Chapter 11

MY ANCHOR.

~LAUREN POV~

The sea breeze tangled through my hair as I brushed a few strands away from my face, trying to focus on anything but the chaos around me.

My gaze drifted toward Alexandro, who stood talking to the captain with his typical air of authority.

But my attention snapped back to Rosette and Patrick.

She was leaning into him, her lips dangerously close to his, the two of them putting on a show as if they were in some private moment rather than on the deck of a yacht.

A sick feeling churned in my stomach. How had today twisted so quickly from promising to unbearable? I should've stayed in my room, I thought bitterly.

Alone and away from this soap opera.

"You two," Lilac said, her voice dripping with mock irritation, "get a room." She rolled her eyes dramatically, though her smirk betrayed her amusement.

It was obvious what they were doing. They were trying to get under my skin, and worse, it was working.

I clenched my jaw, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a reaction, and turned my focus toward Alexandro.

He stood a few steps away, effortlessly commanding the space around him. The crisp vest he wore highlighted his broad shoulders and the casual elegance he carried like second nature.

My eyes trailed down to his forearm, where the edge of a tattoo peeked out from under his sleeve.

That tattoo. I remembered noticing it the first time I saw him in the resort garden. It had caught my attention then, and now, it fascinated me all over again.

What did it mean?

Rosette's sudden burst of laughter broke through my thoughts, yanking me back to reality. She tilted her head back dramatically, her hand resting possessively on Patrick's chest.

And just like that, the breathtaking sight of Alexandro, my supposed boyfriend, was overshadowed by the all-too-familiar sting of old wounds and a performance meant for me.

Patrick's presence was like a storm cloud hovering over the dock, and I didn't need to look at Alexandro to feel the annoyance radiating off him.

The others followed close behind, but it was Patrick who approached me first, his jaw tight and his expression unreadable.

"Lauren," he said, his voice low, as though we were the only two people here.

I stiffened, my fingers clutching the edge of the yacht railing. "Patrick."

He glanced at Alexandro, who stood a few feet away, his sharp green eyes locked on us. Then Patrick's gaze slid back to me, his lips curling into a bitter smile.

"I'm not buying it," he said softly, so only I could hear.

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

He tilted his head, his smile growing. "This. You and him." He gestured subtly toward Alexandro. "You're trying too hard. A man like him, dating you? Come on, Lauren. It's transparent."

Heat rushed to my cheeks, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "You don't know anything about my life, Patrick."

"I know enough," he said, stepping closer. "If this is some twisted game to make me jealous, it's pathetic."

My mouth opened, but no words came out.

Patrick leaned in, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "If you think parading around with a trillionaire is going to make me regret my choices, think again." His tone turned sharper.

"I chose Rosette for a reason, Lauren. You were never enough."

Those words hit like a slap, and I froze, struggling to process the sheer cruelty of his statement.

I didn't see Alexandro until his shadow appeared next to us. He had a strong presence. At first, he didn't say anything, but the tension around us felt heavy.

Patrick straightened, his smugness faltering slightly under Alexandro's glare.

"Is there a problem here?" Alexandro asked, his voice dangerously calm.

Patrick crossed his arms, recovering quickly. "No problem at all. Just catching up with Lauren. Old friends and all."

Alexandro's gaze shifted to me, his eyes narrowing as he took in my pale face and tense posture. "Lauren?"

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "We were just—"

"Done talking," Alexandro finished for me, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Patrick's smirk returned, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Protective, aren't you? A little too invested for a man who barely knows her."

Alexandro didn't flinch, his calm behavior unnervingly steady. "What's pathetic is a man trying to hold onto his ex when he already has someone else." His eyes flicked toward Rosette, who was glaring daggers at the scene.

Patrick bristled. "Watch it."

"I only speak the truth," Alexandro said, stepping even closer, his presence towering. "Lauren isn't a woman you can belittle and then pick up when it's convenient for you. She's mine now. And that's the only thing you need to know."

The words sent a shiver down my spine.

Rosette, clearly unable to stay silent, stormed forward. Her heels clicked sharply against the dock as she latched onto Patrick's arm, her expression a mix of irritation and fury.

"Patrick," she said tightly, her gaze flicking between him and me. "What exactly are you doing?"

"Nothing," he said quickly, stepping back. "Just talking."

"Talking to your ex while we're all standing here waiting for the yacht ride?" she snapped, her voice dripping with venom.

I couldn't help but notice the way Alexandro's lips twitched into the faintest smirk.

"Let's not delay further," Alexandro said smoothly, his hand finding the small of my back. The warmth of his touch grounded me, even as my heart raced.

Rosette glared at me as though I'd personally orchestrated this disaster. "You've always been such a… distraction, haven't you?"

I blinked at her, stunned into silence.

"Enough," Alexandro said firmly, his tone cutting through the tension. "Let's move on."

The group reluctantly shuffled toward the yacht, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the day was only going to get worse.

I leaned against the railing as the yacht began to glide over the waves, the salty breeze cooling my overheated skin.

Alexandro stood beside me, his expression unreadable, but I could feel the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.

"What did Patrick say to you?" he asked finally, his voice low.

I shook my head, staring out at the water. "It doesn't matter."

"It does," he said, his tone sharper. "You looked uncomfortable. If he said something—"

"Why do you care?" I snapped, turning to face him. "You've made it clear this is all an act, haven't you? So why does it matter what Patrick says to me?"

He blinked, caught off guard by my outburst, but his gaze softened after a moment. "Lauren—"

"No," I said, cutting him off. "You don't get to act like you care. You don't know what it's like to feel…" I faltered the words catching in my throat. "To feel like you're not enough."

His expression darkened, and he stepped closer, his voice firm. "Don't let him make you feel that way."

The sincerity in his tone caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond.

"Lauren!" Rosette's voice shattered the moment, her shrill tone cutting through the air.

I turned to see her marching toward us, her eyes blazing. Patrick followed close behind, his jaw tight as though he were trying to rein her in.

"Enjoying the view?" she asked, her sarcasm biting.

I opened my mouth to reply, but Alexandro stepped in front of me, shielding me from her hostility.

"Yes," he said smoothly, his voice calm but with an edge that made her falter. "But I'd enjoy it more without the interruptions."

Rosette's cheeks flushed, and Patrick placed a hand on her arm, trying to pull her back. "Let it go, Rosette."

She shook him off, her gaze darting between me and Alexandro. "You always manage to steal the spotlight, don't you, Lauren?"

"That's enough," Alexandro said, his voice sharp enough to make even Patrick pause.

The tension was palpable, and I could feel everyone's eyes on us. For the second time today, I wanted to disappear.

The yacht rocked gently beneath us as Alexandro turned to me, his hand brushing against mine. "Let's take a walk."

I nodded, grateful for the escape, and followed him toward the other end of the deck.

As we moved away from the group, I couldn't help but wonder what was happening between us. Alexandro was unpredictable, infuriating, and overwhelming, but in that moment, he was also my anchor.

And that terrified me more than anything Patrick could say.