Chapter 3 3

TWO MONTHS AGO:

The moonlight danced on the gentle waves of the ocean, casting a silvery glow over the private cruise ship, *The Seraphine*. The vessel was the height of luxury, with its sleek design and grand features. The sound of the waves lapping against the hull mingled with the soft hum of classical music playing in the background, creating an atmosphere of serene elegance.

On the deck, a lavish party was in full swing. The air was filled with the mingling scents of expensive perfumes and the faint aroma of gourmet food being served by attentive waiters. Fairy lights were strung along the railings, casting a warm, golden light over the scene, while the stars above twinkled like diamonds in the clear night sky.

Viviana was lounging on plush chaise lounges,beside her two friends Silvia and Blanca, their laughter ringing out over the deck. They were dressed in glamorous evening gowns that shimmered under the lights, each one a picture of carefree sophistication. Their cheeks were flushed from the champagne they had been sipping, their eyes bright with the effects of alcohol and the exhilaration of the night.

Viviana, her chestnut hair flowing freely over her shoulders, took another sip of her champagne, her eyes scanning the deck. "Where are Nico and Freya?" she slurred slightly, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. "They've been missing for a while now." Her eyes scanned the surrounding.

Silvia, shrugged, her movements loose and relaxed. "Probably off somewhere, talking," she said, her words drawn out and lazy. "They have been doing that a lot recently." she said casually.

Blanca, lounging back with a glass of wine in her hand, giggled. "Or doing something more," she added with a wink. Silvia snorted, but Viviana's hand tightened around her glass of champagne, her irritation visible in the coldness of her eyes. She shot Blanca a dead look, causing Blanca to recoil slightly. "I didn't mean it like that, Viviana," she said with a pained expression.

But it was too late. Viviana hurled her glass to the deck and stood up abruptly. "Viviana, please, I am sorry!" Blanca scrambled to her feet, reaching out to hold her back, but Viviana shrugged her hand off, causing Blanca to slip and crash into the glass table beside her, shattering it into a hundred pieces. Blanca shrieked in pain, but Viviana didn't spare her a second glance as she stormed into the cabin area, her head spinning, her feet unsteady.

"Nico?! Freya?!" she called out, receiving no response. The cruise ship had multiple rooms for each guest, and Viviana marched towards Freya's room, twisting the doorknob without knocking. Expecting to find them there, she was met with an oddly empty room. Frowning, she closed the door, and just then, the door behind her opened. Nico hurriedly walked out, almost bumping into her.

"Vivi!" he exclaimed, breathless. His top few shirt buttons were undone, and his lips had a glossy tint. Viviana's eyes narrowed at the sight.

"Where were you?" she demanded.

Nico gave her a weak laugh. "What do you mean, darling? I went to the restroom. I told you that," he said, wiping his lips.

Viviana wasn't convinced. "Where is Freya?" she demanded, her tone sharp.

Nico shook his head. "How would I know? I was in my room all along." Nico replied instantly but Viviana didn't seem convinced until Freya walked into the hallway from the opposite direction, holding an empty glass. "What's up with the two lovebirds? I hope I didn't intrude," she said, chuckling.

Viviana turned to look at her, noticing she was coming from a completely different direction. For a moment, she felt she might have wronged Nico and misunderstood the situation.

"Yeah, we didn't have much time to spend together, so I thought why not enjoy ourselves on the cruise. Am I right, Nico?" Viviana held onto Nico's arm and pulled him closer possessively even though Nico's expressions were very reluctant to do anything romantic in front of Freya. Nico leaned in, and they exchanged a soft, brief kiss. Freya's gaze turned cold for a split second before she spoke.

"You are making us single people jealous, you know that, right?" Freya said.

Viviana gave her a pointed look before laughing. "Well, why don't you find someone then? I think it isn't that hard to find a perfect guy with that face of yours."

There was a brief moment of silence before Freya gave Nico a long, meaningful glare and spoke. "What if my Mr. Right was taken by someone else? What should I do then, Vivi?"

"Well then, he must not be your Mr. Right after all if he was that easily taken away from you by someone else. You should learn to tame your men so they can't leave." Viviana's fingers twisted in Nico's collar, her eyes catching a pink pigment on it that she didn't mention. "Am I right, Nico? You know you are my Mr. Right, and you also know what will happen if my Mr. Right tries to find himself another Miss Perfect who is not me. Right?" Her voice held a hint of threat, and her emerald green eyes bore into him with intensity.

Nico, who had been calm moments ago, now seemed unnerved. "Of course, Vivi! You are the only one for me." He laughed weakly and glanced at Freya briefly.

"Let's go out and enjoy ourselves. We shouldn't miss a single moment here. After all, Vivi planned it all for us," Nico said, trying to disperse the tension in the air.

The luxurious setting of the cruise ship amplified the tension among the friends. The scent of the ocean breeze mingled with the faint aroma of exotic flowers arranged in vases throughout the deck.Silvia and Blanca, who had been silent spectators to the unfolding drama, exchanged uneasy glances. The deck, with its plush seating and glistening teakwood floors, felt like a stage set for an unfolding drama.

Viviana tightened her grip on Nico's collar briefly before letting go, her eyes still flashing with anger. She forced a smile and turned to the others. "Come on, let's enjoy the night. We're here to have fun, aren't we?"

Blanca, still nursing her wounded pride from the earlier incident, nodded hesitantly. "Yes, let's make the most of it."

Freya, her expression unreadable, lifted her glass. "To an unforgettable night," she said, her tone dripping with a mix of sincerity and sarcasm.

As they moved to the outer deck, the cool breeze from the ocean provided a momentary relief from the charged atmosphere. The sky was a canvas of stars, and the moon cast a silvery glow over the water. Viviana clung to Nico's arm, her grip possessive. Nico, trying to appear nonchalant, felt the weight of her eyes on him, and the lingering threat in her words.