~Isabel~
"She died in her car. The brakes failed. She was..."
William’s voice trailed off, swallowed by the soft lap of water against the hull.
He looked miles away, trapped in a memory too heavy to finish. I stood still, holding my breath. I wanted to reach for him, but I was scared one touch would make him snap right back into that cold wall he hid behind.
The quiet broke when a tray rattled gently. Sabastine stepped out from the cabin shadows, moving light and steady. He held two crystal flutes of champagne, the bubbles catching the glow of the deck lights.
"Something to sip while you watch the sky, sir."
His voice was soft, cutting through the heavy air. William took a breath like he was pulling himself back together. He took one glass and passed it to me, then kept the other fo
