Chapter 55: Terrible liar
Since they had entered the cruise ship, Naomi hadn’t used her phone. It wasn’t by choice—it had been taken from her, along with Zylan’s phone, on the day they boarded. The staff had claimed it was against the ship’s rules, though Naomi had thought the reasoning strange.
Zylan had specifically instructed them to take both phones, fully aware that if only Naomi’s phone was confiscated, it would seem as though he were giving orders. By having them take his as well, he ensured it wouldn’t appear that way.
For some unknown reason, he did not want any unnecessary distractions, and that was the justification he used to convince himself of the rules regarding taking the phone.
Naomi, unaware of this reasoning, simply assumed it was a strict rule of the cruise. At first, she didn’t mind. She had been content, relieved by the thought that once they returned home, her phone would be given back. But over time, a nagging question crept into her mind: why had they taken Zylan’s phone too? She knew what kind of man he was. With a mere snap of his fingers, he could likely bypass any rule, no matter how rigid. He could even change the name of a country if he so desired.
She finally mustered the courage to ask him the question that had been lingering in her mind, her curiosity outweighing her hesitation. They were seated on the sofa in their room, the gentle sound of ocean waves filling the comfortable silence between them. Naomi turned to face Zylan, who was leaning back in his chair, his intense gaze focused on the distant horizon. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure of how to put her thoughts into words, the weight of her uncertainty pressing down on her since the trip began.
"Once we get home," she began slowly, her voice quiet, "will you leave?"
Zylan didn’t immediately respond. His dark eyes shifted from the horizon to meet hers, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Naomi thought he hadn’t heard her, but then he spoke, his tone calm and measured.
"Yes, I will."
She nodded, as though she had already expected this answer. And she had. Zylan was a man of unrelenting purpose, always moving forward, his life dictated by work and obligations. This three-day trip was already an anomaly in his otherwise structured world, a rare moment of reprieve. Naomi had told herself she was fine with it, that she understood his responsibilities. But hearing him confirm it aloud brought a twinge of disappointment she couldn’t quite hide.
Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress as she stared down at her lap. "Would I come too?" she asked softly, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
Zylan tilted his head slightly, his gaze narrowing as he studied her. Naomi didn’t dare look up, afraid of what his expression might reveal. She felt foolish for asking, but the question had been weighing on her mind. He had told her that she would go wherever he went—it was one of the reasons they were married, wasn’t it? She didn’t want to be left behind, not again.