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.

Lily asked about my life in Paris. At first, it was light curiosity. How was work, the food, the city, but then her questions veered closer to the heart.

She wanted to know about my love life.

I couldn't tell if she was genuinely curious or just trying to figure out if I had moved on from her. Maybe both. Either way, we strolled from deck to deck, letting the movement distract us until we ended up at the indoor garden, a quieter, more secluded spot filled with the scent of jasmine and warm golden light. It was the perfect place to ask the one question I had been avoiding.

"So... how did you end up falling for Sam?" I asked casually, though my voice was tighter than I intended.

"You never really seemed like the bad-boy type back then."

She chuckled softly, the kind of laugh that held a hint of regret.

"If someone had told the younger version of me that I'd marry a guy like Sam, I'd have laughed in their face. I was more into nerds back then. Smart, quiet, serious. They felt more relatable. But you know, life happens. Sometimes we don't choose who we fall for."

I looked at her, nodded slowly. "Yeah. We really don't."

And if anyone knew that truth intimately, it was me.

We slipped into silence again, but it wasn't uncomfortable, just full of unspoken words. We found a sitting nook among the hanging ivy. As she sat down, her skirt caught on a piece of wrought iron. I bent down to help her free it, and when I looked up, our eyes met.

My gaze drifted to her lips.

For one irrational moment, I wanted to kiss her, just one taste of a past I hadn't let go of. But I caught myself, pulled back before temptation became regret. She was married. No matter how much I wanted to, that fact was immovable.

I coughed awkwardly, trying to shake the tension.

"Did you ever follow through with your music?" I asked. "You used to dream of studying it, remember?"

Her face softened. "I still sing. I go to concerts now and then. But no, not full-time. You know my dad, he's always wanted the family to stick to law. Said music was a hobby, not a legacy."

"And you agree?"

She shrugged. "I don't hate law. I've come to see his point. But music, music is the part of me that still feels like mine."

She looked away for a second, her fingers brushing a vine growing along the stone planter.

"I guess we all make peace with our compromises," she added, her voice low.

There was silence again, but this time, it weighed heavier.

"Do you love him?" I asked, unable to hold the question back anymore.

Lily turned her head slowly to look at me. Her lips parted slightly, like she had an answer ready, but then she closed them again. When she finally spoke, it was quieter than before.

"I care about Sam. He's been there for me. He's seen me at my worst and never left. He understands a part of me that no one else does."

That wasn't a 'yes.' Not really.

But I didn't push further. Maybe I didn't want to hear more.

Just then, the soft strains of a piano echoed from the ship's nearby lounge. Lily smiled faintly, as if the music reached some old part of her. She rose slowly.

"Do you want to see the music lounge?" she asked. "I heard there's a grand piano on display that's been played by a few famous artists."

I stood up beside her. "Sure. Lead the way."

As we walked out of the garden, a strange feeling settled over me, like we were two people balancing on a tightrope between past and present. The silence between us wasn't awkward anymore. It was full of memories we hadn't yet dared to speak aloud. But somewhere deep inside, I knew.

The music lounge was dimly lit, elegant, with velvet curtains drawn slightly back to reveal windows overlooking the sea. A soft glow shimmered from wall sconces, casting golden light over the polished grand piano in the center of the room.

Lily's eyes lit up the moment she saw it.

"Oh wow... It's a Bösendorfer," she whispered.

"You still remember your brands," I said, smiling.

"I could never forget." She walked over slowly, her fingers gliding along the smooth surface of the keys, reverent like the instrument was sacred.

A few people sat around, sipping cocktails, lost in the ambient music playing through discreet speakers. But for us, the piano was the only thing that mattered.

"Play something," I urged, softly.

She looked up at me. "I haven't played in years."

"Just try. For me."

She hesitated, then slowly took a seat. Her hands hovered above the keys, trembling slightly, then pressed down. A gentle, familiar tune poured out. It was Clair de Lune. Soft. Tender. Devastating.

I closed my eyes and listened.

Each note unraveled years. Her laughter in school. The way she used to hum while walking home. The tears she never let me see the night I left for Paris.

When she finished, there was a pause in the room. A few people clapped politely, but I was too caught up to move.

"That was beautiful," I said, sitting beside her now.

She didn't look at me. "I used to imagine playing that at our wedding."

I turned to her slowly.

Lily's eyes flickered to mine, and for a moment, the world faded. The lounge, the music, the audience, it all dissolved.

"It's too late for that now," she said, standing up too quickly.

I caught her hand before she could walk away.

"Is it?"

She paused. But this time, she didn't turn back.

And just like that, the music stopped, yet everything inside me kept playing the song we never got to finish.