Page 56 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

He gave me a curious look. "What did I miss?"

"Girl talk," I said vaguely.

He smiled. "Okay, keep your secrets. The captain has invited anyone who is interested to come up to the bridge for a tour. Do you want to go?"

"No. I don't want to walk anywhere else."

"I want to go," Harper said eagerly. "Colin probably does, too, but I don't see him."

"He's already on his way up there. He told me to get you and meet him up top."

"Are you okay here by yourself?" Harper asked as she stood up.

"More than okay," I said, happy when they both left. The pain was finally starting to let go and my muscles were beginning to relax, so relaxed that I definitely did not feel like trying to walk anywhere. Despite the woozy feeling overtaking me, I was happy to get some relief from what had been unremitting pain.

I sipped on my champagne and spooned up the cooling, tasty sorbet that had been placed for me, and I was startled when Allison suddenly slid into the chair next to me.

"Lauren, we finally have a chance to talk," she said. "I heard about your accident yesterday. That sounds terrifying."

"It was scary, but I'm okay."

"You don't look that good. Are you in pain?"

"It's getting better." Clearing my throat, I decided that I might as well try to get to know her better since she refused to go away. "I'm glad we're getting a chance to talk. I was wondering how long you and Andrew have known each other."

"Several years," she replied, giving me a thoughtful look. "He hasn't told you anything about me, has he?"

"He said you've worked together on occasion."

She took a sip from the champagne glass in her hand, then gave me a smug smile. "Andrew and I have been more than work associates, more than friends. I think you probably suspected that. And I'm guessing he didn't tell you he invited me to the wedding, did he? I could sense you were surprised to see me, maybe even a little unhappy."

I wasn't going to admit to that. "Andrew told me you're trying to work for Victor, that your invitation was to get you an introduction to the Carringtons."

"That was part of it," she said. "And it looks like Victor is going to hire me. Well, actually, Bennett is. We had a great conversation this morning. Do you know Bennett well?"

"Not well at all."

"He's an interesting man. Smarter than I thought he would be. And very ambitious. I've always liked that in a man. It's what I like about Andrew, too. He has big goals, and he knows how to get what he wants. He is also patient…not reckless, but very deliberate. Every move he makes is calculated."

Goose bumps ran down my arms. I needed to shut her up because she was bringing my worries back, and my head was starting to feel too thick to think clearly. "Look, I don't know what was between you two, Allison, but Andrew and I are married. We love each other, so if you have a problem with either of us, maybe you should leave the island or at the very least, stay away from us. I won't let you come between me and my husband."

"Oh, honey, I am not the problem you should be worrying about," she said with a condescending and secretive smile.

Allison acted like she knew something I didn't, and I had a feeling she probably did, which made me feel even worse and a little sick to my stomach.

"I need to use the restroom. Do you know where it is?" I asked.

She hesitated, then said, "It's downstairs." She tipped her head to the nearby stairwell. "You should go now. You look very pale. I hope I haven't upset you. I actually feel a little bad for you. You have no idea what's going on."

Her words swirled around in my head. "Excuse me," I said, putting a hand to my mouth as another wave of nausea hit me. I hurried to the stairs, descending to the next level. A hallway greeted me, and an open door at the end of it. I stumbled down the corridor until I entered the empty stateroom and moved as quickly as I could to the bathroom. I immediately threw up, feeling even worse after that.

I washed my hands and splashed cold water on my face, but it did little to clear the fog clouding my brain. The icy sting of the water prickled my skin, but it felt distant, muted, like everything else around me. It wasn’t just the ache in my hip and leg that bothered me—it was also the dizziness, the heavy, lethargic pull that gripped my body and wouldn’t let go. My limbs felt like dead weight, and each breath was labored. I gripped the edge of the marble sink for balance, my fingers slick against its smooth, wet surface.

The thought of walking back up the stairs felt impossible. For a fleeting moment, I was tempted to collapse onto the perfectly made bed in the stateroom. But no. If I lie down now, I might not get back up. I couldn’t pass out on Victor's yacht, surrounded by media people, cameras, and everyone who’d been watching my every move since the wedding.

I forced myself to move, stepping back into the narrow hallway. The sway of the boat made everything worse, my equilibrium spinning with every slight tilt of the floor beneath my feet. I dragged my palm along the wall, using it like a lifeline as I stumbled forward.

Then I heard voices.

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