I'm simply hanging out with my nephew, Jake. That can't be harmful." Though a sparkle in his eyes suggested he wasn't backing down so quickly, he remarked with a little smile.
Jake moved in closer, his voice menacingly low. "Jeb, I told you to be careful. Avoid going too far. Emily has stated that she only wants friendship. Therefore, I won't allow you to make matters more difficult."
Jeb shrugged, his easygoing manner failing to ease the strain.
"Calm down, Jake. All I'm trying to do is be a decent uncle. Besides, Emily is a mature adult. Isn't it possible for her to make her own decisions?"
Emily stuck in the center, could feel the strain increasing and was experiencing excruciating headaches. The pain increased by the minute they continued arguing.
She was expecting a fight; she had no clue how much time Jeb had spent with them that would annoy Jake.
She stepped between them and said, "Both of you, stop."
"I agreed to let Jeb spend time with Aiden because he's his uncle, and the youngster enjoys his company. But if this causes problems, we have to set limits."
Jake's jaw tightened, but he nodded grudgingly, knowing that pushing too hard would only worsen matters.
In a submissive gesture, Jeb raised his hands. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I will back down if that's what you want."
Even after the altercation, something was broken. Despite Emily's innocence, Jake felt a profound feeling of betrayal.
The shadow of Jeb Lewis follows Emily wherever she goes, leaving Jake wondering if his brother will ever stop pursuing her or if he will continue to threaten their fragile marriage.
***
Following the strain in Switzerland, Emily decided that an actual vacation was in order. She and Aiden could spend time together on their retreat without worrying about stumbling across any old acquaintances.
She organized a trip across Asia since she understood that she and Jake needed time apart to collect their thoughts.
Sailing from country to country, away from the tumult and diversions of their daily lives, sounded like the ideal remedy.
After Emily made the reservation, she, Aiden, and Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez sailed for 15 days to see many exciting places and have novel adventures.
The voyage took place on a stately luxury ship with every conceivable facility. With first-rate entertainment and exquisite dining, the ship was a floating paradise.
It was an opportunity for Emily and Aiden to unwind and spend quality time together without interruptions from the outside world.
Even though he was still running his company in Las Vegas, Jake wanted to join them by traveling to meet them at various ports of call whenever he felt like it.
There was nothing Emily could do to appease him, so she agreed. Only at the port, he can't join them on the actual cruise.
They began their adventure in Thailand, strolling around Bangkok's colorful streets. In addition to taking in the vibrant local markets and temples, they went on a boat excursion along the Chao Phraya River.
Emily loved the quiet times away from all the commotion, while Aiden was enthralled with the city's rich culture and history.
From there, they sailed to Indonesia from Thailand and stopped in Bali.
They spent days wandering through rice terraces, relaxing on immaculate beaches, and admiring breathtaking sunsets while enthralled by the island's natural beauty.
Aiden witnessed Balinese culture through traditional dance performances, and Emily rediscovered her passion for travel and discovery.
While in Korea, they were in awe of Seoul's dynamic fusion of the ancient and the new.
There was lots for them to explore, including quiet palaces, tall buildings, and busy city streets.
They even traveled to Jeju Island, where they delighted in the unspoiled scenery. Aiden enjoyed his hike up the well-known Hallasan Mountain.
He most appreciated meeting well-known idol groups like EXODUS and getting photos and signatures.
Malaysia offered another form of exploration. They traveled to Kuala Lumpur and saw well-known sites, including Batu Caves and the Petronas Towers.
However, Aiden's favorite aspect of their vacation in Borneo was seeing the wildlife in the rainforest.
Emily observed her son's eyes brighten with delight at seeing strange creatures in their native environment.
Singapore was busy with clean streets, modern buildings, and verdant greenery. Aiden was enthralled with the Supertree Grove and the Cloud Forest Dome as they wandered through Gardens by the Bay.
Emily felt rejuvenated after her trip, knowing that choosing this ship tightened its distinct charm and cleanliness.
They delighted in Hong Kong's vibrant, fast-paced energy and breathtaking skyline.
The metropolis provided them with entertainment, from the recognizable Victoria Peak to the energetic marketplaces of Kowloon.
After enjoying a serene boat ride around the harbor while taking in the Symphony of Lights display, Aiden couldn't wait to visit Disneyland and spend the day enjoying its rides and attractions.
After that, they were greeted with open arms in China and allowed to discover the splendors of Beijing and Shanghai.
Emily and Aiden visited the Forbidden City, strolled along the Great Wall, and indulged in dim sum and Peking duck.
Aiden found great inspiration in China's old past, and Emily was overjoyed to watch her son develop while they were there.
They finally reached the Philippines. For their final destination, they visited the island of Palawan, where they bathed in crystal-clear seas and lounged in the sun on white-sand beaches.
Because of the islands' tranquility, they felt a calmness they hadn't experienced in months.
Enthralled by the warmth and natural beauty of the county, Emily even considered prolonging their stay. After Palawan, they traveled to Baguio City to experience the rice terraces.
After Baguio, their destinations were Puerto Galera, and the last was Boracay, famous for its clear blue ocean water and white sandy beach.
When it was time for them to leave, Emily had enough videos and pictures for Aiden to last him a lifetime. Seeing so much to share, she opened a social media account and began vlogging her bucket list.
She titled it "My Journey, My Memory, My Legacy _ My Bucket List."~~