A sharp scream pierced the air on the luxurious cruise ship's deck, cutting through the ambient chatter of the evening.

"Ah!"

The cry came from a woman who had suddenly collapsed, clutching her belly in apparent distress. Onlookers gasped, their attention drawn instantly to the unfolding drama. A man in a pristine white suit darted toward her, his movements fluid and filled with concern. His face was tight with worry as he helped the woman to her feet, but his gaze soon shifted to the tall, striking figure standing just across from them.

It was Charlotte Dupont.

"Charlotte, what do you think you're doing?" the man demanded, his tone sharp with accusation.

Before Charlotte could even gather her thoughts to respond, the woman, Stephanie Dupont, clung desperately to the man’s arm. Her voice was a delicate thread of manipulation, laced with urgency and practiced innocence.

"Brother Alex, please don’t be angry. It’s not her fault. It’s mine. I upset you, and now you're acting this way because of me." She turned toward Charlotte, her wide, teary eyes begging for mercy. "Sister, please, don’t be mad at Brother Alex. It’s all my fault. I should never have let things get this far."

Charlotte felt the color drain from her face as she took in the scene. Alex Monet—her fiancé—stood protectively over Stephanie, his body language screaming of loyalty and defense. His expression hardened as he addressed Charlotte once again, his words laced with judgment.

"Charlotte, how could you be so cruel?"

Cruel? The word echoed in Charlotte’s mind. For a moment, she was too stunned to respond, the weight of the accusation pressing down on her. She stared at Alex, the man she thought she knew, and yet here he was, standing so protectively beside Stephanie, his entire demeanor screaming that he’d chosen sides.

It was in that moment that the veiled hints and quiet whispers of betrayal clicked into place.

Stephanie’s words from earlier crept into Charlotte’s mind. "Do you really think Brother Alex cares for you, Sister?" Stephanie had whispered that day, her voice like a serpent's hiss. "He’s always loved me. I’m already carrying his child. Can you really bear to be his aunt? Does that make you happy?"

Now, standing on the deck under the glow of the evening lights, Charlotte's once bright, almond-shaped eyes reflected nothing but disgust. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the truth was like a dagger twisting inside her.

"Alex," she said slowly, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief, "you owe me an explanation."

Alex’s frown deepened, confusion clouding his features. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his tone frustrated, as if he were the one being wronged.

Before Charlotte could speak, Stephanie interjected once again, her voice trembling with false guilt. "Sister, I'm so sorry," she whimpered, her eyes now brimming with tears that glistened under the deck lights. "I fell in love with Brother Alex. I loved him too much, and... that's why I did this. But don’t worry, I’ll—I’ll get rid of the child."

Her words seemed to electrify the air.

"Stephanie, are you pregnant?" Alex's voice cracked with shock, as if the revelation had been a bomb detonated at his feet.

Stephanie nodded slowly, the tears in her eyes spilling over, running down her cheeks in perfectly timed drops that would evoke sympathy from anyone watching. She looked so fragile, so innocent.

"We can’t get rid of this child!" Alex blurted out, panic seeping into his voice as he looked from Stephanie to Charlotte, the weight of the situation finally crashing down on him.

Charlotte’s mind reeled. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration—a final party before her and Alex’s wedding, the union of the Monet and Dupont families. But now the celebration felt like a farce. Alex, the man she had devoted herself to for years, had betrayed her in the most unforgivable way. He had not only cheated on her, but had fathered a child with her half-sister.

The bile rose in Charlotte’s throat as the crowd around them murmured in disbelief. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to remain composed. But before she could process the betrayal, Mr. Dupont’s booming voice rang out, silencing the whispers.

"The child will not be lost!" he declared, striding toward the trio with the commanding presence that always made people stop and listen. His eyes bore into Charlotte as he said, "The child will be born, and Charlotte will raise it."

His words hit Charlotte like a slap, leaving her reeling. Raise Stephanie's child? Alex’s child? She could hardly breathe, the room spinning as though the entire deck had tilted beneath her feet.

"Me?" Her voice came out in a shaky whisper, her disbelief palpable. "That’s impossible. Alex, I’m ending our engagement right now!" The fury in her voice was growing, and she stepped back, desperate to distance herself from this humiliating charade.

But before she could take another step, a sharp, resounding slap rang out.

"Pa!"

Charlotte’s cheek stung with the force of the blow, but it was the cold, unfeeling gaze of Mr. Dupont that hurt far worse. His eyes were as hard as granite as he hissed, "Who gave you the right to say such things? Our families are bound by this marriage, Charlotte. You don’t get to call it off."

Her hand flew to her reddened cheek, her face pale with shock. "So you expect me to raise Alex’s illegitimate child?" Her voice cracked, the disbelief making her words tremble.

Mr. Dupont’s expression remained cold. "This is what it means to be the wife of a wealthy family," he stated with a kind of finality that left no room for argument. "Alex may have strayed, but at least you won’t have to deal with countless mistresses. Consider yourself fortunate."

Charlotte felt as though she might collapse under the weight of it all. Had her father known about the affair all along? The realization struck her like a punch to the gut.

Her eyes drifted to Stephanie, who stood there, a picture of innocence and remorse. And then Charlotte saw it—the necklace around Stephanie’s neck, a delicate piece of jewelry that shimmered in the dim light.

"Stephanie," Charlotte said, her voice dangerously low, "that necklace... it belonged to my mother. How did you get it?"

The crowd fell silent, waiting for what would come next.