It seemed that making things official did make a difference. Stephan openly wrapped his arm around Felicia and walked out the door. Scarlet deliberately turned back to glance at Maurice, who looked about to explode with anger. She might feel a little sympathy for the poor man, but it wasn't much. Scarlet returned a smile and quickly followed the couple.

At the shore, Maurice's men had prepared a ship for the journey. However, as soon as they arrived, Stephan took one look at it and scoffed. Before Felicia could react, another ship appeared—one far superior in both safety and defense. It was clear Stephan had arranged for it. Compared to Maurice's vessel, Stephan's ship was in a league of its own—something money alone couldn't buy. Beyond the ship itself, the crew was also on a different level. Stephan's men stood with perfect posture, trained to the highest standard. The crew bustled about, ensuring everything was in order, while chefs prepared meals in the galley.

After everyone boarded, Stanley strolled over to Felicia and called out with an exaggerated smile, "Mrs. Russell, what would you like to drink? We have coffee, juice, wine—whatever you want." The key detail wasn't the drink selection, but the way he addressed her as "Mrs. Russell."

Maurice scoffed coldly and was the first to step inside the cabin. Initially, he hadn't wanted to board Stephan's ship at all, but their destination was unknown, and the open sea was full of unpredictable dangers—storms, hidden currents, and whatever else lurked beneath the surface. If they traveled on separate ships, there was always the risk of getting separated, which could be disastrous. Left with no other option, Maurice begrudgingly boarded Stephan's ship, his expression dark the entire time.

The journey would take many days. Even if everything went smoothly, it would take at least a week. Luckily, Stephan's ship was enormous. With multiple levels and plenty of rooms, it was easy to go an entire day without running into each other unless one made a deliberate effort.

On the third night of their voyage, Felicia lay on a lounge chair on the deck, staring up at the stars. As she gazed at the endless sky, a hint of regret crept in. Maybe she should have brought Pete, with or without the map. She had a nagging feeling they were nowhere close to finding the island.

Just as she was lost in thought, Stephan appeared beside her. He knew her well and didn't even need to ask to figure out what was on her mind.

"I have the map; we're following the coordinates marked on it," he said. "When I interrogated the robed man, he mentioned that the island can only be found using celestial patterns and tidal shifts. This phenomenon only happens once every decade. If we get to the right spot, finding the island shouldn't be difficult." Of course, that was assuming the robed man had told the truth.

Felicia nodded before turning to Stephan. "You once said you had a reason you had to find this island. What is it?" They had already promised each other not to keep any secrets.

Felicia had spent so much of her life trying to handle things alone, carrying every burden by herself. But now, things were different. She wasn't alone anymore. In this relationship, she wanted to share Stephan's burdens, too.

Stephan reached out and gently traced his fingers along the back of her neck. Her skin was soft and smooth, supple and comfortable to the touch.

"Do you remember the story I told you about that island?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Felicia nodded. "I do." He told her about the legend of the island. Back when they were in the rainforest, she had been chased by a giant python. After Stephan saved her, they tended to each other's wounds, and he...