Chapter 1283:
Rylie leaned down and pressed her lips gently against his dry ones, fully aware that he had hidden the truth simply to keep her from worrying. She couldn’t bring herself to lecture him. Instead, she held his face in both hands and whispered, “I love you.”
His smile softened. “For you and our baby, there’s nothing I wouldn’t risk.”
With Kari combing through the entire ship looking for him, there was no time to spare. Brad was quietly moved to a regular lounge to avoid drawing attention, and Phil sent out a falsified surveillance clip showing him walking in of his own accord.
Kari arrived shortly after, clearly rattled, and spotted him lying in a bed in the dimly lit room. A maid placed a glass of water beside him, then turned to Kari and murmured, “Mr. Morgan had too much to drink entertaining guests earlier. He’s passed out.”
𝖶𝗵a𝗍 е𝗏𝘦𝗋𝘺o𝗇𝘦 𝗂𝘀 𝗿ea𝖽𝗂ո𝗴 𝗼𝘯 𝗴a𝗅ոo𝗏𝘦𝘭ѕ.c𝘰m
Without thinking, Kari slapped her. “The whole ship was broadcasting my search for Brad. Why didn’t you tell me immediately?”
The maid went white. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I was in the kitchen and didn’t hear the announcement.”
“You’d better not be getting any ideas about him,” Kari said coldly. “Now get out.”
The maid hurried away. Kari stepped closer to confirm it was truly Brad. The sharp smell of alcohol clung to him, and he appeared to be fast asleep. Only then did the tension in her shoulders finally ease.
He hadn’t tried to run. He was lying there, unharmed, still hers. That was enough.
Reassured, Kari left the room and returned to entertaining her guests as though nothing had happened.
The following day, Brad came down with a fever and a persistent cough. The ship’s doctor suspected a viral infection—possibly a highly contagious strain of the novel coronavirus.
The news sent a ripple of unease through everyone. Sherwood positioned himself in front of the lounge door at once, blocking Kari from entering.
“This is absurd,” Kari said sharply. “We only just boarded. How could he already be sick?”
The doctor replied calmly, “Viruses like this don’t present symptoms immediately. There’s an incubation period. Mr. Morgan could have been exposed during work or at a social event before we departed, and it’s only surfacing now.”
Kari’s expression darkened. She was genuinely worried about Brad’s condition, and at the same time, she couldn’t help feeling that the timing was suspiciously convenient—ruining both her cruise party and her mood.
Brad’s raspy voice drifted out from inside. “Don’t stress. Give me a few days to rest—I’ll be fine.”
Kari had no choice but to speak to him from a distance. The doctor reassured her gently. “We’ll monitor him around the clock. The ship’s medical facilities are fully equipped, so there’s no cause for serious concern.”
A high fever was common with this type of virus, and it typically targeted the lungs first. With experienced doctors on board and sufficient medication to handle most situations, there was little for Kari to panic about beyond being kept at a distance.
In the days that followed, Sherwood stepped in for Brad and helped Kari manage the guests. Meanwhile, Rylie slipped quietly through a side door and returned to Brad’s side without drawing any attention.
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