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Will I finally get the answers? Will I be at peace, something that has eluded me since that morning when I found her still in her bed, a bottle of sleeping pills empty by her bedside?

Will I finally stop blaming myself?

Heart heavy, I make my way to the cruise ship entrance, knowing the porters will take care of my luggage.

“Welcome aboard The Orchid Royale, Dr. Lin.” A stewardess dressed in a lavender sheath dress smiles as I cross the threshold.

My eyes widen at the instant recognition. I’m a nobody in these circles. But then again, this is The Orchid on water. I shouldn’t expect anything less.

She hands me a brochure on thick card stock. “Your stateroom is specifically tailored to your tastes. The information is inside. Your room has a biometric lock, which can only be opened with the fingerprint you provided in your application to The Orchid.”

I thank her and follow the passengers in front of me, my attention riveted on the brochure.

Name:The Orchid Royale

Class:White Orchid-Class Ultra-Luxury Vessel

Length:750 ft

Decks:10 guest-accessible (plus restricted floors for staff, logistics, and The Bridge)

Cruising Speed:20 knots

Guest Capacity:500 (max)—never over 60% booked for maximum exclusivity

Crew-to-Guest Ratio:1.5:1

Flag:Private registry

Designedin collaboration with Swiss naval engineers, Japanese spa architects, and Parisian interior designers,The Orchid Royaleis more than a ship, it’s a sanctuary that sails.

Whistling under my breath, I marvel at the over-the-top luxury described, from the Twilight Cinema on the sky deck to the multiple specialty spas, infinity pools, and exclusive restaurants featuring the top chefs of the world. The staterooms are one of a kind as well. Unlike typical cruise ships, each suite comes with a full gourmet kitchen with gas stoves—I honestly don’t know how this is to safety code, but where there’s a will, there’s a way—housekeeper and concierge services, all the bells and whistles.

And of course, The Orchid, even on water, isn’t complete without the Rose floors, which in this case, span decks nine and ten. Now I understand why, despite us docking at each location for a few days, the itinerary doesn’t mention moving to hotels on land.

There are probablynohotels that can match the features and luxury offered aboard.

Soft laughter reaches my ears and I look up, my breath stalling when I see the towering entryway atrium—three stories of clear glass, backlit with warm lighting, large crystal chandeliers dangling from the ceiling, the lights reflecting off the pale marble floors.

Everything glitters and shines. I’d imagine Mount Olympus from Greek mythology looked something like this.

My mind swims back to Rex’s expression last night when I hedged my barely veiled threats, banking on him wanting this cruise to succeed because he had something to prove.

As I scan my surroundings, taking in the delicate florals—vibrant hydrangeas, lavender, orchids, twisting vines—the modern and sleek chaise lounges and sofas placed throughout the welcome lobby, I can only imagine how much work he’s put into it. If this venture flopped,it’d be hard for any company to absorb the losses, even if the entity was Fleur Entertainment Holdings.

But why is he trying to prove himself?

He’s the chief marketing officer and successful by any measure. Why does he look so troubled?What is the playboy prince hiding?

The questions propel me to deck five, where the wellness pavilion and medical bay are located.

The latter is abuzz with activity—two nurses in lavender scrubs bustling around the brightly lit space. The decor is modern hospital meets minimalistic spa—white walls, marble floors, LED screens, chrome accents throughout.

A redheaded nurse with a pixie cut glances my way, her lips curving into a bright smile before she hurries toward me.

“You’re Dr. Lin, right? I’m Jessa, the day shift triage nurse. We’ve been waiting for you, since the other doctors here are men. It’ll be nice to have another woman on the team. That’s Fiona.” She points to the Asian nurse, who waves at me. “There are six of us and we rotate shifts. Want me to show you around?”

“Lead the way.” I grin, liking her bubbly personality already.