Chapter 5 An Encounter On The Cruise

Meanwhile, in one of the cruise's private rooms, Melany basked in the glow of Colton's friends' admiration.

"Let's raise a glass to Miss Johnson, back from overseas!" one of them exclaimed.

"Mr. Stevens, you're a lucky guy, having such a dazzling woman on your arm!" another added.

"I heard Miss Johnson took first place in the perfume competition five years ago. Quite the rising star!" said another voice.

Melany's expression didn't change at the mention of the words "first place." With an air of modesty, she threw a gentle look in Colton's direction and said, "It was more of a fluke. I'm no real perfume expert. I only got into it because of someone I cared about."

Kaelyn, ever quick to flatter, immediately jumped in, saying, "Miss Johnson, you might not know this, but every single night, Mr. Stevens can't fall asleep without smelling the perfume you gave him back then."

A collective "aww" rippled through the room as Melany's cheeks flushed the lightest shade of pink.

Everyone there knew Colton's success was deeply connected to the perfume business, and the atmosphere buzzed with the unspoken expectation of some grand, romantic gesture. All eyes were on Colton, waiting. But he stayed unusually silent.

Since deciding to divorce Allison, he always felt that a strange knot of discomfort had been tugging at him, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

Just then, Kaelyn, always keen to catch a moment, spotted a familiar figure at a distance.

"Wait... isn't that Allison?" she blurted out, her surprise cutting through the room. The name hit Colton like a gust of wind. He stood up at once and moved outside to the railing, looking down. There, on the deck below, stood Allison, dressed in a fitted red dress that hugged her figure. Paired with high heels, she was a vision - calm, collected, and captivating, swirling a glass of wine in one hand.

He could only stare, his mind echoing a single thought: captivating.

Opposite her, a group of men loomed, their posture and expressions anything but friendly. The shortest of them, sporting a thick gold chain and clutching a bottle, seemed to be leading the charge. He snarled at her, "You think you can just walk away from this? You're finished, you hear me?"

A few of Colton's friends had followed him to the railing, and they too watched the scene unfold below.

"Man, you gotta admit, she does look a lot like Colton's wife, but her whole vibe is different."

"What are you talking about? That is her!"

"Whoa, Colton, your wife is looking stunning! Who would've guessed?"

"Hold on, isn't that Danny Mason down there? That guy's a straight-up psycho. Cross him, and you're done for. He's known for going after women like a predator."

"Man, look at that. Divorced, and she's already dressing like that? How the hell did she even get on this cruise? Bet she spent a fortune to mingle with the big shots here. She's probably fishing for a rich catch."

Melany sighed quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Come on, guys, let's not be too harsh. I know Ms. Clarke may not have family ties or connections, but she's probably reaching for anything she can grab... That's why..."

Kaelyn, quick to understand the subtext, picked up where Melany trailed off.

"Exactly, Mr. Stevens. She left with nothing and now shows up all dolled up here? She must be trying to-"

"Enough!" Colton cut her off sharply, his voice as cold as ice. "This isn't where you're qualified to stay."

Kaelyn froze, her face draining of color as she immediately dropped to her knees. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stevens. I didn't mean to overstep."

The room that had been filled with laughter and light-hearted banter now fell into an uneasy silence. Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, trying to figure out what had just shifted in Colton's mood.

What had gotten into him?

Even Melany, who usually kept her cool, sensed something was off.

"Colton, don't be angry," she said softly. "Kaelyn didn't mean any harm. She's been up all night, getting everything ready for me - the room, the gifts. Let her stay, okay?"

She lowered her head slightly, her voice tinged with a hint of guilt. "As for Ms. Clarke, it's really on me. If I hadn't come back, she probably wouldn't feel the need to act out just to grab your attention..."

Colton's heart twisted at the sight of Melany looking so troubled.

"It's not your fault," he replied firmly. "Whatever game she's playing, I'm not falling for it."

Melany's explanation seemed to make sense to him - far more than the idea that Allison was trying to seduce someone in this way.

Her sudden appearance on the cruise, fresh off their divorce, and then him witnessing her being hassled? It all felt like some elaborate move to get under his skin.

Colton's expression hardened as his thoughts spiraled. "Let's see how she plans to worm her way out of this mess!'"