Falling in Love with my Husband

Big Blue Ocean

As the helicopter descended, Gemma’s stomach churned, the vast expanse of the ocean below them making her feel smaller with each passing second. The sound of the rotor blades was deafening, but it did nothing to drown out the heavy, suffocating thoughts in her mind. What if they find Gabriella? The question repeated over and over, and with each repetition, the fear in her chest grew. What would happen to her sister once Luke had her cornered? Would he make her pay for all of this?

The helicopter touched down with a smooth thud, and before Gemma had time to gather her thoughts, Luke was already stepping out, his posture as commanding as ever. She followed reluctantly, unable to shake the unease that clung to her.

The sight that met her as they stepped off the helicopter only deepened her discomfort—a massive cruise ship, gleaming white and imposing. The sheer size of it made her feel trapped, surrounded by nothing but water. Her heart rate quickened, and she found herself wishing she could escape the endless horizon and the feeling of being lost in the vast ocean.

Luke, however, seemed unaffected by the environment. As they made their way toward the ship’s entrance, a man in a sharp black suit appeared, greeting Luke with a professional nod.

"Your suit is this way, sir," the man said, gesturing with his hand.

Gemma followed silently, trying to block out the terror creeping up her spine. She couldn’t focus on the grandeur of the ship or its luxurious interior. All she could think about was Gabriella—and the very real possibility that this whole situation would spiral further out of control.

Before they reached the lift, Luke turned to her, his voice calm but with a hint of authority that made her stomach tighten. “Take her to a boutique to buy a few things. Don’t let her choose herself,” he instructed, his eyes flicking over her with a judgmental glance.

Gemma bristled at the command, but she didn’t protest. What was the point? She didn’t have the energy to fight him—she was too consumed with the worry over her sister.

"Why do I need things?" Gemma asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the panic rising in her chest. "Why don’t we just get Gabriella and go?"

Her words were tinged with desperation, the thought of being stuck here on the ship for any longer made her feel suffocated. What if Gabriella was already on the run again? What if they were wasting time on unnecessary shopping when they should be finding her?

Luke’s response was cold, detached. “I want to confirm who you are before we leave,” he said simply, before handing his card to the man in the suit.

Gemma watched him go, her heart heavy as he walked away, following another man deeper into the ship’s quarters.

When the man in the suit turned back to her, his expression impassive, he gestured toward a side corridor. “Follow me.”

Gemma hesitated for a moment, casting a glance over her shoulder. Luke was already disappearing down a hallway, his confident steps echoing as he disappeared from view. She didn’t want to follow the man. She didn’t want to do anything but find her sister and leave this nightmare behind. But the reality was clear: she had no choice.

With a deep breath, she forced herself to walk after the man in the suit, her footsteps sounding hollow in the vast, empty hallways of the ship. The boutique could wait. Right now, she was just trying to keep her head above water, knowing that Gabriella was out there somewhere, and the longer they stayed on this ship, the harder it would be to escape this mess.

Gemma's stomach twisted as the man in the suit handed Luke’s credit card to the saleslady in the boutique. The high-end shop was everything she expected from a cruise ship of this caliber—opulent, with gleaming displays of the most expensive items imaginable. The atmosphere felt suffocating as the saleslady, her expression overly cheerful, sized her up.

“You look like a size 2,” she said as she examined Gemma, her tone too pleasant for Gemma’s liking.

Gemma was about to protest, her discomfort growing, but she couldn’t find the words. There was nothing she could say to stop this. She didn’t want any of this. She didn’t want to be here, trapped on this ship, playing along with Luke’s twisted game. But all she could do was nod, her voice fading away.

“Yes, but—” Gemma tried, but her protest was cut short by the saleslady’s cheerful insistence as she bustled around her, pulling garments from the racks.

“If a man hands you his credit card, you should use it,” the saleslady chuckled, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

The words left Gemma feeling hollow. Was this really what her sister had gotten herself into? Was this the price of indulgence? To be owned like this?

The question slipped from Gemma’s lips before she could stop herself. “And be owned by him?”

The saleslady paused, her smile turning into something closer to a condescending smirk. “Oh, honey,” she said, rolling her eyes, “don’t tell me you don’t know how this works. If you’re here, you might as well enjoy it.” She picked a few more dresses off the racks, holding them up against Gemma’s body without waiting for her approval.

Gemma bit her lip, holding back the angry retort she wanted to make. But then the saleslady’s voice came again, sharper than before.

“So yesterday you didn’t care to spend his money, but today you’re making a fuss?” The saleslady’s eyebrow arched, her tone dripping with disbelief. She must have seen the tension in Gemma’s expression, and she was not about to let it slide.

“Yesterday?” Gemma repeated, feeling confused and more than a little dizzy. What was she talking about?

The saleslady frowned, as if surprised by the question. “Yes, yesterday,” she said, a flicker of judgment in her eyes.

Gemma’s heart skipped a beat, the conversation suddenly taking an unexpected turn. Yesterday?

Gemma’s breath caught. “My twin sister. Was she okay?” she asked, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound calm.

The saleslady gave a small, knowing smile. “Yes, very happy with a really good-looking guy on her side. I’m sure she had a blast. But tell me,” she said, her voice turning sly, “you go on holiday with your sister, but you don’t spend time together?” She picked a few more dresses off the rack, still holding them to Gemma’s body, as if she were dressing her like a mannequin.

Gemma felt a wave of nausea rise in her throat. A good-looking guy on her side? She tried to steady herself, but the image of Gabriella with some man, happy and carefree while she was stuck in this twisted game with Luke, sent a surge of anger through her. It was as if she was being mocked, as if her sister’s recklessness had caught up with her in the worst possible way.

“I didn’t—” Gemma’s voice faltered as she tried to collect her thoughts. But before she could finish her sentence, the saleslady interrupted, not giving her the chance to explain herself.

“Well, it doesn’t matter, does it?” the saleslady said breezily, still holding up various outfits. “You’re here now, and I’m sure your man wouldn’t want you looking anything less than fabulous.”

Gemma clenched her fists, frustration bubbling up as she fought to stay calm. She didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to play this role, but she had no choice.

A part of her wanted to lash out, to reject all of this, to demand answers about Gabriella. But the saleslady was already moving to grab another outfit, brushing off her questions like they were nothing.

Gemma's stomach churned again. She could hardly bear it. What had her sister gotten them both into?