Chapter 193
William and Edward approached Isabella, inviting her to join them on the water slide.
Isabella's eyes lit up as she spotted the vibrant slide nearby, nodding enthusiastically.
The yacht's indoor water slide was designed like a thermal spring, ensuring warmth even during winter months.
Though primarily meant for children, the slide accommodated adults too.
After a few rounds, Sophia and Julian grew bored, but Isabella, William, and Edward couldn't get enough.
Sophia settled into the hot spring nearby.
Julian handed her a chilled drink.
"Thanks," she said, accepting it.
He took a seat a few feet away. "You're welcome." Then asked, "How old are they?"
"William's sixteen, Edward's fourteen."
"Do you take them out often?"
Isabella shook her head. "I used to, but work's been consuming lately."
Julian's phone buzzed. His expression remained neutral as he stood. "Need to take this."
"Of course," she replied.
He walked several paces before answering. "Alexander."
"Where are you?" Alexander's voice came through.
"On a yacht."
"At sea?"
"Yes." Julian's gaze drifted to Isabella. "Something wrong?"
"Sophia wants to play with Lily. Asked me to call you."
"We're already offshore. Maybe next time."
"Alright." Alexander ended the call without further comment.
At lunch, the group enjoyed an extravagant seafood spread.
The afternoon found them lounging on deck - sunbathing, fishing.
Exhausted from play, William, Edward, and Lily dozed off on their chairs.
Julian excused himself for business calls. Returning, he found Isabella engrossed in a book.
Though his finance degree didn't cover her current reading material, the title looked familiar.
Then it clicked - he'd seen Alexander reading the same book.
Watching her concentrated expression, Julian paused. She hadn't even noticed his return.
Only when wind displaced Lily's blanket did Isabella look up as Julian adjusted it.
He reclaimed his seat. "That book...you read it often too?"
His emphasis on "too" clearly referenced Alexander.
Isabella nodded. "Yes."
Her focused demeanor - not in features but intensity - mirrored Alexander's exactly.
In that moment, Julian realized how much they shared: the same professional passions.
By that logic, they should have been perfectly compatible.
Yet...
Their troubled marriage contradicted this.
Everyone claimed she'd trapped Alexander through manipulation. Julian had believed it too.
But knowing her now, she seemed incapable of such scheming.
As evening fell, the yacht prepared to dock.
William, Edward and Lily had grown close through the day.
The boys even addressed Julian casually now. "See you next time, Julian," they called while disembarking.
Julian nodded, his gaze lingering on Isabella. "Next time."