On The Way To Philippines.

Ashley eventually caught up to Tanaga in the dimly lit corridor and found him having another heated discussion with the butler. This time, the butler made it plain that he was unhappy with his boss's demands by raising his eyebrows and making irritated motions.

"However, Sir! How about if...?" The butler started to object, but he quickly stopped as he saw Ashley approaching them.

"All right!" With a defeated sigh, he conceded, "I will follow your instructions." The butler gave Ashley a sharp nod before turning on his heel and quickly departing the hallway, leaving a tense atmosphere behind him.

Tanaga made a hasty retreat up the opulent yacht's bridge's slick, polished stairs, his footfall resonating throughout the ample space.

His pulse pounded as he tried to talk to the captain and avoid Ashley, whose incessant voice echoed down the hallway behind him.

With her heels clicking on the deck, she ran after him and called out his name urgently.

"Tanaga, hold on a second! Would you please allow us to speak?" she yelled, ensuring he heard her above the soft hum of the yacht's motors. She picked up her pace, both concern and resolve, to get up to him.

The setting sun's mellow glow cast a warm, golden light on the scene, so he paused and turned to face her.

Standing on the stairs that led to the bridge, Tanaga raised an eyebrow and cast a blank glance at her, keeping his feelings well hidden under his cool façade.

He stood there, expressionless, hands in his pockets, staring at the ground while waiting for Ashley to come over. The only sound in the room was the quiet hum of the air conditioner. Speaking calmly and collectedly, he waited until Ashley was directly in front of him.

When Ashley finally reached him, he asked her directly, "What else do we need to talk about? Everything was, I believe, rather obvious. As you stated, our marriage is only a contractual agreement. You're not looking for a partner. There are no feelings exchanged. What else do we need to discuss, then?"

Ashley could tell he was angry by the way he spoke. She wasn't naive, but she was still unable to read him well enough to know what was going on inside of him when he became angry. Even though his comments stung, she chose not to show it. Instead, she composed herself into a radiant grin before speaking.

"Oh my God! I didn't want to talk about that. The terms of the contract were quite explicit. When I signed it, I did it voluntarily and accepted the conditions. If it's okay with you, I wanted to talk to you about something else." Ashley was hurting inside, yet she was still smiling.

Tanaga silently remained there, staring at Ashley's face and trying to find any hint of dishonesty. He'd always thought you could tell a person's true nature just by gazing into their eyes.

However, he watched Ashley, her eyes darting all over the place as if to avoid meeting his.

He was left confused and uneasy as he couldn't tell whether what she had said represented how she felt.

Tanaga noticed the subtle aroma of sea salt hanging in the air as they made their way to the bedroom, a continual reminder of the ship's presence.

The moment was filled with adventure and history as the hardwood floor groaned beneath their feet. Tanaga led the way, the weight of the talk falling heavily on her shoulders, and she felt a mixture of anticipation and uneasiness.

Tanaga entered the bedroom and was immediately drawn to the warmth created by the sunshine coming in through the porthole.

As he waited for Ashley, he sat on the couch and enjoyed the feel of the plush cushions under him. Although it seemed small, the space was resonant with innumerable tales and shared moments.

Ashley walked into the room a few moments later, her face a mix of resolve and fatigue. Tanaga felt a change in the atmosphere as their eyes locked, a nonverbal understanding that laid the groundwork for the exchange that was about to take place.

Ashley didn't wait for Tanaga to extend an invitation to her. Angling her body to face him directly, she silently positioned herself alongside him, determined.

He leaned in, staring at her, waiting patiently for their chat to begin, the weight of her unsaid words hanging heavy in the air.

She appeared calm on the outside, but her nerves were frayed on the inside. She was so nervous that she was having trouble finding the confidence to say what was on her mind.

There was a nervous pause while she tried to gather her determination.

Tanaga's emotionless voice eventually shattered the dense quiet. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"It concerns our intended destination," she hesitantly said. "You mentioned we're on our way to the Philippines, right?"

"Yes, that is accurate," he answered. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, is it feasible for me to visit my family when we get there? Just a quick stop by. I swear that I won't try to back out or break our arrangement. I promise!" She raised her right hand as if swearing an oath and passionately crossed her heart with it.

Tanaga maintained a serious expression, but there was a smirk on the inside. Ashley's delivery of her vow gave the impression of a small kid begging for permission.

He continued to stare at her unblinking, laughing to himself. She looked at him innocently, letting him know that she was scared. He couldn't help but want to touch her cheeks since she looked so cute.

Ashley meant it when she made her commitment. She was worried that her family could be searching for her because she couldn't call them as promised.

Her older brother had told her before leaving the Philippines that he would fly to Japan if he didn't hear anything from her.

Ashley anxiously fiddled with the edge of her sweater as she waited for Tanaga to respond, her eyes wide with expectation.~~~