Ella furrowed her brow, but seeing the pleading look in Chloe’s eyes, she couldn’t help but smile. "Alright, I’ll go with you. Studying is boring anyway."
Chloe cheered, her excitement bubbling over.
The boarding time for the cruise was between 5 and 6 PM.
Ella called Robert to let him know she wouldn’t be home for dinner and sent a text to Eric, informing him that she was going on a night cruise with Chloe.
The so-called night cruise ran from 6 PM to 10 PM, docking at midnight. Guests could also stay overnight on the ship, enjoying various services.
The Dream Cruise night tour was a hot ticket in S City, known for being the most luxurious and expensive among many options.
Chloe’s excitement was palpable because the tickets Charles had obtained were for the Dream Cruise, which required advance booking and connections.
Missing this would be a lifelong regret for Chloe, who had tried for ages through her parents and grandfather to get tickets but to no avail. Old Mr. Carter thought the cruise wasn’t suitable for a pure-hearted girl like Chloe, advising her parents against securing tickets for her.
This exclusivity only added to Chloe’s fascination with the Dream Cruise.
At 5:45 PM, Ella, Chloe, and Charles finally arrived at the dock, boarding the Dream Cruise.
The ship was enormous, its exterior sparkling like a luminous entity, both dreamy and romantic.
Inside, the ship had four levels: the first for accommodations, the second for dining and bars, the third for dancing and event hosting, and the fourth for elite entertainment, accessible only with premium tickets.
Ella, visiting the Dream Cruise for the first time, was amazed by the lavish décor. Even the first-level accommodations were exquisitely decorated.
The second-level dining area stunned her even more. The restaurant looked like a fairy tale setting, with airy curtains swaying gently in the breeze, walls designed to resemble an ocean, complete with fish and seaweed that seemed to move with the changing light, creating an illusion of life.
Dinner time on the second level featured a buffet.
As the ship slowly set sail, gentle music played. Ella sat by the window, watching the sea’s silver glimmers as waves rolled in, a refreshing breeze blowing through. It was incredibly relaxing.
No wonder so many people were desperate to book a ticket for the Dream Cruise. The service was impeccable, the food exquisite, and the décor luxurious.
Moreover, on a midsummer night, there was nothing better than a cruise on the river.
The breeze was so soothing it made her want to close her eyes and drift off to sleep.
"Ella, time to eat! This is your favorite!" Chloe’s voice brought Ella back to reality. She turned to see Charles smiling gently at her.
"Ella, hurry and eat your strawberry ice cream before it melts."
Charles’s gentle smile reflected his improved mood since Nora stopped pressuring him for marriage and declared they had no further ties.
Actually, it was Eric who took care of the whole Nora situation. To make Nora let go, he found her father’s weak spot, forcing her to think about her father’s well-being.
But now that Ella’s heart belonged to him, Eric felt at ease with her being around Charles.
"Yeah, thanks, Charles. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have the chance to be here," Ella said with a smile, taking the ice cream Charles brought her and eating it slowly.
Not far away, a pair of wolf-like eyes were watching her.
Ella was already quite beautiful, with exquisite features and bright red lips. As she savored the sweet ice cream, her lips moved gently, a bit of the creamy white ice cream clinging to them.
Charles glanced up, seeing the creamy white on her enticing red lips as she took another small bite...
The gesture was incredibly alluring!
Charles’s throat tightened, and his face flushed. He quickly looked away, surprised at how such a small action could captivate him so much.
But Ella’s heart already belonged to another man!
"Wow, the food here is amazing! Everything tastes so good; it suits my taste perfectly!" Chloe exclaimed between bites.
Ella laughed softly, "For a $50,000 night cruise, they’d better have high standards."
Charles chuckled at Ella’s comment. "You’re right. Regular tickets are $50,000, and VIP tickets are $100,000. This is designed for the rich and powerful, so the food has to be top-notch."
Chloe wrinkled her nose, "If it weren’t for you, brother, we wouldn’t have gotten tickets!"
Ella smiled gently, looking around. The dim lighting shifted from red to green to yellow, creating an intimate atmosphere.
The people here were all wealthy and well-dressed, their presence exuding luxury. Ella even spotted a few small-time celebrities laughing with a man nearby.
Ella recognized those minor actresses; they had played second leads in a few not-so-popular dramas, essentially third-rate stars.
Between the two women, the man was staring intensely at her, making Ella very uncomfortable.
But then she noticed the women behind the man and her eyes widened in surprise. Why were they here? A sense of unease washed over her.
The women were Avery, Emma, and Hannah!
Hannah being here was especially strange. Why was she here of all places?
Hannah spotted Ella and smiled smugly, carrying her drink as she walked over with Avery.
These three together could only mean trouble. Ella’s expression darkened. What were they planning now?
"Isn’t that Hannah? What’s she doing here?" Chloe frowned, clearly surprised to see her.
Ella nodded, a cold smile forming on her lips and her eyes narrowing.
"Anyway, we need to be careful. Charles, those three have a grudge against me, so please keep an eye on them for us."
Charles glanced at the three women approaching, nodding slightly. As a businessman, he had little fondness for these seemingly delicate but deeply deceitful women.
Moreover, since Ella mentioned she had a grudge against them, Charles was determined to protect her and ensure she wouldn’t get hurt by them.