Chapter 494 Luxury Cruise Ship

Chapter 494 Luxury Cruise Ship

"Marigoldia? We're at sea?" Alice struggled to sit up.

Zaid quickly pressed her shoulders down. "You need to rest right now, okay? Come on, don't think about anything else. Just rest."

Alice felt dizzy the moment she tried to get up and collapsed back onto the bed.

Zaid tucked the blanket around her. "Be good. Don't think about anything. Rest is what matters most right now."

"No, Zaid, tell me what's really going on." Alice stubbornly grabbed his hand. "And my mom..."

Her voice choked up, unable to continue.

Was her mom really dead?

If she could survive near death, what about her mom?

Thinking about her mom's death, about that artificial heart battery, Alice's body wouldn't stop trembling. Fear consumed her entire being, and tears finally broke free.

If her mom were dead, she'd truly be all alone with no family left.

"Zaid, please, tell me—is my mom really dead?" She buried her face against Zaid's arm, her tears soaking through his shirt.

Zaid looked down at her, then finally pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back. "Alice, your mom isn't dead."

"Really? You're not lying to me?" Alice's head shot up.

Zaid nodded slightly. "Yes. Right after the incident, Michael's people arrived and took her straight to Majestic City by helicopter. Uriah helped arrange the hospital there, and she's already received a matching heart."

"A matching heart? You mean my mom got a suitable heart?" Alice felt overwhelmed by the emotional whiplash, her mind spinning.

So her mom wasn't just alive—she actually got a matching heart? How was that possible?

After waiting all these years, with the only suitable heart stolen by Aurora's father, now there was suddenly another one available?

"Alice, I wouldn't lie to you." Zaid gently stroked her hair.

"But her artificial heart battery was stolen, she..." Alice hesitated.

With Ivy's condition, she probably couldn't last more than a few hours. Could she even survive surgery?

Zaid got up and pulled out tissues to wipe her tears. "Yes, Michael had everything arranged from the start. Lucky he was so thorough, and your mom was fortunate enough that a matching heart became available."

"Michael's people got her to the Majestic City hospital within three hours. She's using a fake identity, so no one will find her."

Zaid pulled out his phone, showing her a video.

Ivy lay peacefully in some ICU room.

"Michael arranged for an international medical team. The surgery was successful—your mom is fine."

Watching her mom in the video, Alice gripped the phone tightly.

Michael?

Did Michael do all of this?

Alice stared at Zaid in a daze, unconsciously touching her chest.

So it was all an act? Was Michael's gunshot an act too? Even their wedding?

After a long moment, Alice finally spoke. "So it was all a performance for the four major families, wasn't it?"

Zaid hummed in agreement, his expression somewhat melancholy. "Yes. If the other three families retaliated, he couldn't handle it alone. Not to mention his stepmother isn't someone easy to deal with either."

Thinking of Serafina, Alice's expression turned cold.

Serafina was truly cunning. All these years, she'd been sowing discord, and Alice never saw through her true nature.

But those final words Serafina said had obvious holes in them.

She claimed she was the last to arrive at the scene, that Ivy was already dead, yet she could accurately describe Michael's people taking Ivy away, even mentioning the thief.

Alice bit down hard, hating herself for not thinking clearly at the time.

Such obvious inconsistencies, and she hadn't noticed!

Pain shot through her palm—her nails had dug deep enough to leave marks.

She suddenly thought of Michael's hand, already pierced through by her dagger, and her heart began to ache uncontrollably.

"How is he?" Alice's voice was barely a whisper, trembling.

She didn't know Michael's current condition, but at least his hand must be in terrible pain.

Michael was actually afraid of pain—she'd known that for a long time.

But remembering his expressionless face at the time, Alice felt like her heart was being carved up.

Why couldn't she have thought more carefully? Why did she let herself be so blinded?

"Don't think about that now. Michael will be fine." Zaid comforted her. "You have a baby in your belly. Even though everything's okay now, you were traumatized and need proper rest. For the baby's sake, you should rest."

Baby?

Only then did Alice instinctively ask, "So I'm really pregnant?"

"Yes. Take the vitamins first, and a doctor will come examine you later." Zaid handed Alice the pills.

Alice thought for a moment, then swallowed them without hesitation before drifting into drowsy sleep.

Now that she was carrying Michael's baby, she really should rest properly.

But her sleep wasn't peaceful—she kept dreaming without being able to wake up.

In her dreams, she kept dreaming of Michael.

Michael kept pulling her hand, running forward endlessly.

He never looked back, but his grip grew tighter and tighter.

"Alice, trust me. Don't let go."

"Take care of yourself and the baby..."

Michael's figure grew more and more blurred until he finally released Alice's hand.

"Michael! Michael! Michael!"

Alice woke up from the nightmare.

Even though everything in the dream world was fuzzy, she just felt that something had happened to Michael.

She desperately wanted to find her phone to check on Michael's situation. If something had happened, the news would definitely report it.

But there were no electronic devices anywhere in the room.

Alice took a hot shower, then changed into a loose dress and flats before leaving the room.

The moment she stepped out, she was stunned.

If Zaid's yacht could be considered luxurious, then this cruise ship was both massive and luxurious.

Rows upon rows of rooms, as if she were in some high-end hotel.

Attendants everywhere, and the people on the cruise all seemed far from ordinary.

Alice recognized some from international news, while others, judging by their dress and demeanor alone, were clearly wealthy and powerful.

Alice walked the entire way without seeing anyone familiar.

It wasn't until she reached the end of the corridor that Hatty hurried over. "Ms. Baker, why did you come out?"

"Where are we?" Alice asked quietly.

She was certain this was no longer Zaid's yacht. Through the corridor windows, she'd even spotted a helipad and what looked like a parking garage.

The cruise ship also had high-rise buildings—such luxury left her completely shocked.

Even having traveled to many countries with Michael, this was only the second time she'd been on such a cruise, the first being at some foreign dignitary's birthday celebration.

Hatty followed behind her, explaining, "This is Aetheria's royal family's Arthur Royal Cruise. They're holding a royal party here to celebrate the Aetherian king's birthday."