Page 94 of Mark

“They invited me,” he points out. “Plus, we will be there anyway.”

Like they were summoned, Jaxon is rushing over towards us, Lily right behind him. There’s a small cut on Lily’s chin and elbow. “Are you okay?” I ask, sitting up.

“No,” Jaxon bites out.

Lily places her hand on his arm. “Let’s go back to Rose,” she pleads.

He meets my gaze. “I get your relationship with your sister is tense, but if she touches my wife again, I will take my anger out on her husband. I don’t care if we get removed from the cruise.”

“Esther did that?” I ask, my lips parted.

“It’s fine,” Lily assures me.

“Our daughter did that?” Dad questions.

“It’s really okay,” Lily swears, but I can hear the quiver in her voice.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, feeling dejected when Mark’s hand slips off my thigh.

“Where is she?” Mark spits out.

I get to my feet when I see Esther walking over to us. “Why would you hurt her?” I ask.

She rears back, glancing at Lily. “What have you told them?”

“She didn’t need to tell us anything. A member of staff did,” Jaxon snaps. “You come near my wife again, and your husband will spend the rest of his honeymoon being tube fed.”

“Why don’t we calm down,” Dad offers, holding his hands up.

“It was an accident,” Esther cries.

“What did you do?” Mark snaps.

“I was about to get up and ask if she had seen my sister. She tripped over my foot. It was an accident,” Esther replies, staying close to my parents. She glances at Lily. “I said I was sorry. I really didn’t think you’d trip over my feet. There’s no need for things to get heated.”

“It’s okay,” Lily whispers.

“See, it was just a misunderstanding,” Mum declares.

Jaxon glares at my mum. “I don’t care what she says. My wife has been hurt.”

“She could have been holding my niece,” Mark adds.

“It was an accident,” Esther cries.

“Funny, because the member of staff said you waited until she was close before sticking your foot out,” Jaxon snaps.

“They’re lying,” Esther states, sniffling. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Why don’t we all calm down,” Maverick declares, joining the huddle.

“Calm down?” Jaxon repeats. “She’s been glaring at us since we arrived on deck this morning.”

“Please, Jaxon. Let’s go. I need to feed Rose,” Lily pleads, shaking.

Maverick cuts his gaze to Jaxon. “Take Lily back to Rose,” he orders.

Jaxon takes Lily’s hand, but not without cutting a sharp look to Esther. “You’re lucky her cousins weren’t there.”

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