Page 57 of Obsessed Heir

Needing to put some distance between myself and this situation, I pick up the book I’d set on the end table earlier. No, it would be better to clear out of their way entirely.

“That image would look stunning with her hair flowing,” Holly remarks, gesturing toward Abigail as I get up from the couch.

That’s an easy enough fix. I turn, glancing at Abigail. Her eyes are closed, the false lashes fanning out along her cheeks. She’s the very image of innocence. The Maiden persona Holly has been trying so hard to capture.

The exact, tempting image I need to banish from my mind.

I flip the latch on the sliding glass door and push it with enough force to send it rumbling along the rail. The sudden sound of the ship cutting through the ocean fills the room.

Abigail’s eyes shoot open, her peaceful expression vanishing in an instant. Her gaze darts out to the endless horizon.

The brisk sea breeze comes through, teasing her curls and pressing the thin fabric of her outfit against the front of her body. Yet Abigail seems utterly oblivious to it. Her jaw drops an inch, her brows knitting in distress.

What’s wrong here? What am I missing?

I straighten slowly, my attention caught by her sudden shift in demeanor. In the next moment, she stumbles back a step, gasping for breath. She reaches out blindly, her fingers grasping for something to hold onto. Her eyes widen, sheer terror overtaking her delicate features.

Instinctively, I reach out to steady her, the raw fear in her face catching me completely off guard.

“What now?” Steven’s impatient voice calls out from somewhere behind me. “For the love of—I can’t work like this…”

“Shut the fuck up,” I snarl, what’s left of my patience coming to an end. That little prick has gotten on my last nerve with his shit. “Or that camera’s going over the rail, and you’re going with it.”

The photographer stiffens, his mouth dropping open in shock as he stares out past the balcony door.

“You wouldn’t—” he sputters indignantly.

I take a menacing step in his direction, my movement hampered by Abigail’s trembling form clinging to me.

Holly quickly intervenes, hooking an arm around the idiot’s biceps. “Come with me,” she says, pulling him toward the door.

I shift my focus to Abigail again, intending to set her away from me. But the sight of her pale, anguished face makes me change my mind. She’s shaking, holding on to me for dear life as if I’m the only shelter in the storm.

“I’m gonna drown. The water’s coming over me…I’m gonna drown,” she mumbles feverishly, her head and shoulders rocking back and forth. She looks up into my eyes, her expression filled with such pain and fear, it stops me in my tracks.

“Please, I just want to go home,” she pleads, her voice breaking as she drops her forehead against my chest.

Seeing her like this, vulnerable and terrified, stirs something deep inside me. She must be in a bad way to be holding on to me, of all people. I bring her against me, wrapping my arms around her, offering what little comfort I can. She’s so tiny, her head barely reaching my chest.

Holly leads the idiot out of the room, giving me a pointed look while reaching for the doorknob.

“But…my camera,” he protests, his wide eyes darting from the expensive camera to me.

“Get it later,” she insists, in a tone brooking no argument.

Holly gives him a hard tug, an exasperated expression on her face as she herds him through the door.

Seconds tick by. I have no clue what to do with Abigail other than hold her as she continues to mumble the same words over and over. “Let me go home.”

The breeze comes through, blowing the gauzy curtain inside. The sound of splashing waves and churning water fills the room as the ship cuts through the ocean. That has to be what triggered this paralysis because she was fine until I slid that damn door open.

The fear of drowning isn’t uncommon. I just don’t understand why someone with that phobia would willingly go on a cruise if they can’t handle being on the water.

That isn’t true. For Abigail, her reason has to revolve around my mother.

I take a calming breath, trying to figure out how to snap her out of this state.

“Let me close this,” I murmur, gently cupping her shoulders to set her back, but she’s not budging without some effort.

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