When Sophia woke up, Capone was already there. They had breakfast together, followed by a lunch of Italian pasta. Then he immersed himself in work, appearing busier than ever compared to previous days.
In the evenings, he was rarely able to make it back in time for dinner. Instead, Lucy kept her company and took care of the household chores.
Sophia always went to bed early, though she hardly ever fell asleep right away. She could sense when Capone returned. He would quietly open the door, stand by her bed for a while, and sometimes lean down to embrace her, leaving a kiss on her forehead before leaving. He never took things further.
The villa remained devoid of communication devices, except for a television and a computer without internet access. Her room now had a small bookshelf, which had previously been almost empty. It was now filled with popular novels, manga, and beautifully bound books on Western desserts, which she could use to pass the time.
Capone didn't restrict her movements, but he made one thing clear: she was not allowed to go near the newly constructed small building in the backyard.
Although Sophia was curious, she didn't ask why. As long as he didn't force her into anything, she had no intention of provoking a direct conflict with him.
However, life didn't stay uneventful for long. One day, Capone suddenly sent a car to pick her up.
Joey was in the car and gave her a sidelong glance. "Get in."
"Where are we going?"
Seeing the fearful look on her face, as if worried she was being sold off, Joey chuckled. "The boss figured you'd be scared, so he sent me along with the driver. Come on, don't keep him waiting too long."
Joey brought Sophia to the port's large dock, where they boarded an unassuming ship.
It looked ordinary enough—grayish and dull, with paint peeling off its exterior. But once inside the cabin, the lavish interior rivaled that of any ultra-luxury five-star hotel.
Though Sophia had grown up in wealth and luxury, having seen her fair share of extravagance, it was her first time aboard such an opulent ship.
What struck her most was the stark contrast between the unassuming exterior and the breathtakingly elaborate interior. The visual disparity was astonishing—who could have imagined the wonders hidden within?
As they stepped into the cabin, Capone was seated on a leather sofa, a shallow glass of red wine resting on the marble coffee table in front of him.
Upon seeing Sophia, he rose and walked over, his steps cushioned by the thick, plush Persian carpet. Taking her hand, he guided her to sit down.
"What would you like to drink? Peanut milk? Walnut milk? Both are calming and nourishing—good for a girl's health and sleep."
He had already noticed how restless her nights were. Every evening when he returned late, he would find her lying in bed, her brows furrowed, and her eyelashes trembling faintly.
It was late, yet she refused to sleep—or perhaps she simply couldn't. In reality, she was just pretending, unwilling to face him.
"Whatever!" Sophia responded coldly. Looking around at the ship's abundance of amenities, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. "Where exactly are you taking me?"
"You'll know when we get there."
There it was again! That same evasive, dismissive response. Annoyed, Sophia turned her head away, not wanting to engage further. How could he never tire of such ambiguous replies?
Capone sighed inwardly, placing a warm drink in front of her. He gently turned her face back toward him and said, "To meet someone from the past. Does that answer satisfy you? If I told you everything, there'd be no point in bringing you along."
When Sophia heard him mention "someone from the past," she caught a glimmer of sharpness in his eyes. Instinctively, she knew this wasn't good. Twisting her body away, she retorted, "I don't want to go!"
"Then you'll have to swim back on your own."
With that, Capone lifted a corner of the curtain behind her. Outside, the evening had settled in, and the vast ocean shimmered under the fading light. Deep and brilliant, it stretched endlessly, with no sight of land in any direction.
Sophia's heart pounded erratically. Ever since that incident at sea with Lucas, she had developed a lingering fear of the ocean.
Unlike being in a car, where she could hop out and flag down a ride, she had no choice but to remain on the ship. Out here in the open sea, she had nowhere else to go.
The weather was clear, the waves gentle. As night fell, the steady rocking of the ship made Sophia feel drowsy.
The cabin wasn't very large, but it resembled a hotel suite. Not far away was a king-size bed, but she didn't dare approach it. Sharing the same room with Capone, she feared giving him the wrong idea, and if he made a move, there'd be nowhere for her to run.
The sofa was spacious and soft. She could lean back and try to sleep, but her head kept lolling to the sides, making it difficult to get comfortable.
Half-asleep, she seemed to find a support—a surface that was neither too soft nor too hard, broad and steady, and radiating a comforting warmth. Instinctively, she leaned closer to it.
Sophia let out a soft murmur as the support shifted slightly. Strong, enveloping arms pulled her into an embrace. Without giving it much thought, she found a comfortable spot to rest her face and drifted into peaceful sleep.
Capone held her close, watching her sleep soundly against his shoulder. Her complexion was pale with a faint flush, reminiscent of the topmost hue of the sun as it disappeared below the horizon.
He had intended to show her the sunset from the boat. Over the years, he'd witnessed countless sunsets over the South Sea alone, yearning for the day he could share that breathtaking scene with someone he loved.
But perhaps she wouldn't appreciate it. Sophia, with her lively and radiant charm, would surely prefer a sunrise instead.
Sunset watchers often carried a trace of melancholy.
Melancholy, yet defiant of fate—a combination that explained why his life had always been so arduous.
In her sleep, Sophia instinctively moved closer to the warmth, pressing herself against him entirely and wrapping her arms around his waist. Capone smiled, a mix of indulgence and helplessness. Grabbing his discarded coat from the sofa, he draped it over her, his chin gently grazing her soft hair.
The boat sailed on through the night until Capone eventually woke her.
"Lazybones, get up. We're here!"
Sophia opened her eyes groggily and peered through the gap in the curtains. Where had they arrived? Outside, it was still nothing but the dark expanse of the sea!
Capone tapped her lightly on the cheek, the gesture intimate, like that of a lover. "Still half-asleep? Come on, I'll show you something fun. You can go back to sleep afterward."
Still dazed, Sophia let him take her hand and guide her.
Strangely, she felt unusually at ease. Despite his presence beside her, she had managed to sleep so soundly—an unfamiliar comfort that surprised her.
They hadn't docked after all but instead transferred from their current vessel to a larger, more luxurious ship.
The nighttime sea breeze was harsh, chilling her to the bone and tousling her hair. Sophia hesitated, shrinking back instinctively.
Both ships were populated by tall, burly men dressed in black suits—bodyguards or enforcers, no doubt. Memories of her previous ordeal at ROYAL resurfaced unbidden, and Sophia couldn't help but wonder if this was another place for shady dealings, perhaps even a market for human trafficking.
Capone noticed her reluctance and assumed she was cold. He took off his coat and wrapped it snugly around her, pulling her tightly into his arms. Half carrying her, he guided her forward.
That simple gesture erased most of her fear.
Sophia inwardly chastised herself for her contradictions—relying on him yet distrusting him—but she couldn't help it.
The large ship they boarded appeared low-key and ordinary on the outside, but its scale was much larger. The crew showed great respect toward Capone, all addressing him as "boss," and not even daring to glance at the woman by his side.
As they entered the ship's cabin, Sophia was taken aback by the vastness inside. This was no ordinary cruise ship; the luxury and grandeur of the interior rivaled those of top-tier liners!
The cabin was spacious and lofty, with a glass dome resembling a high-end banquet hall. The sounds of lively conversation echoed throughout, starkly contrasting with the silent, dark sea outside.
Descending the stairs, Sophia fully realized the scope of the place—this enormous hall was actually a casino! There were all kinds of gambling tables and card games, even rows of slot machines!
The bustling gamblers walked on scarlet, plush carpets, while servers moved swiftly through the crowd, offering drinks and food. Once the cabin door closed, it felt like an entirely different world.
If they hadn't just come from the deck, Sophia might have thought she was in any luxurious casino in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
This... was actually a gambling ship!