Chapter 44

Cecilia

The spa was attached to the villa, all smooth stone and trickling water. Sophia was already there, wrapped in a plush white robe, her hair pulled back in a neat bun.

She looked up when we entered. "Oh good, you're here! I wasn't sure if—" She trailed off, her eyes landing on Alice, and something flickered across her face. Guilt, maybe, or discomfort.

Alice didn't look at her. Just accepted the robe one of the attendants handed her and disappeared into the changing room without a word.

I followed her, closing the door behind us. "You okay?"

Alice nodded. "I'm fine."

"Alice—"

"I said I'm fine!" Her voice cracked, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes squeezing shut. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

I crossed the room and pulled her into a hug, and she collapsed against me, her whole body trembling. "It's okay," I murmured into her hair. "You're okay. I've got you."

She clung to me for a long moment, her breath hitching."I don't know if I can bear Max's love, but for now, I can't."

I just held her, wishing I could do more.

We changed in silence and stepped back out into the spa. Sophia was already in one of the massage chairs, and she gestured to the two empty ones beside her.

"Come on," she said, her voice tentative. "Let's just... relax. Forget about everything for a little while."

Alice hesitated, then sat down in the chair farthest from Sophia. I took the one in the middle, positioning myself between them like a buffer.

The massage started, and for a few minutes, there was nothing but the sound of water and the gentle pressure of skilled hands working out the tension in my shoulders.

Then Sophia spoke.

"Alice," she said softly. "I really am sorry. About Madison. "

Alice didn't respond. Didn't even open her eyes.

Sophia let out a shaky breath. "I just—I want you to know that I'm trying. To be better. To be—"

"Stop."

Alice's voice was quiet but firm, and it cut through Sophia's rambling like a knife.

Sophia fell silent, her face crumpling.

Alice finally opened her eyes and turned to look at her. "You want me to forgive you," she said flatly. "So you can feel better about yourself. So you can tell Carter you tried. But you don't actually care about me. You never did."

Sophia tried to get a word in.

Alice said, her voice steady now, stronger. "You stood there and you didn't say a word. Not one word. So don't sit here and tell me you're sorry when we both know you'd do it again if it meant keeping Madison happy."

Sophia opened her mouth, then closed it, her face pale.

Alice turned away, closing her eyes again. "Just leave me alone."

The silence that followed was deafening.

I glanced at Sophia and saw the devastation on her face, and I didn't say a word.

The silence stretched out, thick and uncomfortable, until I couldn't take it anymore.

I shifted in my chair, turning toward Alice. "You know what?" I said, keeping my voice light. "We should make a plan. For the rest of this trip."

Alice opened her eyes, looking at me. "A plan?"

"Yeah. Like—ways to make this whole thing more bearable." I paused, choosing my words carefully. "Come on, let's start the plan to help you forget someone for a while. To hang out with me instead of being stuck—" I didn't finish the sentence. I didn't have to.

Alice's expression softened slightly, but she shook her head. "Cecilia, I don't think—"

"What if we did our own thing tomorrow?" I pressed on. "Just us. We could go into town, do some shopping, grab lunch—"

"Max thinks I don't love him, honestly, I don't even know myself. So he keeps me tied right by his side."

The words came out flat, defeated, and they hit me like a punch to the gut.

I clenched my jaw, frustration boiling up inside me. "Then what if Arthur and Carter get involved? We split up—girls do our thing, guys do theirs. Max can go with them."

Alice hesitated, and I saw a flicker of hope in her eyes before it died. "He won't go for it. He'll say he wants to stay with me."

"Not if Carter makes it sound like a guy thing," I said quickly. "Snorkeling, fishing, whatever. Arthur can back him up. Make it seem like it's their idea, not ours."

Alice bit her lip, and I could see her turning it over in her mind. "I don't know..."

"It's worth a shot, right?" I said. "At the very least, it gives you a few hours. A few hours where you don't have to—" I stopped myself again.

Alice looked down at her hands, and when she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "Okay. We can try."

Before I could respond, Sophia spoke up.

"I know where we should go."

Both Alice and I turned to look at her. Sophia sat up slightly in her chair, her expression tentative but earnest.

"There's this little cove about twenty minutes from here," she said. "It's private. Crystal-clear water, white sand, perfect for swimming. I went there with Carter last year." She hesitated, then added, "I could take you. Both of you."

I glanced at Alice, trying to gauge her reaction. Her face was unreadable.

"What do you think?" I asked her softly.

Alice was quiet for a long moment. Then she let out a slow breath and nodded. "Okay."

I blinked. "Okay?"

"Yeah." Alice met my eyes, and there was something fierce in her gaze now, gave Sophia a sharp glare. "If I could forget Max temporarily, she seemed acceptable too."

Sophia's face crumpled with relief, but she didn't say anything. Just nodded and looked away, blinking rapidly.

I reached over and squeezed Alice's hand. "Alright then. Tomorrow, we're going to that cove."