As the sunshine from the slit in the drapes made contact with the diamond stone on that engagement ring, it gleamed. For some reason, the mood in this room seemed really dreary. It's as though the grief - misery had permeated the entire space, from corner to corner.
The ring was worn by Ida Okino Mitsuko, a half-Japanese, half-American actress based in Japan. She secured a contract with a famous firm and has become the most successful actress in her country, making her a well-known billionaire throughout Asia.
Ida possesses practically everything a woman could desire: fortune, fame, attractiveness and a wonderful physique, a strong character and attitude. Her life would have been wonderful if her only love had never departed.
For as they all say, without love, the world is nothing. You may possess all the pleasures in the world if you pay for it, but you can never do the same for love.
A voice from the doorway of this room reverberated through the silence, breaking the ostensibly silent gloom. "You will never move on if you continue to wear it and gaze at it like that," it said.
Ida turned to face the direction of the voice and discovered her father standing inside with a warm smile. "May I come in?" said the elderly man after a soft sigh.
"Of course," Ida responded, placing her hand on her lap as she adjusted her swivel chair to face the armchair where the man would most likely sit. "He was gone too soon, dad," she began.
Ida's father hummed as soon as he sat down, gesturing for the other to continue speaking. This man was completely aware of his failure to be present for Ida at a moment when she sought all the comfort in the world. Her fiancé, Akio, who worked in politics in Japan, was just recently killed in a shooting.
"I know they got the guy responsible for Akio's killing locked away, but I feel like it's not enough," she added, her voice trembling as she poured her feelings out. "That fucking monster shouldn't just spend a lifetime in there, he should endure the same suffering he inflicted on Akio," she said, her words less guarded.
"Ida," the man cautioned, yet calmly. "Stop speaking evil of others," he continued, "justice has served him well, and the fight for Akio ends now."
"You say that because you don't feel the same way I do," Ida stated.
"You know that's not true, Ida," the man muttered, shaking his head. "I, too, lost your mother in an accident."
"Which is a whole different situation."
"Maybe you're right," he said. "But the thing about the world is that you may yell at it all you want, get angry, but it will never return what it has taken."
Ida was speechless because what her father had told her was completely right. It's a hard-to-swallow truth that once you've lost something, all you can do is go on and start over. It's really unfair, but that's the reality; nothing is ever fair.
"I saw something online that I think might help you," the man described.
"I swear to God, dad, if this is just another dating site..." Eda grumbled, tired of her father's ludicrous attempts to help her.
"I did come upon another dating site that seemed to be legitimate-"
"No!" Ida responded firmly. "Aside from every single dude in there being a man-bitch looking for nothing but hookups, most of them are also thieves," she continued. "My friends are constantly the victims of such things, and I am never going to be like them."
"Huh, are they?" the man inquired, completely uninformed that such a thing was occurring. Of course, he had never used a dating website before. And now that he knows about these things, he'll never bother anymore.
"Yes," Ida responded quickly.
"Here this one out then," he replied, only to elicit a sigh from Ida. There's nothing she can do but listen to his next nonsensical idea. "I discovered this special vacation package deal from something called Love-Free Yacht Services," he explained. "And I think it's perfect for you... It's a perfect way for you to unwind and forget things, especially those relating to love." ""I mean, that's why it's called Love-Free, isn't it?" he chuckled.
"That sounds really stupid."
"But it's a real thing, and you can look it up on the internet."
Ida stroked the crown of her head gently, saying, "I think you should take some time off the internet, dad."
Finally, Ida was left alone in peace since her father had an important meeting that needed to be handled right away. Now, it's not like she wanted to keep his company because the man's reasoning is vastly different from hers. Most of the time, they couldn't understand what each other was saying.
Perhaps it's due to the linguistic barrier as well. Tsuyoshi, her father, is a pure-blooded Japanese who only learnt English when he met Ida's mother, the love of his life. But still, there were some concepts he could never fully comprehend, making it difficult for Ida to keep up with him in most conversations.
"That Love-Free thingy can't be true, can it?" Ida wondered as she settled in front of her personal desk. And since her laptop was just sitting there, waiting to be used, she came up with one of the most radical ideas: believing in her father's crap.
"It surely wouldn't hurt to look it up," Ida said to herself, hoping that whatever it was would help her overcome the experience she was currently dealing with.
To her surprise, it was a real thing, and it was something only the wealthiest could acquire. Perhaps that's why it's never actually discussed publicly on social media.
"Thirty days?" Ida inquired, already wary of the possibility. Because, really, aside from sailors and pirates, who would want to drift in the oceans for thirty days? There couldn't possibly be so much to do in such a getaway. Also, the concept of idleness does not sit well with Ida.
"With no internet connection?" she asked, stunned by what she had just read. "Thirty days, no internet connection, completely alone... in the middle of deep oceans," Ida had to repeat several times in order for it to sink in. "What kind of lunatic would desire anything like this?"
And the answer to her query lied around in the other part of the world. Avery Quinton Jacques, a French billionaire and future heir to his father's Solar Power Production Plant, believes that there is so much freedom to be found on the open seas.
"You love me, right?" enquired a woman of color. She was holding a blanket to her chest, which covered her entire naked body. A man with dark, slightly curling hair and unshaved stubble reclined beside her. His features were angular. His eyes are blue, his brows and eyelashes are compact and lavish, his nose and jawline are razor sharp, his lips are bow shaped and somewhat pinkish. He's as attractive and captivating as the devil.
Oh, breathtaking Avery, he is every woman's fantasy.
"Well, I'm supposed to marry you, right?" Avery asked, his voice deep and raspy in the morning. He then sat up, casting a cold gaze at his fiancée. "I suppose that answers your question," he added, before dropping his foot on the floor in search of his slippers.
Vanna, the woman, remained in her position, having become accustomed to Avery's behavior. She was never going to complain about it anyway. And it's because she desires to be his wife, like any woman would.
"Of course, you will have to marry me," Vanna said simply, while witnessing Avery get up and expose his bare back to her from top to bottom.
"Vanna," he said quietly, "I'll be gone for a month."
"Where to?"
"Anyplace I'd be free," Avery replied, his gaze drawn to the distance through the wide and full glass window. Even if he strolled around with not a piece of clothing in front of it, that wouldn't be a problem because he lived in a contemporary cliff-top mansion away from the city and people.
"As long as you return before the wedding date."
"Don't worry," he whispered, "I'll come back." "I just need to live my single life to the fullest first... before anything."
