The private suite on the top deck of the Royal Princess Cruise shimmered with clinking glasses and laughter.
Chloe Evans stood at the center of attention, wearing a perfectly practiced look of demure shyness.
"Let's raise our glasses to welcome Miss Evans back home!"
"Mr. Winston is truly blessed to have such beauty by his side."
"I heard Miss Evans won the perfumery competition five years ago. Beauty and talent combined!"
At the mention of "champion," Chloe didn't deny it.
She turned to the man beside her with innocent eyes.
"It was just luck. Truthfully, I knew nothing about perfumes. I only learned because of someone special."
Lily Lowell immediately chimed in with a smile.
"Miss Evans doesn't know this, but the young master needs to smell the perfume you gave him every night to fall asleep."
The crowd erupted in knowing laughter.
Chloe blushed at precisely the right moment.
Everyone present knew Liam Winston's business empire revolved around perfumes.
The atmosphere thickened with unspoken implications.
All eyes waited expectantly—except Liam's.
Since the divorce, an inexplicable irritation had coiled around his heart.
Lily suddenly gasped.
"Why is Sophia Sullivan here?"
Every head swiveled toward the lower deck.
Liam was the first on his feet.
He pushed open the glass doors and leaned over the railing.
A woman in a red dress hugged every curve of her slender waist.
Stiletto heels accentuated her statuesque posture.
She idly swirled her wine glass.
An effortless grace radiated from her stillness.
The thought struck Liam like lightning.
The man confronting her had a face twisted with rage.
A short thug wearing a gold chain brandished a liquor bottle.
"Since you refuse the easy way, you'll get the hard way! Just wait!"
Several wealthy heirs crowded closer to watch.
"Isn't that Mr. Winston's ex-wife? She looks completely different now."
"Open your eyes, idiot. That's her!"
"Damn, she cleans up nice!"
"That's Sunny Anderson! Notorious troublemaker. Anyone who crosses him is screwed."
"Dressing like that right after the divorce? Clearly husband-hunting."
Chloe sighed softly.
"Don't say such things. Miss Sullivan has no one to rely on. She must be desperate..."
Lily seized the cue.
"Indeed, Mr. Winston. She left with nothing. How did she afford that outfit? Unless..."
"Enough." Liam's voice cut like ice. "Know your place."
Lily dropped to her knees, face ashen.
"My apologies, young master. This servant spoke out of turn."
The room fell deathly silent.
Even Chloe sensed the shift.
"Lily was exhausted from preparing my room. Please forgive her."
She lowered her eyes contritely.
"My return must have upset Miss Sullivan... She just wants your attention."
Liam's expression darkened.
"This isn't about you. Whatever tricks she's playing won't work on me."
Chloe's explanation made more sense than Sophia trying to seduce someone else.
Appearing on this cruise the day of their divorce.
Getting caught in a humiliating scene precisely when he'd see it.
A calculated ploy for sympathy.
The corner of Liam's mouth curled into a cold smile.
"Let's see how far she takes this charade."