Chapter 2
At midnight, Edward finally opened the cabin door.
He walked in, the cool scent of the sea still clinging to him, holding a glass of warm water.
"Your stomach acting up again?"
He saw the untouched plate and his brow furrowed.
"Why didn't you eat?"
I didn't answer.
Edward tipped two antacid pills into his hand and pressed them gently to my lips.
"Susan can't stand the smell of seafood, so I had the cod taken off the menu. The steak's cold. I'll have the kitchen make you a fresh one."
His fingertips brushed my lips, gentle like he used to be.
"Don't punish yourself by skipping meals," he said softly.
Footsteps sounded outside the door.
Susan walked in, wrapped in his suit jacket.
She was wearing the slippers that were meant for me.
Edward had prepared those slippers ahead of time, with both our names stitched across the tops.
Now, the one with my name on it was under Susan's foot.
She seemed to notice only then, and hurriedly pulled her foot back.
"Lily, I'm really sorry. My shoes got soaked, and Edward was afraid I'd catch a chill, so he let me borrow yours for now," Susan said, sounding apologetic.
Edward followed my gaze.
"They're just slippers. I'll buy you a new pair when we're home," he said.
The manager and his staff carried my suitcase out of the bedroom, right in front of me.
I looked up.
Edward helped Susan sit down, speaking as if it were nothing.
"She threw up twice. The doctor said she needs to rest. The master suite is the most stable, so tonight, you'll have to stay in the staff cabin instead."
I glanced at the bedroom.
He'd picked out the mattress, the scented candles, and the pillows himself, everything tailored to my preferences.
Three months ago, he brought me on board for a trial stay.
The engine noise woke me up in the middle of the night, so the next day, he had the soundproofing fixed.
Back then, he held me close and laughed.
"If my wife can't sleep, then nobody else gets to sleep either," he said.
Now, the manager gathered up my toiletries, stuffed them into a see-through bag, and placed it atop my suitcase.
Susan spoke softly, "I should be the one staying in the staff cabin. Lily's the rightful lady of this ship, I can't keep taking what belongs to her."
She tried to stand up.
Edward gently held her shoulder.
"You're running a fever. Don't tire yourself out," he said.
Then he turned to me.
"Lily can sleep anywhere, she's always been easy that way. But you're different."
Susan's eyes were red and puffy.
"But Lily seems upset," she murmured.
Edward handed me the glass of warm water.
"She's just tired, it's not about you," he said.
Then he personally zipped up my suitcase.
"I had the staff cabin set up with fresh sheets, and told the manager to put two extra blankets in there for you. Since you're afraid of the dark, I made sure the bedside lamp stays on all night," Edward said.
He remembered everything.
He remembered I couldn't stand the cold, was afraid of the dark, and had a sensitive stomach.
The more he remembered, the more he convinced himself he loved me enough.
So asking me to move out became just another little thing he could justify to himself.
The manager took my suitcase, trying to lighten the mood with a smile.
"Mrs. Grant, please don't be upset. Ms. May's the bride tonight, it's just not right for the bride to stay in the staff cabin.
"You've been Mrs. Grant for ten years. You'll have plenty more nights in the master suite, don't worry."
Ten years ago, on our honeymoon, we stayed in the cheapest cabin at the very bottom of the ship.
That night, the waves were so wild I could barely stand without getting sick.
Edward carried me all the way to the infirmary and kept watch over me until sunrise.
When we got back to the room, he saw the sheets were damp, so he spread his jacket under me and sat on the floor, letting me rest my head on his lap.
I asked him why he wasn't sleeping.
He bent down and kissed me.
"You're so delicate, of course you deserve the best. We don't have it now, but I promise I'll make it up to you someday," he said.
Back then he had a few dozen dollars left in his pocket, and he still couldn't stand to let me go without.
Now, he owned an entire cruise ship.
But I wasn't even allowed to stay in my own room.
As I reached the door, Susan suddenly called out to me.
"Lily, Edward and I are planning to watch the sunrise together tomorrow morning.
"Would you mind lending me your wedding ring, just for tomorrow morning?"
I stopped in my tracks.
Edward glanced at the time.
He said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow morning. She needs to rest now."
He didn't say no.
He just felt tonight wasn't the right moment to bring it up.