CHAPTER 94: 94

"Papa!"

Elisa’s breath caught in her throat as Nix stepped inside, the door sliding shut behind him with a quiet click.

"What exactly did you mean by that?" he asked, his tone low but laced with curiosity and something darker.

Nix’s gaze stayed fixed on Elisa for a moment longer, his expression unreadable. The question still hung between them like fog a thick, pressing, and awkwardly intimate.

"What exactly did you mean by that?" he repeated, taking a step closer.

Elisa blinked fast, forcing a soft laugh to mask her racing heart. "Oh, that?" she said, trying to sound casual as she adjusted the baby’s blanket. "I was just saying she has your... uh, calm expression. You know, like you both have that same look of mystery that keeps people guessing."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly unconvinced. But Nyxella, oblivious to the tension, reached toward him with both hands, babbling something incoherent.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Elisa asked quickly, hoping to divert the conversation.

Nix’s eyes softened slightly as he brought forward his hand revealing the basket he was holding l. "I came to give this little one a basket of apples since she likes them," he said, holding up the fruit. "She seemed to enjoy it earlier."

Nyxella giggled, clapping her hands, and Nix smiled faintly at a rare, genuine curve of his lips. "Seems she remembers," he murmured, offering it to the little one, who took it eagerly.

As he watched her take small bites, he noticed the way Elisa held the apple for her so it didn’t fall from her tiny hand "Are you left-handed?" he asked, looking up.

"Yes," Elisa said with a soft smile. "Why do you..." Her words trailed off before she could finish, and she quickly looked away. "ask? I took after my mother according to what I’ve heard"

Nix gave a slow nod, glancing at Nyxella one last time before straightening. "Take care of her," he said simply, his tone neutral again as he walked toward the door.

When it slid shut behind him, Elisa let out a shaky breath, hugging her daughter tightly.

Six Hours Later

The gentle hum of the cruise had a lullaby rhythm, and Elisa had fallen asleep beside Nyxella, her arms curled protectively around her child. The cabin lights were dim, the golden shimmer of the sea filtering through the curtains.

A soft groan escaped her lips as she stirred awake. The clock read 6:35 p.m.the party would begin soon. Her throat felt dry, and so, carefully, she slipped out of bed. Nyxella was fast asleep, her tiny chest rising and falling in even rhythm.

"I’ll just be a minute," Elisa whispered, brushing a kiss on her daughter’s forehead before stepping out.

The hallway was quiet except for the hum of the engines and distant laughter from above deck. She walked barefoot toward the kitchen, the cold marble floor kissing her feet. As she filled her cup with water, she heard voices low and hushed in the adjoining corridor.

They were speaking in old Italian, a dialect few outside the Sorrento family even understood. But she had learned it due to her complicated upbringing and mixup.

"Luciana says if she finds out that the young madams child belongs to Nix Dean, she’ll throw the baby into the sea herself," one maid whispered.

"Santo cielo!" the other gasped. "You mean Elisa’s baby?"

"Yes. She saw them together at the port. She swore she wouldn’t let a bastard be the reason she doesn’t take her rightful place beside the Nix Dean as his wife"

The glass in Elisa’s hand nearly slipped. Her heart began to hammer painfully in her chest.

When she stepped out of the shadows, the maids froze mid-whisper. One of them, older and bold, forced a laugh. "Oh! We forgot Signora doesn’t speak Italian," she said sarcastically, her eyes full of mockery.

Elisa stared at them both, her face unreadable. "You’d be surprised what I understand," she said in English, her voice calm but razor-sharp. Without waiting for their reply, she turned and hurried down the hall.

Her chest tightened the moment she opened her door.

The bed was empty.

"Nyxella?" she called softly, panic immediately clawing at her voice. She checked under the blanket, behind the small couch nothing.

"Nyxella!"

Her scream echoed through the corridor as she burst into the hallway. Her feet carried her instinctively to the deck, the open area overlooking the dark stretch of sea.

"Please! Has anyone seen a baby here?" she shouted, her voice breaking.

A man polishing the rail looked up, startled. "I.. I saw a little girl a moment ago," he said, pointing toward the far end. "She was standing near the edge, ma’am!"

Elisa didn’t wait for more. Her heart seemed to stop as she ran to the spot, the cold sea wind whipping through her hair. There lying beside the rail was Nyxella’s tiny shoe.

Her mind went blank. And before anyone could react, she was already diving into the sea

The splash rang through the night, followed by gasps and cries. Crew members rushed to the edge, shouting for lifebuoys.

Moments later, Liam came running toward the commotion, his expression wild with confusion. When he reached the railing, he shouted over the chaos, "ELISA!" He had heard her call for Nyxella from his room and before he could even get to her to she had already jumped into the sea.

Then his eyes caught movement from the lower deck, a flash of red hair, and a child’s cry. It was actually Nix standing there, holding Nyxella safely in his arms as he tried to comfort her.

"ELISA, STOP!" Liam yelled, waving his arms. "Your baby’s with Nix! She’s safe!"

By the time she was pulled back up, she was already soaked, trembling, and coughing and an entire crowd of spectators had gathered. Among them stood Luciana, arms folded, wearing a smirk that could slice glass.

"Oh, what drama," she said mockingly. "You want to marry my brother while carrying a bastard child? Truly impressive."

Before Liam could speak, Sofia, Nix’s cousin stepped forward with a sneer. "The nerve of you! After rolling around with my cousin, you even..."

She didn’t finish her sentence.

SLAP!

The sound cracked through the night. Sofia’s face turned sideways, hair flying.

"How.."

SLAP!

Her other cheek reddened instantly. Elisa’s breaths came hard and fast, her wet hair clinging to her face.

Sofia tried to grab her wrist, but Elisa’s fury was unrelenting. Another slap. And another.

Liam grabbed her from behind, trying to hold her back, but she shoved him off, pulling the hairpin from her bun. Her hair spilled wildly around her shoulders as she turned toward Luciana.

Luciana snorted. "Oh, the wild dog bares its teeth now?"

That earned her a slap so sharp it left a handprint. Making the crowd gasp.

Luciana staggered, clutching her cheek, but before she could retort, Elisa delivered another slap and then seized her by the collar, pulling her close. The pin gleamed under the sunlight as she pressed its tip lightly against Luciana’s throat making her breath hitched.

"You bit.. "

"Enough!"

The deep voice cut through the chaos like thunder. Camillo had arrived, his eyes scanning the scene. Elisa was trembling with fury, Luciana stood frozen to the spot and Nix who had just arrived the scene was spotted by him standing a few feet away, holding his granddaughter protectively.

Elisa’s gaze flickered toward him briefly before returning to Luciana. She smiled coldly.

"I have no interest in your man, Miss Luciana," she said, voice low but steady. "And since Mr. Dean is here, let’s clear the air."

The crowd fell silent.

"I overheard the maids saying you swore to throw my daughter into the sea if you discovered he was her father.." she pointed toward Nix and a dark chuckle escaped her lips sharp, hollow, and dangerous. Her entire aura shifted, eyes gleaming like tempered glass as she stepped closer.

"Harm even a single hair on my little one’s head..." she whispered, "and I promise, you won’t see another dawn."

Luciana’s face was drained of color, not just because of the word but also her aura

Then Elisa turned to Sofia, whose trembling lips parted to speak. "And Miss Aron," Elisa said, her tone suddenly colder, "if you want Miss Luciana’s brother so badly, then be my guest.l cause I have no interest in him."

She stepped even closer, whispering the final words so only Sofia could hear.

"...That’s if you survive the night."

Sofia’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. She coughed violently, clutching her chest, while Elisa turned away calmly.

Without another glance, she walked to Nix, took her child silently from his arms, and strode past him and Camillo, her soaked gown leaving a trail of water and tension behind.

The crowd parted wordlessly as she disappeared down the corridor, her child clinging to her shoulder, and her eyes cold and burning fixed straight ahead.