Elodie’s thoughts drifted back to the present.

Only then did she glance to the side and notice Watts standing right next to her, eyeing her with mild curiosity, leaning in just a bit.

“You’re up early,” he remarked. He looked freshly showered, still energized from his workout, and had clearly caught her lost in thought.

Elodie hesitated for a split second after hearing his voice.

She looked up at him. “Where did you go?”

Watts gestured vaguely. “There’s a gym downstairs. I went for a run-about an hour.”

“You get up this early just to exercise?” Elodie glanced at the clock. It was barely

seven.

He watched her for a moment before a slow, easy smile crossed his face. “Sometimes a good workout is the only thing that clears my head.”

The words hung there.

Watts’ lips curled slightly at the edges, his gaze lingering on her face. Neither of them spoke; the air between them grew quietly charged.

“Did you sleep well last night?” he asked at last.

Elodie nodded, a little uncertainly. “I’m just not used to being on a boat.”

“We’ll be docking in just over an hour. Hang in there. Want to grab some breakfast first?” Watts checked the time, his tone gentler now.

Elodie had actually been planning to eat anyway.

She really, truly hated alcohol.

Her body and mind rejected it entirely.

Over the years, she’d taken care to avoid situations where drinking was expected. Even the slightest bit burned her stomach; and if her body didn’t metabolize it quickly, she’d break out in hives-nothing too serious, but enough to make her miserable.

She just wanted something hot to settle her stomach.

As for last night…

Her memory was spotty.

Faces and details blurred. The whole thing was a haze.

She only remembered one thing with any clarity.

She’d been the one who made the first move.

She’d reached out first.

That fact alone made everything feel complicated.

She honestly didn’t understand what had possessed her, as if something inside her had snapped.

Her aversion to alcohol wasn’t just

physical. It was also the way it

scrambled her mind-how she lost

did reckless things, and always forgot the details.

She wanted to remember.

But her mind wouldn’t cooperate.

Who had it been?

Elodie frowned silently.

None of this had been part of her plan.

Neither the drinking nor the way she’d acted last night.

Maybe Watts could sense how

distract

she was, because he

waited a while before

quietly saying,

“Lowe you an apology.”

She looked up, puzzled.

Apologize for what?

“What do you mean?” she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Watts pressed his lips together, about to answer.

But the elevator doors slid open.

Elodie simply stepped out first, glancing back at him as she did.

Watts met her cool, serene gaze. She was always a little distant, rarely letting anyone see even a flicker of warmth in her eyes. He hesitated then exhaled softly, his voice almost tentative. “Would you like to have breakfast together?”

“Alright.” Elodie nodded, not refusing.

She didn’t notice the brief, relieved smile that played at the corner of Watts’ mouth.

Once they entered the dining room, Elodie’s gaze traveled ahead-and there sat Jarrod, composed and elegant as ever.

Today he wore a black dress shirt, less formal than usual, the top buttons undone for a more relaxed look.

He glanced up just as she looked his way, their eyes meeting.

His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were dark and intense as they locked onto hers.

A chill ran down Elodie’s spine. She slowed for a split second.

A suspicion, sharp and sudden, flared in her chest.

Last night… Could it have been Jarrod?

“What’s wrong?” Watts stepped in, blocking her view. He bent down, concern clear in his voice.

Snapping out of it, Elodie realized Watts seemed almost too attentive, bordering on overprotective.