<b>Chapter </b><b>462 </b>
After bathing Gracie, Shermaine fed her, tucked her into the crib, and then headed to the bathroom with the breast pump. Her chest <b>was </b>ufortably full, and if she didn’t take care of it, she wasn’t getting any sleep tonight.
Once she finished, she poured the milk into bottles and stored them in the temperature–controlled cab to keep it fresh until morning
She was just grabbing her robe, ready to shower, when the luxury cruise ship let out a deep st from its horn. It was finally setting sail.
The main tournament wouldn’t begin for another three days. For now, the schedule was packed with entertainment, games, and even performances from popr celebrities.
The day passed quickly. Shermaine showered, rubbed her sore chest again, and finally turned off the lights to sleep.
The next morning, Jasmine woke up and ordered breakfast. A hotel staffer soon arrived with a thick stack of invitation cards, along withvish bouquets and luxurious gifts.
“These are all for Ms. Hanks,” the server said with a polite smile. “Would you mind signing for them?”
Jasmine was tempted, for some of the gifts looked expensive enough to fund a small kingdom, but she knew Shermaine wouldn’t even nce <b>at </b>them.
No matter how handsome the man was, Shermaine already had a family. A brilliant woman and a gorgeous baby girl? Those other guys didn’t stand <b>a </b>
chance<i>. </i>
“I’m not signing for anything. You can send it all back,” Jasmine said firmly.
The staffer hesitated. “What about the invitations?” If all of them were returned, it might be a bit difficult, since several VIPs had specifically requested
that the invitations be delivered to Shermaine personally.
“I’ll hold onto them and make sure she sees them.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate it.”
Jasmine waved her off with a grin. No matter how extravagant those gifts were, Shermaine had earned over ten million Xyperi Trinkets like these? Probably less than pocket change to her.
s justst night.
After her morning workout and another shower, Shermaine finally came out to eat. She nced at the pile of invitations on the table. “What’s all this?<b>” </b>
she asked.
“Looks like half the ship wants to date you,” Jasmine said. “I took the liberty of keeping the cards.”
Shermaine flipped through a few. The first one was from Siman, inviting her to dinner at the most exclusive restaurant on the ship.
She barely nced at the name before tossing it straight into the trash: The rest she skimmed and left on the table. She had no intention of going. “I’ll watch Gracie today. Go enjoy yourself<b>,</b>” she said.
Since Gracie’s birth, Jasmine had rarely taken time for herself. With Shermaine offering to take over<b>, </b>she wasn’t about to refuse.
“Yes, ma’am! Spa, swim<b>, </b>and I’ll be back before dinner.”
That entire day, every man on the ship hoping to identally” run into Shermaine was left disappointed.
That evening, Simon showed up at the restaurant in <b>a </b>perfectly tailored suit. There was only one chef on duty, and <b>he </b><b>cooked </b><b>exclusively </b><b>for </b><b>reserved </b><b>guests</b><b>. </b>Tonight, that <b>first </b>party was him.
Except Shermaine never showed.
<b>His </b><b>expression </b><b>finally </b>shifted. After two failed <b>attempts </b><b>to get </b><b>her </b><b>attention</b>, his pride was clearly <b>bruised</b>. <b>Worse </b><b>still</b><b>, </b><b>hall </b><b>the </b><b>ship </b><b>was </b><b>watching </b><b>him</b>. <b>Hen </b>
<b>1/3 </b>
could only imagine the whispers that would follow.
If Shermaine turned him down again, he wouldn’t hesitate to take more aggressive steps.
He drank half the wine alone before finally leaving, only to run into Mandy.
Her eyes were red. “Simon… you really like that woman?”
Simon frowned. “You need to change that temper. My father may have picked you for me, but I never epted that arrangement.”
Mandy froze. “But you never denied it either.”
“I thought you understood what we were,” he said coolly, as if it should have been obvious all along.
Truthfully, Simon had strung her along. She was the girl his father had arranged <i>for </i>him, and early on, he’d found her interesting. But over time, that interest faded. He was never the type to settle. A yboy through and through.
Mandy, however, refused to see it that way. To her, the me rested entirely on Shermaine. “You’ve been blinded by that vixen<b>,</b><b>” </b>Mandy snapped.
“She is quite something,” Simon replied, without a hint of apology.
Mandy’s face darkened.
He reached out and tapped her head like she was a child. “You’ve had the best years of my attention, Mandy. Don’t ruin it. If my father demands I marry you, I’ll do it.”
It was the least he could offer, for the sake of their childhood history, and for how hopelessly devoted she’d always been.
Jasmine happened to be passing by and heard the whole exchange. “Wow,” she muttered to herself. “What a grade–A piece of trash.”
She’d spent the day shopping for dresses, swimming, and eating like a queen. That night, she went back to their suite and recapped the whole thing <b>for </b>Shermaine.
Shermaine was lounging in a chair, rocking Gracie’s crib with one hand, a paperback in the other,pletely unfazed. She barely reacted. <b>“</b><b>Oh</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Two more days flew by.
Every man trying to “identally” run into Shermaine came up empty.
On the third day, the swelling in her chest had be unbearable. She figured it was time to visit the ship’s pharmacy for some painkillers.
The ship had docked, and a fresh batch <b>of </b>passengers had just boarded. The moment Shermaine stepped out of her room, she sensed eyes on her. Multiple sets, from multiple directions.
She made her way to the pharmacy, picked up what she needed, and stepped back into the open air, only to be blocked by a few men in suits. “Ms. Hanks, Mr. Lambert has been expecting you.”
‘Again with this guy. Give <b>it </b><b>a </b>rest,‘ she thought.
Shermaine’s tone was cold. “Move.”
They hesitated, clearly thrown off by hef energy<b>, </b>but still didn’t back down<b>. </b>“Ms. Hanks, please don’t make this difficult.”
Just then, another group approached. “She already told you to back off. Blocking her path like this is <b>out </b><b>of </b>line<b>.” </b>
“What’s <b>it </b>to you?<b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>We’d </b><b>like </b><b>to </b>invite Ms. Hanks for a drink too. So yeah<b>, </b>it is <b>our </b>business.”
<b>2/3 </b>
08:27 Mon, 7 Jul G
One of Simon’s men stepped up. “Then beat Mr. Lambert in a solo round. If you win, you earn the right to speak to her.”
“Oh, so Mr. Lambert thinks he owns her now?” the other man sneered. He looked to Shermaine. “What do you think, Ms. Hanks?”
Shermaine didn’t answer. Her face gave nothing away as she turned and walked off.
Right then, her opticalputer buzzed.
A video popped up showing Jasmine holding Gracie, but they were clearly not in their suite. They were inside one of the cruise ship’s restaurants.
The sea view sparkled behind them, and a ss pool glistened in the sunlight.
“Goddess!” Jasmine was practically shouting. “Gracie and I are stuck! You need toe quick<i>!</i>”