I looked at him calmly, this man I had once deeply loved. Now in my eyes, he was nothing but hypocrisy and disgust.

"Meeting a friend for shopping," I replied indifferently.

"Which friend? How come I don't know about this?"

"You don't know her."

Alexander stopped questioning. He came over and embraced me, kissing the side of my neck as usual.

"My baby, you must be exhausted today?" His voice was gentle as honey.

But I could smell the lingering perfume on him, and that distinctive sweet scent that comes after making love.

I pushed him away forcefully. "Don't touch me!"

Alexander looked hurt. "Sophia, what's wrong? Why are you pushing me away?"

"I'm feeling a bit unwell." I said.

Suddenly, the world spun around me.

I hadn't slept much these past few days, and my body couldn't take it anymore.

Everything went black and my body went limp.

Before losing consciousness, I saw Alexander's panicked face as he caught me, shouting, "Quick! Call the doctor!"

When I woke up, I was already in the ship's infirmary.

Alexander was nowhere to be seen.

"Donna, you're awake?" the doctor asked respectfully. "How are you feeling?"

"Where is Alexander?"

"Don Alexander just stepped out. He said there was urgent business to handle."

I sneered inwardly. Urgent business? It must be Isabella needing something from him again.

"I want to walk around." I got up from the bed.

"Donna, you should rest a bit longer."

"I'm fine now."

I left the infirmary and searched along the corridor.

At the entrance to another infirmary on the lower deck, Alexander was supporting the pale-faced Isabella. His movements were gentle, as if handling fragile porcelain.

"Be careful, don't fall." His tone was full of concern.

Isabella leaned weakly against his chest, looking pitiful.

When she saw me appear, Alexander immediately released Isabella's hand. His expression became awkward.

Sophia! How did you come down here? Didn't the doctor say you needed more rest?"

"I just happened to see Isabella almost fall, so I helped her up," he hastily explained. "I have a lot of family matters to deal with these days, but I want to spend more time with you, so I've asked Isabella to help me handle some of the tasks."

Isabella spoke up then, her voice weak and delicate. "Donna, I'm so sorry. I felt a bit dizzy just now. If Don Alexander hadn't supported me, I would have fallen."

Then she deliberately caressed her lower abdomen, a triumphant glint in her eyes. "But it's understandable, given that I'm pregnant now. My body is always uncomfortable."

"Pregnant?" I looked at her expressionlessly.

"Yes, it's been a month now!" Isabella said excitedly. "My boyfriend was so happy when he found out. He immediately gave me a villa and a hundred million in cash as celebration."

She looked at me provocatively. "Donna, if you have time someday, would you like to have dinner with me and my boyfriend? Let me introduce you to him?"

Alexander’s face darkened instantly. "Isabella! Know your place. You think you're worthy of dining with the Donna?"

Isabella shrank back from his shout, a flash of intense resentment and venom in her eyes. But she quickly lowered her head, maintaining her submissive appearance. "I'm sorry, Don. I spoke out of turn."

I watched their clumsy performance calmly.

"Since Isabella is fine now, let's go back." Alexander walked toward me, trying to take my arm.

I avoided his touch. "You two continue talking. I'll go back to the room first."

"Sophia, wait for me." Alexander hurried to follow.

Back in the room, he said with concern, "Darling, you look pale. Should we get the doctor to check on you again?"

"No need. I'm just tired."

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have made you attend such a boring party today." He said apologetically. "You don't have to come to these events in the future."

Suddenly, my phone vibrated repeatedly.

Isabella had sent a photo of an ultrasound report.

"The text read: Dear Donna, look at this. I'm six weeks pregnant!"

Then came a long message.

"You know what? Alexander is absolutely obsessed with me. On your third anniversary, he had me on his office desk for two whole hours."

"And on your birthday, he said dinner with you was too boring. He snuck away to find me. We tried every position on your bed."

"He said you're like a dead fish with no passion. Only I can make him truly happy."

"When he found out I was pregnant, he went crazy with joy. He said he'd give me the most romantic surprise to announce the arrival of our child to the whole world.."

My hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

Just then, huge fireworks exploded outside the window. I walked to the balcony and looked up.

In the night sky, Isabella’s name was framed by a massive, glowing heart made of golden light.

I stared at the sky blankly. I remembered our wedding night.

That night, Alexander was so happy he set off fireworks until dawn.

The entire sky was filled with "Alexander ❤️ Sophia." Back then, he swore I was his only queen.

Now, the same sky was celebrating another woman and her child.

Alexander embraced me from behind, resting his chin lightly on my shoulder.

"Isabella's boyfriend heard about her pregnancy and arranged this celebration," he explained smoothly, as if he had nothing to do with it.

"Do you like the fireworks?" His voice was gentle and affectionate.

"If you like them," he whispered in my ear. "Next time, I’ll charter the entire sky just for you."

I watched the brilliant fireworks in the sky, feeling only endless irony.

"I don't like secondhand things." I said coldly.

"What?" Alexander didn't catch that.

"Nothing." I broke free from his embrace. "I'm tired. I'll go rest in the room."

"Alright, sleep early." He kissed my forehead lightly. "We'll be back on shore in two days."

The next morning, a deafening explosion woke me up.

Before I could sit up, the bedroom door was kicked open. Alexander rushed in.

"Sophia! Get up! We're under attack!" He grabbed my wrist, pulling me off the bed. "A rival family launched rocket-propelled grenades at us. The lower cabins are flooded. The ship is sinking!"

"We have to get to the lifeboats. Now!" Alexander didn't give me time to put on shoes. He dragged me barefoot out of the room.

The corridor was a living hell. The floor beneath us was already tilting dangerously.

"Alexander! Help! Alexander!" A piercing scream cut through the chaos.

Alexander froze. Isabella was trapped behind a fallen beam near the lounge, waving her arms frantically.

Alexander’s grip on my hand tightened for a second, then loosened.

"Isabella is there," he said, his voice tense. "She's pregnant. I have to go get her."

"Go to the lifeboat! It's just straight ahead!" He pointed to the bow. "I’ll be right behind you!"

Without waiting for my answer, he turned and sprinted toward Isabella, diving into the smoke.

Boom!

Another explosion rocked the ship.

A panicked crowd of guests stampeded past me. I was shoved hard from behind. My body slammed into the metal railing, and a sharp, tearing pain shot through my leg.

I crumpled to the ground, curling up in agony.

"Alexander!" I screamed his name with the last of my strength.

He seemed to hear my voice, stopping in confusion and looking around anxiously, but he didn't see me lying among the crowd.

Isabella frowned in his arms and seemed to say something.

Without hesitation, he tightened his hold on Isabella and ran toward the emergency exit on the other side, disappearing from my sight.

……

(Alexander’s POV)

Did I hear Sophia calling me? Didn't she go to the lifeboat first?

I stopped to look for her, but I couldn't find her.

Did I mishear?

Just then, Isabella cried out in pain. "Ah... my stomach hurts so much..."

She frowned, her face pale. My heart immediately sank; no matter what, this was my child.

I no longer hesitated and rushed to the lifeboat with Isabella in my arms.

"Doctor! Check her!" I roared at the family doctor.

The doctor hurriedly checked Isabella’s stomach. "Don, don't worry. Miss Isabella is frightened, but the fetus is stable. She's fine."

I let out a breath and called my head of security, Mario.

"Is Sophia with you?" I asked, looking back at the cruise ship, which was now half-submerged in flames. "I told her to run to the bow. Is she all right?"

There was a silence on the other end.

"Boss..." Mario’s voice trembled. "The Donna... she's not with us. We thought she was with you."

My heart stopped.

That voice I heard earlier really was Sophia's! She's still on the cruise ship!

"Turn back!" I screamed at the helmsman. "Turn the fucking boat back!"

BOOM!

A massive fireball erupted from the cruise ship's fuel tank.

In front of everyone’s eyes, the magnificent cruise ship broke in half and was swallowed by the roaring ocean.

"Sophia!"