Felicia burned her head and glanced briefly at Maurice, only to have her vision completely blocked by a large, warm hand. Then came Stephan’s unmistakable voice, low and possessive, his chuckle laced with jealousy.
“Look at me. No other men.”
Ah, the jealous fiancé she knew so well. Felicia couldn't help but find it amusing.
Stephan held her waist as they walked back into their cabin. Her clothes were still damp from the seawater; she needed to change. By the time she finished, Scarlet was waiting outside. The moment their eyes met, Scarlet simply said, “It’s done.”
Felicia nodded, feeling no sympathy. Pete had spent his life scheming, playing dangerous games. In the end, the ocean had been his final miscalculation.
As the ship sailed away, the island, holding so many secrets, began to sink beneath the waves. Felicia felt strongly that, no matter how many years passed, no matter how detailed the maps, no one would ever find it again. Everything would be erased by time, and eventually, even those who had been there might question whether it had been real or merely a dream. Well, it wasn’t a bad thing to treat it as a dream.
The sky was clear; it was a beautiful day. A month had passed since their return from the island, but nothing had really changed, except perhaps for one extra certificate, a new identity, and a wedding that captivated the world. Everyone in Seidvale knew Stephan had personally planned every detail. From dawn till dusk, the celebration was grand and extravagant. Fireworks illuminated the entire city, turning night into day.
Dressed in a luxurious, custom-made gown, Felicia was exhausted. The moment she stepped into their bedroom, she collapsed onto the bed. Scarlet had scattered flower petals all over the sheets, a traditional blessing for newlyweds, but for Felicia, it was just uncomfortable. She rolled over, lazily lifted her foot, and nudged the person next to her. “Hey, clean them up.”
Stephan raised an eyebrow. Instead of getting up, he caught her foot and lightly tickled her, replying with a smile, “Only after you call me ‘hubby.’”
Felicia gritted her teeth. “Haven’t you heard it enough?”
Ever since their return from the island, Stephan had found every excuse to tease her, especially in bed. Every night, it was “babe” this, “hubby” that. He’d coax her, forcing her to repeat “hubby” before letting her rest. Just last night… no, the night before… and the night before that… she had probably said it hundreds of times. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
Felicia licked her lips. “I’m tired. Get on with it.” Her words held a hint of sulkiness.
Stephan chuckled, kissed her earlobe, and stood up. Without a word, he carefully unfastened the intricate accessories in her hair, helped her out of the gown, and carried her straight into the bathroom. Felicia enjoyed his attentiveness—until she realized something was amiss. By then, it was too late. The bathwater sloshed over the tub, flooding the tiles. The mirrors fogged up, and a single, steaming handprint remained on the glass. Neither of them was going to get any sleep on their wedding night.
In the end, Felicia’s inner fire was sparked by his teasing, and she tried to turn the tables. However, Stephan was relentless, never letting her win.
“Be good. You always have it your way during the day. At night, I’m in charge.”
It was a restless night. By dawn, Felicia was too exhausted to lift a finger. Just before she slipped into sleep, she heard Stephan’s voice whispering, over and over, “Babe, I love you.” That breathtaking glimpse upon their first meeting had etched her name into his very bones. This was an eternal love, for every lifetime to come.