Lily had the audacity to ask, "Why did you leave so early? It's been years, of course I would like some catching up. I'm sure Sam would also love that."

Catching up? Is that what we're calling it now? Maybe she meant catching up to when she started loving my brother.

Her message lit a fire in my chest. Without thinking, I fired back: "Fine. I'd also like some catching up about you and Sam."

It was petty. Maybe even cruel. But why should I still care about her feelings?

She replied a few minutes later: "It's a long story, Edward. And in your absence, a lot has happened."

My hands tightened around my phone. I was so pissed, but I was also curious. And just as I reached for my wallet to pay for the flight and get the hell out of here, something in me stopped.

No. Not this time.

I wasn't going to run. I needed to look both of them in the eye and hear whatever excuse they had for tearing my world apart.

I went back to the wedding venue, but most of the guests had already left. Only close family members lingered now, laughing, chatting, basking in the afterglow of a perfect day.

Mum looked absolutely thrilled, beaming like she'd won the lottery. She'd always adored Lily. Lily had been more than just a family friend, she was practically one of us. Even back when it was me and Lily, Mum never said much, but it was obvious she approved. If she ever imagined one of her sons marrying Lily, I used to think it would be me.

Dad stood beside Sam, both of them looking like they had the world at their feet. Everyone looked so happy. And I? I felt like a guest at a party I never got invited to.

"Edward?" Mum's voice broke through my thoughts. She walked toward me, eyes wide with joy. Lily turned too, visibly startled. Then Sam.

I saw you leaving earlier. I tried calling, where did you go?" Mum asked, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Just needed some air. Felt a little stuffy," I lied, the words falling out before I could stop them.

She didn't seem to care. She was just glad to see me. So was Dad, who gave me a rare, warm hug.

Then came Sam and Lily. Both smiling. Lily's eyes searched mine for something guilt, maybe. Or was it pity? I wasn't sure.

I forced a smile and congratulated them. My voice didn't crack, not even once. I played the role perfectly. The supportive brother, the ex who'd moved on. And I was good at hiding pain, ever since I was young. What was one more night?

Sam pulled Lily to the dance floor "This is our music, one last dance milady" stretching forth his hand. She smiled and held his hand, they walked to the dance floor, where he grabbed her waist as she held his shoulder, they smiled and giggled, like he was telling her something funny. It was there that reality dawn on me that Lily would never be mine again.

My mum held my hand and took me to a quieter place, we both sat down and she asked about my company back in Paris, she was curious about my life and more curious if I meet anyone. The question hit me like a stone "a hot CEO like yourself, you must have a girlfriend by now" I was speechless, the words couldn't just come out. I was still yet to recover from Lily and another girl?

"uhmm.....no" I stuttered. My eyes left her and accidentally dropped at Lily and Sam at the dance floor.

"Don't tell me you're not yet over her" she asked.

I stared back at her blankly and then smiled and tried to change to subject "how about dad, how's his health?".

She stared at me and said "he's fine, he's been on his medication, his anxiety attacks are not like before, but he goes ones in a while to the hospital for checkups".

"okay" I muttered.

"you know we are actually planning on having a big family vacation on a cruise ship, along with Lily and Sam, they could do their honeymoon there, or stop by at an island for it, their choice. But the whole idea is to reconnect the family. And a vacation is what we all need".

"Sounds like a good idea" I said

"So does that mean you'll be coming as well? It's for a month. I'm sure your company would be fine without you for a month."

I had no intention of even staying this long, now a vacation for a month? I know my company would be fine, but am I ready to see Lily and Sam have a happy honeymoon for a month?

"I actually think I have work back in Paris when I get back, I don't think it'll work with me, I'm sorry"

"It's fine but think it through before deciding, you have a couple of days to make your choice tho"

Sam and Lily were done dancing, so they came over to us.

Sam walked over with a grin and wrapped his arm around Lily's waist.

"I'll be taking my wife now, I have a little surprise for her," he said.

Lily turned to me with a soft, apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry we could barely talk, Edward. Next time, I promise."

I nodded, unable to trust my voice.

She smiled one more time, then turned away with him.

I watched them walk off, hand in hand, hearts in sync and it felt like I was watching the final scene of a life I was never meant to be part of.

I got a call from Rose, my secretary, the next morning. Her voice was sharp, professional, a nice contrast to the emotional chaos still hanging over me.

"When are you flying back?" she asked. "That big client you've been chasing? I finally locked myself in a meeting."

"Seriously? Where?"

"He's vacationing on a cruise called Elysian dream. He's agreed to meet while he's onboard. I thought maybe it'd be a perfect coincidence if you were there too."

Elysian Dream.

The name hit me like a wave. I heard it just yesterday from Mum.

I hung up and called her immediately.

"That's the cruise I told you about," she confirmed cheerfully. "The one we're all going on Sam, Lily, your dad and I. It's a chance to reconnect, remember?"

What were the chances? Of all the ships, of all the dates it had to be this one?

A business opportunity I'd waited years for and a family reunion I'd tried everything to avoid were colliding in the same place.

Was it fate? Or just the universe playing another cruel joke?

"All right," I told Rose when I called her back. "Book it."

The next couple of days were spent packing. I had to go shopping for things I didn't bring from Paris, I hadn't exactly planned to stay this long, let alone go on a month-long cruise with my entire family.

Mum was over the moon. She kept saying how happy she was to have everyone together again. Even Dad seemed lighter, smiling more often, like this trip was more than just a vacation to him.

Lily and Sam were meeting us at the port, while I drove there with my parents.

Seeing them again, especially her, wasn't easy.

She hadn't texted me since the wedding, not even to follow up on her promise to talk. I told myself it didn't matter, that I didn't expect anything. But in reality I was disappointed. I guess some part of me had still been hoping for something.

The cruise port was buzzing with life, flashing cameras, wheeled luggage, families chatting excitedly. The Elysian Dream loomed in the distance, massive and regal, like a floating city. It felt surreal.

We checked in, passed security, and began boarding. My parents were practically glowing, taking selfies, commenting on how beautiful everything was. I stayed close but quiet, carrying bags, keeping my mind busy with anything that wasn't Lily.

But fate wasn't subtle.

She appeared at the top of the ship's entrance ramp, standing beside Sam. A breeze caught her dress, her hair. She looked radiant, not because of the makeup or the expensive luggage by her side, but because she looked at ease. Free.

She caught my gaze, just for a second. Her smile was beautiful.

"Edward," she said when we reached them.

"Lily." I nodded. "Sam."

Sam grinned and gave me a light clap on the back. "Glad you made it, bro. This place is insane. Wait till you see the suites."

"Looking forward to it," I lied.

Lily stood silently beside him. I expected her to say something more. Anything. But she didn't.

Instead, she turned to help the porter with her bag, brushing past me like I was just another guest.

And maybe I was.

Just another guest in their perfect honeymoon.

The dining room on the Elysian Dream was grand, golden chandeliers, a live jazz band playing softly in the background, and waiters gliding across the marble floor like ghosts. The table settings sparkled under the lights, but none of it could distract me from the growing knot in my stomach.

We were seated at a long, round table near the window. My mother had arranged the seating of course, and somehow, I ended up seated directly across from Lily.

She wore navy blue, simple but elegant. Her hair was pinned up, exposing the soft curve of her neck. I tried not to look, but that only made me more aware of her presence.

Sam sat beside her, his arm casually draped across the back of her chair like he had nothing to lose. My parents sat on either side of me, chatting excitedly about the cruise itinerary, island stops, poolside activities, group dinners.

"So, Edward," my mum said, breaking the hum of background conversation, "tell us more about this new client you'll be meeting. Rose mentioned it's a big one?"

I nodded, swallowing a sip of water I didn't need. "He's been on my radar for a while, a major investor based in Singapore. We're hoping to discuss expanding into the Southeast Asian market."

"Look at you," Dad said with a proud smile. "Always ten steps ahead."

"Hard not to be when you have no distractions," Sam added lightly, raising his wine glass with a smirk.

I glanced at him, but it was Lily who flinched. Her eyes flicked to mine for the briefest second before dropping back to her plate.

Mum chuckled, oblivious. "Well, I hope that changes soon. Edward's too successful, he needs someone to slow him down a little."

"Not everyone gets to marry their childhood sweetheart," I said before I could stop myself.

The words hung in the air like a dropped knife. Sam's smile faded slightly. Lily stared at her fork.

My mother shifted uncomfortably, forcing a laugh. "Well, things happen the way they're meant to, I suppose."

"I suppose," I echoed.

The rest of the dinner passed in awkward pleasantries and half-hearted conversation. But beneath the table, beneath the smiles, I felt it, the weight of everything we weren't saying.

And the truth neither of us had faced.

Later that night, after the noise and laughter of the evening had faded, we all retreated quietly to our separate rooms.

I was just about to lie down when a knock came at my door.

It was soft and hesitant, so I froze.

For a moment, I thought of ignoring it. Maybe it was someone looking for another room. But when the knock came again, firmer this time, I forced myself to get up and check.

I opened the door.

And there she was.

Lily.

She looked unsure, standing barefoot on the hallway rug in a silk robe, hair down, eyes uncertain. The warm hallway light made her skin glow.

"Hi, Edward," she said quietly.

"Hi." I stepped aside, holding the door for her. She walked in slowly, her presence both comforting and painful.

We stood there in silence for a few seconds before finally saying something.

"Edward, I know we haven't really had the chance to talk since the wedding."

I nodded, but my chest was already tightening.

"That's why I'm here," she added.

"What about Sam?" I asked.

"He's asleep. Everyone is. I just..." She trailed off, biting her lip. "I couldn't sleep."

"Okay." I folded my arms, unsure what to expect. "And?"

She sighed and sat on the edge of the chair by the window, her hands twisting nervously.

"I know how shocked you must've been about everything," she said. "Seeing me married to Sam."

Her voice cracked slightly.

"It's been years, Edward. And yes, we barely even broke up before you left. No big fights. Just silence. Then you were gone. And after a while, I thought you moved on."

She glanced up at me, and I could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

"The distance. The time. It felt like you had chosen your life elsewhere. And Sam? He was there. He understood my pain in a way I didn't expect. We got close, and things just sort of happened. He was safe. Familiar. And I thought I was ready to move on."

"But on the wedding day," she shook her head"seeing you again, it... it messed with me. I wasn't prepared for how it would feel."

My heart was beating fast.

"Lily," I said, stepping closer. "The truth is I never really moved on from you. I've spent years trying to convince myself that I had, but I didn't. I left because I thought I wasn't enough for you. I thought you deserved someone better. But you've always been in my heart."

She looked up, startled by the rawness in my voice.

"I'm still in love with you, Lily."

The words left me calm, almost relieved.

But her silence felt like a knife.

She stood slowly, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Edward, I don't know what to say. Even if I care about you, even if there's a part of me that never stopped" she paused, her voice trembling "I just can't leave Sam. We just got married. It's done. And I made that choice."

Her words hit like cold rain.

She turned toward the door.

"Lily," I called out, my voice more desperate than I intended.

But she didn't look back.

She opened the door and walked out.

The soft click of the door shutting behind her was deafening.

I stood there, staring at it, feeling the weight of rejection settle into my chest.

Maybe I always knew this was how it would end.

But knowing didn't make it hurt any less.

I could barely sleep that night. I kept tossing, turning, haunted by what Lily said.My mind played the scene over and over, torturing me with what-ifs.

What if I had stayed?

What if I had fought harder back then?

What if I had never let her go?

By the time 5 a.m. rolled around, I'd surrendered to insomnia. My phone buzzed, it was another message from Rose, reminding me about breakfast with the client. Eight sharp.

I dragged myself to the bathroom and stared into the mirror. My eyes were red and swollen, my face pale, like grief had painted itself across my features. I splashed water on my skin, but the heaviness lingered. I had three hours to pull myself together, to look the part, to sound sharp, to pretend my heart wasn't breaking again.

Business, I reminded myself. Business will keep you from falling apart.

As I fastened my cuffs, my mother knocked softly and stepped into the room.

She didn't say much, just checked in to make sure I'd be joining the family for breakfast and reminded me of some afternoon event I'd already forgotten.

I shook my head. "I've got an early meeting. Business."

She frowned, just a flicker of disappointment, but she didn't push. "Alright," she said softly. "Just don't forget about dinner, we'll all be eating together"

And then she was gone.

By 8 a.m, I was seated at the breakfast hall, sipping dark coffee and waiting. I needed this meeting to go well, not just for business, but for my sanity.

Mr. Heng Yi arrived five minutes late, dressed casually but with quiet authority. We shook hands and got straight to it.

"Hi," he said. "Your secretary Rose spoke highly of you. I've been looking forward to this."

"The pleasure's mine," I replied. "I've followed your work in the Asian fashion market for years. It's an honor to finally meet you."

He smiled, intrigued. "Then tell me about your brand."

"I run a luxury clothing line in Paris. We've had multiple successful fashion shows, and our presence is steadily growing. But I want to introduce the brand to the Asian market and you're the best person to help us navigate that landscape."

"Show me your work," he said.

I opened my laptop and presented our latest collections, high-performing designs, pieces with potential, the creative heart of the brand.

Mr. Heng Yi studied them with sharp eyes.

"I know a seller when I see one," he said finally. "You've got something here, Edward. I'd like to work with you."

A surge of relief rushed through me.

"I appreciate your confidence."

"Only one thing," he added with a grin. "My wife doesn't know I'm here. This trip is supposed to be work-free. So let's begin once I return. I'll be back in a month and I'll call you then."

We shook hands, sealing a deal I hadn't expected to land so easily. Less than an hour later, it was done.

It should have made me feel better. And in some ways, it did

But the silence that followed his exit felt even louder.

I sat alone and ordered breakfast, not out of hunger, but out of the need to avoid going back to the others.

Instead, I took my coffee and decided to spend the day exploring the Elysian Dream on my own. If I had to be here, I might as well make the most of it. A little peace before the next storm, or so I thought.

And just as I was on my way out, I saw her from a distance.

She turned back, almost like she could feel my eyes on her.

"Edward!" she called out, her voice cutting through the quiet hallway.

I paused, unsure for a moment, but then I smiled. "Lily!"

She walked over, the awkwardness from the night before still lingering in her eyes, but softened now by something I couldn't quite name.

"I'm going for a little tour of the ship," I said casually. "Wanna come?"

She hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Sure."

And just like that, it felt like maybe, just maybe, we were beginning to move past everything.