Chapter 617

Spotting Zach starting to move away, Alice asked, “Where are you headed, Zach?”

At the beginning of the cruise, Madelyn felt perfectly fine. But as the ship started to rock more heavily, she became sick and rushed to the restroom. When she emerged, looking drained, she walked down a dimly lit hallway. There, she noticed a woman in a fancy dress and a fallen hat nearby. As Madelyn bent down to pick it up, she caught sight of the woman pulling a man into a dark corner. Their whispers reached Madelyn’s ears. The woman’s confident, alluring voice was clear, “Your prick’s so huge; don’t you want it, Zach?”

Madelyn froze, catching her breath. It felt like a punch to the chest, ‘Zach?‘

She had not seen him in years, ‘No way! Why is he here? He’s supposed to be in Ventropolis! Her heart raced.

“Miss Girard, you’re out of line.”

Madelyn’s eyes widened at the sound of the deep, familiar voice, and the hat in her hands slipped to the floor. Overwhelmed by memories and sensing someone nearby, panic surged within her. She darted away, the cruise ship’s sudden jolt echoing her urgency.

Nearby, Alice stumbled into Zach, who steadied her. He peeked through a nearby door’s crack, spotting a figure – it looked like Madelyn – falling and then rushing off.

Later, in the staff locker room, Madelyn hurriedly stuffed items from a locker into her bag. With the banquet winding down, Lila walked in.” Madelyn, where are you headed?” she asked.

orrow, so everyone’s staying on board tonight.”

Madelyn’s eyes widened, “Seriously?”

Lila nodded seriously, “That’s why the banquet ended early. Everyone, guests and crew alike, have to bunk here.”

Madelyn struggled to grasp her emotions, baffled as to why Zach would be on this ship. Together with Lila, she made her way to the crew area. The two were assigned a small, tight crew cabin. Looking out, she saw waves crashing against the ship, punctuated by deafening thunder and bright lightning flashes. Their beds? Nothing more than hard wooden planks in a room that felt damp. While the day’s exhaustion took its toll on Lila, sending her to sleep quickly, Madelyn remained alert, thoughts swirling relentlessly.

Time seemed to drag. Madelyn dozed intermittently, the howling wind pulling her from her rest. Each time Lila rose to use the restroom, the movement roused Madelyn. Lila left the door slightly open, allowing a chilly sea breeze to permeate the room. Lila’s discomfort was likely from the crew meal she had eaten earlier. Exiting the restroom, she was suddenly confronted by a bodyguard.

“Who are you?“.

Before Lila could question further, the bodyguard gagged her, dragging her into an adjacent room. The rhythmic thud of footsteps resounded on the wooden deck. A tall figure made his way toward the slightly ajar cabin door. As he stepped in, a vibrant flash of lightning painted the room in light, revealing a sleeping woman whose face bore signs of distress.

Madelyn felt the bed shift beside her. She opened her eyes to darkness as it creaked and sank a bit. A cold, smoky scent filled the air. Suddenly, a rough hand brushed her face. She jerked upright, but strong arms immediately pulled her close. A deep, mocking voice murmured, “Four years, and you still run?”

‘It’s him!‘ Panic welled inside her, “Let go… now…”

Lila saw Madelyn hoisted over a man’s shoulder from the corner of her eye. As Madelyn cried and fought, Lila lunged forward to help, but the bodyguard held her back.

Madelyn found herself in a room that seemed fit for royalty, vastly larger than her own quarters. The space was decked out like a posh hotel suite, complete with an opulent bathroom showcasing a lavish bathtub. Through the open curtains, the vast ocean stretched out. Zach, appearing every bit the victor of luxury, effortlessly tossed Madelyn onto the bed. He leaned over and gave her a sudden kiss, the overpowering aroma of smoke and alcohol filling her senses.

“Please, don’t do this!” Madelyn pleaded, her voice shaking with fear.

Zach had already reached down and undressed her. His actions were hurried, as if driven by intoxication. Perhaps the alcohol clouded his judgment, making him act without restraint. The last time they were close left a lasting impression on him. Since Madelyn’s departure, he had struggled with his desires. But tonight, he felt no need to hold back. Quickly, Zach removed his tie, securing Madelyn’s wrists with it and binding her to the bed. 1 Madelyn struggled, her voice shaky. “Don’t you dare! I’ll call the police!”

Zach flipped a switch, lighting the lamp on the bedside table. The sudden brightness made Madelyn blink. With a raspy voice, Zach gently held her chin, his lips pulling into a smirk, “Call the police?

Remember, you’re in my room. But don’t worry; times have changed, Madelyn.”

She was wearing thin overalls, and Zach ripped them apart with one hand, exposing her body to the icy air.

+15 BONOS Alice fixed the bodyguard with an intense look, “You dare stop me?” But her bravado faltered when she overheard a woman’s voice from the room. A chill ran down her spine as she realized what might be occurring inside.

When the bodyguard spoke at the door, the two people inside knew the room was not soundproof.

Madelyn felt faint. She bit her lip, trying not to make a sound, and tears rolled down her face. She closed her eyes and tried to avold looking at Zach. As tears slid down, her throa