Chapter 113 Am I Not Right?

Chapter 113 Am I Not Right?

Shawn's brow furrowed.

He turned to Jonathan Brytus. "You guys keep drinking. Something came up—I'm heading out."

Jonathan exchanged glances with the others, instantly catching on.

He grinned. "Aw, look at you, missing the missus already. Go on, get out of here."

The rest chimed in with their own teasing remarks.

Shawn didn't bother denying it.

He took the elevator to room 1208 and knocked.

Ruth was lying on one of the beds, scrolling through her phone. Hearing the knock, she got up to answer.

Shawn stood in the doorway.

'That was fast.'

Shawn stepped inside, his gaze sweeping the room.

Two beds, each against opposite walls, with a good stretch of space between them.

An inexplicable irritation flared in his chest. He forced it down and asked, "Why the sudden room change? I booked you the best suite."

Ruth replied evenly, "The bed was too big. I didn't feel safe."

Shawn paused.

'That excuse is way too flimsy…'

He leaned in closer, his voice teasing. "Babe, you switched rooms without even telling me. You're not planning to sneak around with someone else, are you?"

He smiled as he said it, but his tone was laced with probing suspicion.

Ruth lifted her eyes to meet his, her voice cold. "Oh? You think I'm planning to do something with someone else while you're asleep? Or do I have some kind of track record that makes you this paranoid?"

Seeing her expression harden, Shawn let out an awkward laugh. "That's not what I meant. I'm just jealous, that's all. You're my wife—of course I care about everything you do…"

He moved closer, slipping a hand around the back of her neck and leaning down to kiss her.

A wave of alcohol hit her full force. Ruth's stomach churned, and her instinct was to pull away.

But in that split second, she remembered how many times she'd already turned him down lately. If she dodged him again now, under these circumstances… Shawn would definitely get suspicious.

She forced herself to swallow the nausea and kissed him back.

The moment their lips met, the essence of the alcohol mingled with the smell of cigarettes, flooding her senses.

Ruth's hand, resting on Shawn's shoulder, clenched into a fist.

Seeing she wasn't pushing him away, Shawn's hands began to wander downward.

The instant his hand touched her waist, Ruth shoved him back hard.

Shawn stumbled, staring at her in shock.

Ruth turned her head away, her tone helpless. "I'm starving. You don't want me passing out from exhaustion while we're… you know."

Shawn froze for a moment, the alcohol haze lifting slightly. He suddenly remembered Ruth hadn't eaten anything since boarding.

He wrapped an arm around her waist. "Babe, my bad. Come on, I'll take you to the dining hall."

'Finally got out of that,' Ruth thought, exhaling in relief.

Sometimes she felt like dealing with Shawn was no different from negotiating a billion-dollar contract.

Still, based on the asset liquidation Caleb provided yesterday, it wouldn't be much longer.

The dining hall was on the third deck, lavishly decorated—the very definition of 'decadent luxury.'

When they arrived, Shawn's so-called buddies called him over again.

He glanced at Ruth.

Ruth had no desire to stick around him anyway. She smiled. "It's fine. Go ahead."

"You're so sweet, babe. I'll chat with them a bit, then come right back to you." Shawn turned and walked off without waiting for a reply.

Once he was gone, Ruth scanned the room and spotted the dessert section nearby. She headed over.

As she approached, she immediately saw her favorite—crème brûlée. Only one serving left. 'Good timing.'

She reached out, but another hand swooped in and grabbed the dish first.

Ruth turned her head.

Vivian stood beside her, holding the crème brûlée Ruth had been reaching for.

She put on an innocent face. "Oh my, did you want this? I didn't see you there. So sorry."

Ruth stared at her fake performance, feeling a wave of disgust.

Most of the people on this cruise were prominent figures in North American high society.

If Vivian was here, she'd probably mooched off Mrs. Crompton's invitation again.

"Oh? So you're planning to give it back, then?"

Vivian hadn't expected Ruth to be so direct. She had wanted the crème brûlée herself, and yes, she'd grabbed it on purpose just to irritate her.

Hearing Ruth's response, she smiled and held the dish out.

"Well, since you want it 'so badly,' I suppose I can be the bigger person and let my 'sister' have it."

Hearing that condescending tone, Ruth's expression remained calm. She took the dish.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a nearby trash bin. Without hesitation, she tossed the crème brûlée—plate and all—straight into it.

'Crash—'

The porcelain shattered. The dessert was now a mushy mess.

Vivian's smile vanished instantly. "Ruth, what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Ruth let out a soft laugh. "I suddenly realized I don't like it anymore. Is there a problem with throwing it out?"

She met Vivian's furious gaze. "Oh? You look pretty upset. Want to pick it up? You do seem to enjoy picking up trash."

Vivian immediately caught the implication.

She snapped, "Ruth, are you calling Shawn trash?"

Ruth admitted it without hesitation. "So what if I am? Am I wrong?"

Vivian glared at Ruth's smug expression, her voice shaking with rage. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Shawn what you just said?"

Ruth glanced around, spotting Shawn over by the wine tasting area. She tilted her chin in his direction.

"He's right there. Go ahead. Who do you think he'll believe—you or me?"

Ruth was here just to humiliate her.

'Bitch!'

Ruth watched her tremble with anger, clearly seething, and felt a wave of satisfaction.

As she passed by, she leaned in and whispered just loud enough for the two of them to hear, "Vivian, you really are pathetic."

Vivian spun around, ready to slap her, but with so many people around, she could only swallow her fury in silence.

After finishing her meal, Ruth sat for a while longer. The horizon was beginning to glow gold.

Drowsiness crept over her. She got up and returned to room 1208.

The breeze washed over her, and her body relaxed. She fell asleep quickly.

When she woke again, it was dark. Only a small bedside lamp cast a warm yellow glow.

Ruth groggily opened her eyes. Out of the corner of her vision, she saw a figure sitting by the bed. Her heart lurched, and she snapped awake.

Instinctively, she glanced down at herself. She was still wearing the same clothes from before bed. She let out a long breath of relief.

Shawn sat beside her, watching her startled reaction with concern. "Did you have a nightmare?"