---- Thalia and Lucia walked side by side in front, with Asher following behind them. Crew members carried their luggage. Lucia linked arms with Thalia, guiding her to their room for the night. "Thalia, this is your room," Lucia said softly, sounding slightly guilty. Thalia nodded. "Thank you." Then, Lucia looked at Asher and pointed to another room ---- diagonally across from Thalia'' "Asher, your room is over there." Thalia paused momentarily.


    Lucia had arranged separate amodations for them. She lowered her eyes withoutmenting. Asher''s gaze turned cool as he nced at Lucia. "No need to trouble yourself. I''l stay in Thalia''s room." Lucia''s eyshes fluttered nervously as she quickly responded, "But Thalia''s room is a single. It would be too crowded for both of you." The cruise ship had over a hundred guest rooms, all fully equipped and luxuriously decorated. The deck even featured a helipad.


    Indoor theaters, bars, ballrooms, card rooms, billiard rooms, and other entertainment facilities were avable, along with a massive swimming pool at the stern. On such arge cruise ship, it was impossible that rooms were scarce. Lucia''s intentions were as transparent as ss. ---- Thalia remained silent, but Asher wasn''t about to indulge Lucia. He directly stated his intention to stay with Thalia.


    When Lucia mentioned that a single room would be crowded for two, Asher entered the room, looked around, and said, "It''s not crowded. Smaller is cozier, right, Thalia?" "Put the luggage over there," Asher directed the crew member, indicating where to ce not only Thalia''s suitcase but his own as well. He was clearly determined to stay. In truth, the room wasn''t small-it was a luxurious double with arge bed, perfectly suitable for two without any crowding.


    But Asher deliberately said "smaller is cozier," making it clear he had no intention of being separated from Thalia. Thalia nced at him with amusement, not giving in to Lucia''s wishes. "Lucia, he''ll stay with me." A sh of dejection crossed Lucia''s eyes as she pressed her lips together. "Alright then." ---- "Miss Sterling, thank you for showing us to our room," Asher said, promptly shutting the door, leaving Lucia outside. Thaliaughed.


    "Where are your manners?" What a way to dismiss someone. A guest dismissing the host, no less. Asher''s lips quirked upward. "I said thank you. Wasn''t that polite enough?" "Oh, incredibly polite." "Forget about her," Asher pulled Thalia into his arms, his voice deep and maic. "I want to kiss you." Before Thalia could respond, his lips descended on hers. Their lips and tongues intertwined in a passionate embrace. Outside the door. Lucia stood frozen.


    na, expressionless, asked coldly, "Miss Sterling, where is my room?" ---- Lucia came to her senses and politely addressed na. "It''s over there. I''ll show you." Lucia was someone who remembered both kindness and grievances. The time she was drugged, Thalia and na had saved her. ording to Thalia, na had single-handedly beaten those men to a pulp, rescuing her.


    Grateful to na, Lucia had specifically invited her to the birthday celebration and arranged a luxurious single room for her. When the kiss ended, Thalia''s breathing had be irregr. She looked in the mirror andined, "You''ve smudged my lipstick." Asher smiled. "Just reapply it."