If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 57

The sea after sunset quickly darkened. With the sun’s light gone, the sea was filled with a different glow as the lights of the Mayfield illuminated the water.

The ship cutting through the waves soon anchored at a coast where the hills were clearly visible. The hillside village, filled with white houses, was adorned with colorful lights, making it look like a gigantic Christmas tree from the sea.

It seemed they had lit the lights for those aboard the ship. Though a small village probably didn’t have much money, they must have received support from the ship to keep the lights on, even though it wasn’t New Year or any special day.

Once the ship stopped, everyone began bustling around.

Passengers looking to enjoy the last party aboard, the crew preparing for it, and those looking forward to disembarking tomorrow—everyone wore bright expressions.

Only Georgiana and Henry were busy packing instead of attending the party.

As the promised time approached, Georgiana still hadn’t made up her mind. Her eyes kept drifting to the clock. Unlike her mind, which had frozen, the clock hands moved steadily, and the time agreed upon with Isabella was running out.

If she left on the boat as planned, she wouldn’t have to worry about what happened afterward. She wouldn’t see whatever Isabella did, nor would she suffer from it.

So, she had hesitantly followed Henry, but the uncertainty about what would happen to Lockwood kept holding her back. Henry, growing anxious at her repeated glances back, hurried her along.

“Miss, please come this way.”

Following Henry, they reached the stairs leading below the ship. At the bottom of the stairs was a lifeboat that could easily fit twenty people.

Henry went down first, carrying their luggage carefully down the metal steps. After setting it in the middle of the boat, he quickly returned and held out his hand for her.

“Come quickly. When going down the stairs, looking below might be frightening, so keep your gaze straight or look upward.”

“Yes.”

Nodding at Henry’s words, Georgiana reached out, but a sudden thought lit up her eyes.

Why hadn’t she thought of this before?

Georgiana’s mind raced.

Since she was disappearing soon anyway, perhaps she could tell Isabella not to worry about her because she was leaving Lockwood’s side. Maybe, with her interest in him, Isabella wouldn’t take things any further.

And if Lockwood disappeared afterward, whatever was said about them later would only be rumors in their absence.

Maybe she could leave everything else to Lockwood.

Right now, rather than going to the place Isabella had specified, she needed to find Isabella herself.

“Henry, could you give me just ten more minutes?”

“Why—why, miss? Did you forget something? If it’s something you left, I can go get it.”

“No, there’s someone I need to say goodbye to, but I forgot. I’ll just deliver a quick message.”

“If it’s not someone important, can’t you do it next time?”

Henry looked uneasy, glancing back and forth between the clock and the lifeboat.

“I have to do it now. I might not get the chance again. Please.”

“Then I’ll come with you.”

“No, it’s alright. I’ll be back quickly, so please wait here. If we get separated in the crowd, it’ll be hard to find each other.”

“You must be back within ten minutes.”

“Yes, I promise.”

Georgiana memorized the location and lifted her skirt, running faster than ever before. The party was about to start, so Isabella was likely still in her cabin getting ready.

“Oh? Juliana? Where are you going?”

Today, even the second-class passengers were freely moving around. Sarah, who was walking with other ladies, waved at her from the deck.

“I left something behind and am heading to the cabin.”

“Should I come with you?”

“No, I’ll be back soon.”

“Then join us later.”

“Yes, if possible.”

Georgiana spoke briefly, then gave Sarah a tight hug before rushing downstairs.

Recalling yesterday’s events, she easily found Isabella’s cabin. All she had to do was look for the largest door, which was also guarded by several people.

Turning the corner and approaching, Georgiana quickly hid against the wall.

Lockwood was heading to Isabella’s cabin from the opposite direction.

Why was he going to Isabella? Or maybe he was going to see Senator Edmund?

His sudden appearance left her mind blank.

Though she was so close to Isabella’s cabin, she was stuck, unable to move forward or backward. She couldn’t deliver her message in front of Lockwood.

She had no choice but to wait until he left. She was likely not going to make it back within the time she promised Henry.

After more than ten agonizing minutes of waiting, the cabin door finally opened.

Feeling relieved that she wasn’t too late, Georgiana’s eyes widened in shock at what she saw.

W-what is this?

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing and blinked repeatedly.

Though she had found Isabella, the sight before her made her unable to greet her.

Isabella left the cabin with a bright smile, her hand held by Lockwood, who was escorting her. He, too, was smiling warmly at her, looking at her with tender eyes.

The kind and gentle look—one that he rarely showed even to her—made her heart tighten painfully.

Her vision alternated between black and white.

Had they planned today just to meet behind her back?

Since both Isabella and Lockwood had arranged for her not to attend the party, it seemed plausible.

The sudden shock made Georgiana’s body sway. She tried to steady herself by holding onto the wall, but her hand, damp with sweat, slipped.

Thud.

Georgiana fell to the floor.

The carpet cushioned her fall, sparing her injury, but the shame kept her from getting up. And to have embarrassed herself in front of Isabella and Lockwood made her unable to lift her head.

Please just pass by.

She squeezed her eyes shut, silently hoping, but the familiar scent came closer and closer.

“Oh, isn’t it Juliana? Why are you here at this hour, and in such a state?”

Isabella’s eyes seemed to ask why she hadn’t gone to the designated place. Georgiana bit her lip hard.

Her gaze turned involuntarily to Lockwood. He showed no intention of helping her up, still holding Isabella’s hand. His expression, now cold as ever, looked down at her as he spoke.

“Weren’t you supposed to be with Henry?”

“I-I was, but I needed to speak with Lady Isabella first.”

“Hah… In that case, you should’ve informed me in advance, instead of showing up like this.”

His cold voice, full of disdain, cut into her heart like a dagger.

With a victorious smile, Isabella spoke in a benevolent tone, “I’m sorry Georgiana, but I don’t have time for you right now. As you can see, I already have plans. As for anything that happened before, it doesn’t matter. Please, don’t concern yourself with us.”

It sounded as if, now that she had Lockwood, she no longer needed Georgiana to follow her request.

So it really had all been a plan to get rid of her.

With a sweet smile, Isabella pulled his arm close for emphasis.

“Let’s go, Locke. We’re going to be late. Father will be here soon. I’ll explain everything about the previous incident to him.”

At her words, Lockwood nodded. Just before he took a step, Georgiana’s trembling voice called out to him.

“Was your request because of Isabella?”

“I can’t deny that, given the situation.”

He left her with a final warning, as if she wasn’t pitiful enough, still collapsed on the floor.

“If you have any sense, I hope you’ll remember what I told you.”

Georgiana couldn’t move from the spot long after they left. Her legs had no strength left in them. All her feelings for him shattered like a broken glass bottle.

The man she had believed was her one salvation—to realize that everything he’d done had been a lie made her spirit crumble. Was this the honesty he had promised to tell her in the Northwest? Did he want to pursue things with Isabella?

It was Henry, drenched in sweat after searching frantically for her, who eventually helped her up. Though surprised by her dazed state, he hurried her along, conscious of the time.

“Please hurry, miss.”

Georgiana looked up at him with vacant eyes.

Henry, his closest aide, must have known everything. That Lockwood planned to abandon her to be with Isabella. That he even prepared a boat in advance.

Perhaps that explained why Henry had been so tense, trying to avoid them.

With that realization, even Henry seemed false.

Half out of her mind, Georgiana boarded the boat.