Jasper Sterling had fallen into an exceptionally deep sleep. It wasn't until the sun dipped below the horizon and a crew member knocked on the door to announce the start of the gala that he finally showed some signs of life.
When Julian Harrison pushed the door open, he saw Jasper tossing aside a fashion magazine with a provocative cover that had been draped over his face. Jasper squinted his eyes, looking like a predator newly awakened, radiating a lingering sense of raw hostility.
"Your internal clock is more precise than a Swiss watch," Julian teased, leaning against the doorframe.
"I'm hungry," Jasper replied, his voice low and raspy.
He sat up with a trace of lingering fatigue, his long fingers pulling a cigarette from the pack. He bit down on it, and through the hazy dimness of the room, his gaze landed with pinpoint accuracy on Diana. He lifted his eyelids slightly. "Lighter."
Diana had been staring at his high-quality white shirt, lost in thought; she couldn't shake the feeling that the texture and the detail of the buttons looked incredibly familiar. Suddenly crashing into those deep, bottomless eyes, her heart skipped a beat before she realized he was ordering her around.
What a spoiled lord, she thought. His hand is right next to the ashtray. Would it kill him to move an inch?
Suppressing her inner complaints, Diana handed him the lighter. Jasper's well-defined hand took it, his fingertips brushing seemingly inadvertently against her palm. After lighting the cigarette, he tossed the lighter back into her lap. Diana scrambled to catch it as if she were holding a hot coal.
As she rose to follow the group to the dining hall, she hadn't gone more than a few steps before Silas Page's haunting voice crept up behind her: "Hey, little beauty. You've been back in the country for so long, and you haven't even invited your 'big brother' for a drink?"
"Mr. Page, stay away from me." Diana stopped and turned, the disgust in her eyes almost tangible.
This man had harbored filthy intentions toward her since she was a minor. Back then, William Knight had nearly torn the Page family apart to protect her; it only settled down after Silas's grandfather personally stepped in and enforced family discipline.
Silas gave a sleazy grin and threw up his hands. "Don't be so hostile. We're all friends here."
Diana ignored him and walked away quickly. Silas stared at her retreating figure, his gaze aggressively tracing the line of her waist.
Diana was dressed very simply today, in a sage-green silk blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt. A common professional outfit, yet on her, it exuded a kind of repressed allure. Her waist looked narrow enough to snap with one hand, while the curves of her hips and legs were perfectly lush.
Silas mused to himself: 88, 56, 88... that golden ratio. If I could just get my hands on her...
"Thinking of grabbing something?"
A voice as cold as ice sounded behind him. Silas whipped around to find Jasper Sterling standing there. His eyes held a look of casual lethality. "If you're looking to grab a neck, I'm quite the professional."
Silas's face stiffened. He offered a forced smile and slunk away. Jasper didn't spare him another glance, walking straight past him.
The post-gala party was held in the stern club. A cool sea breeze blew as the orchestra's waltz echoed over the open waters.
Diana had changed into a simple little black dress. In the corridor, she ran head-first into Charlotte Bell.
Upon seeing her, Charlotte's expression soured instantly. She still burned with resentment over the slap Diana had dealt her in front of everyone last time.
"Diana, don't get too ahead of yourself."
Diana stopped, her tone indifferent. "Have you finished digesting the last lesson I gave you?"
"You!" Charlotte gritted her teeth. "You only act tough because William protects you. But on this ship, it's hard to say who will be protecting whom soon. Once Eleanor Hayes marries into the family, a 'cheap sister' like you—without a drop of blood relation—might not even be allowed through the Knight family's front door. Who do you think William will choose? The Hayes family, or a penniless girl like you?"
Diana's brow arched slightly. "Regardless of who he chooses, it won't be you. Instead of worrying about my future, worry about your makeup—it's caking."
Charlotte stamped her foot in rage, but Diana had already walked away. She swung her arm in frustration, accidentally slamming it against the railing, causing tears of pain to well up in her eyes.
Inside the club, towers of champagne stood in elegant rows.
Jasper had claimed the most comfortable spot in the lounge area, his long legs crossed on the coffee table. Sunk into the shadows, he was looking down at his phone, typing something. His profile was sharp, cold, and aloof.
Diana walked over and chose a seat diagonally across from him. Her eyes drifted involuntarily back to his shirt collar, and once again, she was caught red-handed by Jasper.
He locked his phone and let a reckless, rogue-like smile play on his lips. "You've been staring for a while. Want to come over and sit with me?"
"I was just looking at your buttons," Diana explained, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn't exactly say she suspected he was wearing her clothes; that would be absurd.
"Oh, the buttons." He dragged out the words mockingly. "Should I unbutton them so you can get a better look?"
Diana's ears flushed hot. This man really thinks everyone is flirting with him.
Fortunately, Julian came over to rescue her, pulling Diana onto the dance floor. "Ignore that ice sculpture. Come on, let me show you some vintage moves!"
Julian danced with zero regard for his image. His exaggerated steps made Diana laugh behind her hand, instantly clearing the heavy atmosphere.
After a round of fun, the group returned to the booth for games. Julian pulled out a deck of cards. "Let's keep it simple: King's Game. Joker is the King, numbers are the subjects. If you lose and can't handle the penalty, you jump into the sea."
The first few rounds were relatively tame. In the third round, the Joker landed in Jasper's hand.
Diana happened to catch a glimpse of his card. Startled, she immediately covered her own number. Jasper let out a cold snort, clearly seeing right through her defensive little maneuver.
But he didn't call on Diana.
His long fingers tapped the table as he looked at Julian, his tone wicked. "Seven of Hearts. Go swim a lap around the boat before you come back up."
"Dammit! How did you know I was the Seven of Hearts?" Julian jumped up.
"The reflection in the mirror behind you, idiot," Jasper pointed to the decorative glass on the liquor cabinet.
Cursing under his breath, Julian downed a shot of hard liquor to warm up, tossed his jacket aside, and flipped over the deck. The splash of his entry was met with a roar of cheers.
By the time a soaking wet Julian climbed back on board, the atmosphere had reached a fever pitch.
Just then, a new "King" was crowned: Silas Page. He rubbed his chin with an unsavory grin. "The person who drew the Queen of Diamonds must find an opposite-sex member present and perform a 'solicited kiss.' It has to be mouth-to-mouth, for ten seconds."
The room went silent for a heartbeat before erupting into massive shouting and whistling.
Eleanor Hayes slowly flipped over her card. It was the Queen of Diamonds.
She held the card, her face slightly flushed, but her eyes held a bright, determined spark. Amidst the frenzied screams of the crowd, she slowly stood up, walked through the throng of people, and stopped directly in front of William Knight.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she boldly tilted her face up, issuing a silent invitation for a kiss to the most prestigious man in the east city.