Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Jessica’s POV

My elbows rested over the railings of the ship, the cool metal biting into my skin as I leaned forward, staring out at the endless expanse of ocean.

Truthfully, I had no idea where I was on this massive floating labyrinth. I’d wandered aimlessly after breakfast, weaving through decks and corridors until I stumbled upon this spot.

It was less crowded than the main areas. A quiet nook on one of the upper promenades, with only a handful of passengers milling about, sipping drinks or snapping photos.

The wind whipped my hair around my face, carrying the sharp, briny scent of the sea, and the rhythmic slap of waves against the hull below created a soothing ambient noise.

Aaron had ditched me earlier, heading off with David and a few other cousins for some “guy time”-probably shooting pool or whatever rich boys did on a cruise.

Wendy, Aria, and the others I’d connected with were scattered, likely lounging by the museum or exploring the shops. So, I’d helped myself to some solo adventuring, letting the ship’s vastness swallow my worries.

The sun hung low on the horizon, painting the water in hues of orange and gold

I let out a slow breath, a private smile tugging at my lips as the memories of last night-and this morning-looped through my mind.

My skin still hummed where he’d touched me, and a lingering, dull ache between my legs served as a delicious reminder of everything we’d done.

I bit my lip, trying to ground myself, but it was impossible to ignore the truth. I’d spent so many nights dreaming about this. and I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that it had actually happened.

“Smiling like your dreams are coming true.”

The voice was a jagged blade cutting through the air.

A startled yelp escaped me as my footing gave way. My heart hammered against my ribs, and my hands scrambled uselessly against the slick railing.

For one heart-stopping second, the world tilted, and the churning water below rushed toward me, ready to claim my body into the void.

I managed to catch myself, and spun around to find Kennedy.

He stood there, dangerously close, leaning on his expensive cane with its polished silver handle gleaming under the deck lights.

Suddenly, the warm afternoon air turned frigid..

My body became hot, then cold, goosebumps erupted along my arms. Every organ felt itchy, unsettled, like ants crawling under my skin.

His soulless, arctic blue eyes pinned me to the spot. They didn’t just look at me; they bore into my chest like lasers, scanning for a weakness, stripping away my skin and my secrets until I felt naked in the midday sun.

There was no warmth in him, no humanity-just a cold, calculating vacuum that seemed to suck the oxygen right out of the

air.

13:18 Mon, Jan 12

Chapter 55

I couldn’t even bring myself to speak. I just stood there like a fool.

The ship tilted slightly on a wave, the motion jolting me back to reality. I cleared my throat, and blinked hard to break his

gaze.

“I have to go,” I mumbled, more to myself than him.

I tried to sidestep him, ready to bolt, when his hand shot out and gripped my arm. The contact was revolting.

His skin felt unnaturally cold, a sharp contrast to the sun-beaten deck. I froze, the chill of his touch seeping straight into my

marrow.

“I’m still waiting for an answer, Jessica,” he said, his voice smooth, steel threaded beneath it as he pulled me around to meet his gaze.

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry, and stalled. My thoughts scrambled for something-anything-that wouldn’t make

this worse.

“Why don’t I have feedback yet?” he pressed, his tone sharpening.

I kept mute a second longer, gathering my scattered thoughts. Despite the faint chatter of passengers nearby and the whistle of the wind, the earth felt silent.

I felt like I was walking on a ground filled with shards of glass-one wrong word, and I’d be bleeding.

“I’m still thinking about it,” I finally answered.

That was a lie; a big fat one. I already had my answer, but I needed a more confident way to tell him I wouldn’t be taking the offer.

Dealing with a man like Kennedy required a degree of willpower, wisdom, and strength I was currently scrambling to find.

Deep down, I knew that in his head, he didn’t give me freewill; his offer was just an illusion, a make-believe deal to make me feel like I had a choice when I really didn’t.

In the short span of knowing him, and the stories that circulated long before we met, I knew he wasn’t a man who asked. He was a man who took, without a care in the world for who he hurt.

He let out a dry, rattling chuckle and stepped forward. I backed up instinctively, but the railing pressed into my spine. trapping me.

“You don’t have to lie to me. We both know what your answer is.”

I refused to look at him. My heart was nearly about to plummet through my mouth. He slid his cane under my chin, the cold metal forcing me to look up.

My skin prickled with disgust. His eyes had darkened, and his jaw was set tight.

“You know,” he began. “I really did give you the opportunity to make a decision, to choose my offer, but it seems like you aren’t so easy after all.”

I finally had enough and let out a shaky sigh.

“Sir, I respect you, and I’d love if you did the same for me,” I said, my voice trembling.

“Truthfully, I would never take your offer. I can’t ruin Aaron’s life for… I can’t betray him that way. I owe him a lot, including my life.”

The last sentence hung on my breath, heavy and raw. There was a brief, suffocating silence, eventually broken by his

13:18 Mon, Jan 12

Chapter 55

malicious laugh.

I stood there, embarrassed and exposed, but I didn’t move.

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“Would you change your mind if you saw this?” he asked, one brow arched, a sinister smile widening on his face.

My eyes narrowed.

He pointed toward the deck vertically above us. I turned my eyes slowly, following the line of his cane.

My heart stopped, and dread filled my gut.

On the deck above, tucked into a corner near the glass partition, stood Aaron and Fiona.

From where I stood, the angle was devastating. They were standing so close there wasn’t a sliver of light between them.

Were they kissing?

The wind whipped my hair into my eyes, blurring the scene, but the image seared into me.

Laughter from nearby passengers felt mocking now, the ocean’s roar deafening. My world tilted, not from the ship, but from the betrayal stabbing through my chest.

Was this real? Or Kennedy’s trick? Either way, it shattered something inside, leaving me gasping, and frozen in the cold grip of doubt.

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