Isabella paused what she was doing as she looked at everyone else in the luxurious changing room.

Not only Zoe was curious about how she looked under the oversized face mask and the baseball cap, but everyone else was staring at her as well.

The silence in the room stretched and before Isabella could figure out how to respond, Diana interrupted the tense standoff.

The mature blonde woman stepped forward, her cheeks dusting with a shy pink as she tried to defend her Stepson’s friend.

"Zoe, you can’t force her," Diana told her daughter immediately in a soft but firm voice. "She can choose to hide her face if she wants to. This is an invasion of privac—"

"Mom," Zoe interrupted, letting out a long, exasperated breath.

Zoe rested her hands on her hips and turned her gaze back to Isabella looking very unapologetic about it which was classic Zoe.

"I’m not the only one interested, and I’m not saying you should either, but I’m just curious," Zoe said, gesturing around the room at the other girls. "Though if you don’t want to, please forget I said so. It’s not like you’ll be able to wear that thick mask to the massage room anyway."

Isabella sighed.

The logic was sound.

Trying to get a professional, full-body hot stone massage while wearing a stifling face mask and a tight cap would just be miserable and besides, these girls were with Wren.

They were his inner circle on this cruise.

’It’s not like they are complete strangers...’ Isabella thought as her shoulders dropped in defeat.

"Fine," Isabella said.

She reached up and pulled on her cap. She removed it from her head, tossing the fabric onto the wooden bench beside her bag.

Her long, stunning blonde hair immediately tumbled down, cascading over her shoulders in a messy, golden wave. Then, she reached for the loops behind her ears and took off her face mask, exposing her flawless, magazine-cover features to the bright lights of the changing room.

She used her hand to adjust her hair, running her fingers through the tangled strands, and looked right at Zoe.

"Happy now?" Isabella asked.

Honestly, she wasn’t expecting anyone in this random group to recognize her especially since Wren and Dani hadn’t recognized her. She assumed they didn’t follow the high-speed racing circuits but it seemed to be otherwise.

"Wha— Wha—"

Priya started trembling.

The girl’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates with her jaw dropping open. It seemed like the girl wanted to go into a literal state of shock.

She gasped for air, her knees wobbling, before she immediately rushed forward across the carpeted floor. She reached out and took both of Isabella’s hands in her own, squeezing them tight.

"I am a big fan!" Priya practically screamed as her voice vibrated with sheer excitement. "I watch all your races!"

Isabella blinked, the sudden physical contact catching her off guard then, her memory sparked. She remembered Dani mentioning something about a friend in the cabin back when they were there.

"Oh, you’re Priya?" Isabella asked, her lips curving into a polite smile. Hearing her idol say her name made Priya tremble even harder. Her face flushed a brilliant shade of crimson.

"You know my name?" Priya asked, her voice squeaking in disbelief.

Isabella nodded her head.

"I was told by Dani..." she explained smoothly.

Immediately, Dani stepped forward, laughing nervously as she grabbed Priya by the shoulders and physically dragged her starstruck friend back a few paces to give the famous driver some breathing room.

"Down, girl." Dani teased.

Across the room, Zoe’s eyes glittered all of a sudden.

"Y-you’re a celebrity," Zoe said as she lost all that threatening look at once... Now she looked as if she was innocent...

Isabella felt a cold chill run down her spine.

The way the young woman looked at her sent off warning bells in her head. It was as if Zoe was looking at her as if she was a golden opportunity or a stepping stone for something else.

But before Zoe could push the issue further, Leah stepped forward from the back of the group.

The purple-haired girl moved with an effortless grace. She ran a hand through her vibrant hair, pushing the strands out of her emerald green eyes, as she extended her other hand forward for a formal handshake.

"Isabella Leeves..." Leah said with a small smile. "I of course knew that you were on the ship, but I didn’t expect you to be with Wren. That was a surprise."

Leah didn’t wait for Isabella to recover from the shock of being tracked as she kept her hand extended.

"I’m Leah Merrett," Leah said, her green eyes glinting in the vanity lights. "The second daughter of Isabel Merrett... It’s pretty nice to meet you. I’m a fan."

’I knew it...’ Isabella thought.

The pieces fell into place with a heavy thud.

The ejection of the guy that Wren beat up... The VIP Ivory Suite... The sudden, extreme luxury treatment... The receptionist’s frantic reaction... Isabella took Leah’s hand and shook it immediately, feeling the firm, confident grip of the billionaire heiress.

’This girl is related to her...’ Isabella thought, her pulse quickening.

Though it did make her a bit scared to be in the presence of someone who basically owned the island they stood on, Isabella couldn’t help but wonder about the strange social dynamics at play.

How in the world was she best friends with Wren in the first place? Wren was a cool person, laid-back and reliable, but it wasn’t like he was that rich.

He didn’t wear designer clothes or act like he came from an extremely wealthy family. So why did they become friends in the first place?

She usually thought these Nepo babies liked to hang out with people who had equal opportunities and bank accounts like them so the pairing made zero sense.

However, as the unsaid tension rose between the two high-status women, Diana immediately cleared it up.

The mature woman raised both of her hands up, clapping them together softly to draw everyone’s attention.

"Why don’t we all wear our robes?" Diana suggested, her gentle voice cutting through the thick atmosphere. "Before the therapists arrive?"

Leah smiled as she removed her palm from Isabella’s grip.

"Alright..." Leah said.

The girls turned to their individual changing stations.

The rustle of fabric filled the private room. Isabella unbuttoned her denim shorts, letting them fall to the floor, and pulled her light top over her head.

The cool, air-conditioned breeze of the spa brushed against her bare skin and she stood in just her silk underwear, shivering slightly, before she reached for the hanger.

She pulled the thick, plush white spa robe off the hook and slid her arms into the long sleeves.

The material was incredibly soft, smelling faintly of expensive lavender detergent. Isa pulled the lapels tight across her chest and tied the thick fabric sash securely around her waist, ensuring nothing was exposed.

Around her, the other girls mirrored the action, shedding their street clothes and wrapping themselves in the pristine white robes provided by the luxury establishment.

"Ready?" Dani asked, slipping her feet into the provided soft slippers.

They all nodded. The group walked out of the women’s changing room with the double doors swinging open in unison.

At the exact same time, the oak doors on the opposite side of the suite clicked open.

Wren walked out. He stepped onto the polished marble floor of the main suite, adjusting the collar of his own white robe.

The thick fabric draped perfectly over his broad shoulders. He had left the top section slightly loose, exposing the defined, muscular lines of his chest and collarbone and his blond hair was slightly damp from his quick shower back in the cabin leaving the stray strands falling effortlessly across his forehead.

Isabella stared at him with her breath hitching for a fraction of a second.

’He looks pretty handsome in that...’ Isabella thought as a sudden wave of heat rushing to her cheeks.

Before the silence could stretch into awkward territory, the main entrance doors to the Ivory Suite glided open.

The professionally dressed attendant who had guided them earlier arrived again, stepping into the massive room with a bright welcoming smile.

Right behind her, a line of seven professional therapists marched in, all wearing immaculate white uniforms.

With the seven tables in the room, the entire group would be serviced simultaneously by all of them. The attendant stopped in the center of the room and clasped her hands together.

"Is this your first time in a luxury spa?" the attendant asked with her eyes scanning the group of adults. Wren, Diana, Zoe, Priya, and Dani all nodded their heads eagerly while Leah and Isabella, however, stood still and shook their heads.

"No..." Leah and Isabella said in near unison.

The attendant offered a gracious smile, acknowledging their experience.

"For those of you joining us for the first time, welcome," The attendant said. "I will give you a brief tour. The steam shower is to your left, perfect for opening the pores, and the grand jacuzzi to your right is heated to an optimal relaxing temperature. Your therapists here are the best of the best on Ivory Island, trained in deep tissue, hot stone, and restorative massage techniques."

The seven therapists stepped forward, fanning out across the room. Each one stood patiently beside one of the padded, heated massage tables.

The tables were covered in crisp white linens, with fresh tropical flowers resting on the pillows.

"Please, choose a table and make yourselves comfortable," the attendant instructed. "The session will last for ninety minutes."

The group dispersed with the girls chattering excitedly in hushed whispers as they picked their spots.

Wren walked over to the table stationed nearest to the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. The turquoise ocean stretched out endlessly behind the glass as the sun was reflecting off the gentle waves.

His designated therapist, a young woman with a calm professional demeanor gestured to the plush surface.

"Face down, please, sir," the therapist instructed softly. "And untie your robe a bit..."

Wren nodded.

He untied the sash of his robe, letting the thick fabric part just enough to slide his arms out.

He kept his lower half covered as he climbed onto the table, lying flat on his stomach and resting his face in the padded circular cradle at the top.

The therapist pulled a warm, heavy blanket over his legs, ensuring his modesty, and then reached for a sleek bottle of massage oil resting on a nearby tray.

She rubbed her palms together, warming the slick oil between her hands. The rich scent of eucalyptus and sandalwood filled the immediate air.

"I will begin with your upper back..." The therapist said with her voice dropping to a soothing whisper.

She placed her hands flat against his broad shoulder blades.

The moment her palms made contact with his skin, she paused as her fingers probed the dense, hard muscle fibers running along his spine.

"Ah, Mr. Wren~" The therapist hummed with her voice rising slightly in surprise. "You are quite tight here."

She leaned forward, using her body weight to drive her palms deeper into the tense muscles. She found a massive knot sitting right below his shoulder blade and the therapist pressed the heel of her hand directly into the center of the tension and pushed down hard. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

CRACK!

A loud, sharp pop echoed through the quiet suite as the joint decompressed.

"Mmmph~"

Wren let out a deep groan immediately.

The sound was rumbling from the very bottom of his chest and vibrating through the quiet room.

At the adjacent tables, Isabella and Leah both stiffened. Their heads snapped toward Wren’s direction, though their faces were currently buried in their own massage cradles.

The therapist moved her hands down an inch, her thumbs digging mercilessly into the muscles running alongside his spine.

She hit another solid knot of built-up stress, left over from his near-drowning experience and the constant tension of the cruise.

She pressed down with her knuckles, twisting her wrists to force the muscle to yield.

CRACK!

"Nghh~ Fuck~"

Wren groaned again.

Zoe and Dani exchanged wide-eyed glances from their respective tables and Priya squeezed her eyes shut with her fingers gripping the edges of her linen sheets.

The therapist’s face flushed a deep, sudden red.

She swallowed hard, her professional composure slipping for a fraction of a second as the low vibration traveled up her arms. She moved her hands to his lower back, finding the thick bands of muscle resting right above his hips.

She locked her elbows and leaned all her weight into a brutal, targeted push.

CRACK!

"Haaah~"

Wren exhaled a long groan and every single woman in the Ivory Suite froze.

Diana’s face turned the color of a ripe tomato with her heart hammering against her ribs as Isabella bit down hard on her bottom lip and even the professional lady massaging him had a bright red face with her hands trembling slightly as she continued to work the oil into his skin.

Why did he sound so erotic?