Garden of May - Chapter 129
Vanessa lifted a hesitant, suspicious gaze.
Beneath the brim of the navy cap pulled low over his forehead, the man looking down at her was achingly familiar. Those vivid blue eyes that seemed to hold light within them. The deep-set gaze. Even the crooked smile tugging at his lips.
“It seems the lady’s found herself in trouble.”
Without realizing it, Vanessa let out the breath tangled deep in her chest. Relief crashed over her like a wave.
In an unfamiliar place, in the middle of a bewildering situation, was there anything more comforting than suddenly finding someone you knew?
“River Ross.”
Looking as though she might cry, she reached a hand toward him.
Half out of her mind, like a shipwreck survivor desperately clinging to driftwood after being swallowed by a storm. River Ross accepted that desperate plea for rescue with effortless grace.
The only thing improper about it was that he brazenly stripped away the lace glove still covering her hand instead of greeting her with the usual polite formality reserved for ladies.
Holding up her now-bare hand, he slowly lowered his lips to the back of it. Even as he bent at the waist, his eyes never left hers.
“…”
The warmth of his lips against her skin felt hotter than usual. Vanessa crushed down the trembling breath caught in her throat.
Dressed fully in his naval uniform, River Ross looked even more devastatingly handsome than normal. Her pulse was racing far too fast. It felt loud enough that anyone nearby might hear it if they listened closely.
Perhaps it wasn’t him who was warm. Perhaps she was simply cold. The wind had left her chilled. Even in midsummer, the breeze sweeping over the water carried the coolness of early autumn.
“How did you end up here…?”
Vanessa finally regained enough composure to speak, trying to sound calm. She was genuinely happy and very glad to see him here.
But this was hardly the right moment to show it openly. Even now, people’s eyes kept drifting toward them under the guise of indifference.
A young naval officer and a young lady together. Exactly the sort of gossip idle socialites adored.
“I was invited. Like the other officers.”
Thankfully, River stood with his back toward the crowd, too focused on looking at her to care about anyone else. And at the edge of the upper deck, the light only reached them dimly.
Between the shadow cast by his cap and the darkness around them, it was difficult to make out his features clearly.
Still, the passenger list existed. The more attention they attracted, the worse it would become. They needed to move before someone recognized either of them.
Vanessa clutched tightly at his sleeve.
“Let’s go somewhere quieter first. Anywhere people aren’t watching.”
“Right now? I do like seeing you take initiative for once.”
“This isn’t the time for jokes, River. People keep staring at us.”
“I know. Does it matter?”
“It matters to me.”
At her firm answer, a large hand rose and gently cupped her face. His thumb slowly brushed across her painted lips. As though that bothered him more than the whispers surrounding them.
Darkened eyes met her innocent gaze in the dim light. She had expected him to let go after a moment, but instead his grip tightened slightly. His thumb dragged across her parted lips, leaving them damp with saliva.
Then, breaking through the taut tension between them, River slowly lifted one corner of his mouth into a crooked smile.
“And yet I’m doing exactly what you asked. Without doing anything?”
His voice was low and teasing. The crescent-shaped smile hanging at his lips was maddeningly smug. Without doing anything at all? His eyes alone were already indecent enough.
At her silent reproach, he finally released her lips without resistance. Vanessa stared straight at him through narrowed eyes.
“You did that on purpose.”
“What?”
“Now everyone’s… looking at us.”
“Good. Isn’t that exactly what you wanted?”
“…”
“Take my arm.”
As though he hadn’t been shameless mere seconds ago, he now extended his arm gentlemanly.
Vanessa straightened her posture and lightly rested her hand against River Ross’s arm. Perhaps her nerves had become too heightened, but she could practically feel the crowd’s attention gathering behind them.
Judging. Measuring. Picking them apart piece by piece. Outwardly, she gave a calm smile as though none of it affected her. Inside, however, her thoughts were a complete mess.
Far too many people had just watched her disappear toward the cabins alongside a naval officer.
A naval officer. By tomorrow morning, those words would cling to her name like some bizarre, scandalous decoration.
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 152 - Jun 16, 2026
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 151 - Jun 16, 2026
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 150 - Jun 16, 2026
