When I stared at him blankly, he laughed. “Have you heard of P&O Cruises?”

Vaguely, I remembered Madi mentioning them a few years ago as a short break leaving from Australia...to Fiji.

Oh, my God.

“You’re cruising the islands?”

“Yes. We recently renovated the boat. Took eighty-four thousand man-hours in just twelve days; pretty spectacular undertaking, if I say so myself. Anyway, with the new boat, we wanted a new route. As this is the inaugural cruise since the renovation, our customers were open to trying something unusual.

“Each night, we sail to an island never visited before and check it out before letting the guests off the next day to explore.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “That’s how we found you. Our scouts had just traipsed through the forest to check the land for danger when they ran into...what did you call them?”

“Pippa and Coco.”

I kept the fact that Coco was short for Coconut.

That was private.

“Yes. Pippa and Coco. When you came and, umm...attacked them, they radioed for back-up but then you fainted and they took the opportunity to carry you on board the adventure craft to bring you back.

“And good job, they did. You fainted because of low levels of folate, Vitamin A, electrolytes, and unhealthy levels of magnesium.” His smile faltered. “You’re all anaemic as well. Common indicators of overwhelming tiredness, prolonged grief, and emotional distress. Not to mention, unavailable access to food.”

I didn’t speak...absorbing the ramifications of such a random event. The captain had saved our lives by sheer fluke, yet he’d been only minutes too late to save the love of my life.

Tears welled again, and this time, I couldn’t hold them back.

The longer I stood in society, the more manners and historical memories emerged. I remembered how to be polite even while screaming inside. I recalled decorum and how to lie to a stranger’s face...all while hiding how badly I was hurting.

And I was hurting.

So, so much.

The introvert part of me swung into full gear, no longer comfortable or at home with people I’d woven my life with.

That was over now.

Done.

Gone.

Just like Galloway.

Just like Conner.

“I’m—I’m sorry.” I wiped at my wet cheeks. “It’s—it’s just...” I sucked in a heavy breath unable to tell him that along with the three lives he’d rescued, one more was lost on the very beach holidaymakers wanted to sunbake and drink cocktails.

Oh, no...our house.

Our things.

My memory card with countless videos and photos. My notebooks. Galloway’s carvings, Coco’s doll, and Pippa's necklaces.

We’d just left them all.

I need them.

They were the only thing I had left of him. Of Connor. Of our private world.

I never thought I’d say such heresy, but I made eye contact with Stefan and begged, “Please...we have to go back.”

His lips parted. “You do? Why? We’ve rescued you. No need to worry. We’ll take care of you and transport you home. Come on, I’ll take you to your daughters. I promise we brought them on board. We didn’t leave them behind. We left no one there, I promise.”

You did.

You left two souls we loved and three more we didn’t know.

“You don’t understand. There’s someone...something that we left behind. I can’t go. Not without them.”

Him.

Stefan stepped over all boundaries as he gathered me in a hug.

I remained still as stone in his embrace.

He murmured, “I think you’d better come with me.”

Chapter Sixty-Three

...............................................

E S T E L L E

......

Enemies can become friends. Friends can become enemies.

And strangers?

They can become both at the same time.

Taken from a P&O Cruise napkin, Pacific Pearl.

...

“AH, HELLO AGAIN.”

My spine braided into a thousand worthless knots.

Again?

I didn’t know this man.

Wait...

Foggy memories swirled into clarity as the captain strode across the bridge.

Last night.

He’d come to visit me where I’d been tended and drugged. He’d said something about taking care of us. To relax. To let him fix whatever it was that needed fixing.

He couldn’t fix this.

He couldn’t bring back the dead.

He’d meant it to be soothing and kind.

But it’d done the opposite.

He was asking me to trust him. To put him in charge of my fate, turning everything I’d endured, everything I’d evolved into nothing because he knew better.

I was just a woman plucked from an island.

He was the hero.

I don’t want a hero.

I want Galloway.

And Conner.

And Pippa and Coco and my island!

“Pleasure to see you again, Miss.” The captain’s black hair was peppered with grey beneath his official hat, and his trim Asian physique spoke of life upon the open seas.

His hand came out (just as Stefan’s had), demanding I touch him against my wishes.

I hid my cringe, shaking quickly before tucking my hands under my arms and crossing tight. “Hello, eh...”

“John Keung.”

“Hello, Captain Keung.”

His button nose wrinkled. “Oh, don’t worry with that. Please, call me John.” His dark eyes brightened. “It’s not every day we welcome a castaway on board.”