ship for Evan's sake, and still she deluded herself that I would stand there like a fool and wait for her.

Off the ship, I dragged my luggage to the airport without looking back.

Before the flight took off, I sent her one last message.

【Augusta, let's break up.】