Chapter 204 - A Fabricated Story

Madeline's POV

After eating my breakfast, I tried to look at the ocean from my window, and my dizziness became worst when I saw the water and the roaring waves of the sea. And all the food I ate during breakfast has gone to waste when I vomit again, and I don't plan to eat my lunch because I know the same thing will happen. I still find it hard to navigate going to the bathroom or to walk inside my cabin. 

And I didn't have a choice but to get back on my bed after taking the life vest, and I also picked up the lifebuoy that hung on the wall. I slowly go back and lay to my bed, and I know it may seem ridiculous for the crew member of this ship once they find out I was lying on my bed with the life vest and lifebuoy beside me, but what can I do? I am only a passenger on this boat, and I am pregnant.

I will do everything to protect my baby because I asked Gina to tell my husband that I will take good care of our child, and I don't want Hunter to think I am a careless mother. So, at least whatever happened, I am ready, but I was praying hard to survive with my baby on this journey. I haven't asked Karen yet how many days before we can reach our destination. 

I don't have any idea where they are going to take me. Still, one thing is for sure, I have my child in my womb that keeps me company, and I can't deny that right now; only my child is giving me the courage to hold on. Even if I felt so lonely and helpless, I can still feel the happiness that I am going to be a mom, and I don't want my child to be affected by what is going on with my life.. Falling in love with Hunter was the easiest thing that ever happened to me since I fell in love with him on the first night that I met him without knowing loving him would cause me so much pain, but I could tell it was all worth the pain. And now, because of him, I undergo another ordeal.

As I lay on my bed, I can hear and feel the bad weather making the waves ram the boat harder. I tried my best to look back at all the good memories with my husband and my best friend since I wanted to stop worrying about my current situation. Still, even if I experienced the worst here on the ship, I don't have any regrets because I saved Lily. And thinking about Hunter's sister now made me smile even if I still felt worried about what would happen to my baby and me to our destination, and I suddenly felt lonely when I realized I would give birth to our child without Hunter. And I was hoping my husband would find us soon.

I didn't realize that I fell asleep even if the waves continued to rock the boat. 

"Madeline! What are you doing?" Karen asked when she looked at me lying on the bed with the lifebuoy and the life vest on my other side.

"I just want to be ready at all times because I can tell anything might be possible, and these things made me feel at peace," I responded as I tightened my hold on my most valuable treasures as of the moment, and her face softened.

"Hey, nothing will happen to you while you are with us, Madeline. I promise that to you." Karen replied, and she let out a soft sigh.

"You look so beautiful and adorable." She added, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling at her.

"Thank you, and you are beautiful, too, and I wonder why you chose this kind of career where it could be so dangerous," I responded as I looked at her.

"It is a long story, Madeline, but I want you to know I enjoyed my life as a seafarer, and I love my job. Besides, I don't want to be away from my brother, he needs me, and we need each other." She said, and I could tell they were going through with something too.

"I need to go back to my post now," Karen said, and she left without taking a second look while I continued to lay on my bed, and I couldn't stop myself from wondering about Karen and her brother's life.

Karen checked on me from time to time, and every time she got inside my cabin, she would laugh at me, and I could see the amusement on her face. And if I don't only feel dizzy, and if we don't have bad weather today, I could say I will adore watching the ocean as we sail the water. 

It was already lunchtime, but I was still lying on the bed while my hands were still gripping on the bedpost because now and then, the big waves would come back and hit the ship as if the ocean got so angry with us. It was terrifying, and even if it had been hours, I still felt scared that we were going to sink. And I can tell no matter how many days I will stay in this boat, and I will never get used to this kind of situation since this is too much for me to handle.

The captain was the one who brought my food for lunch, and like his sister, he was also amused looking at me.

"Is there anything you found funny, captain?" I asked, and he looked at me in the eyes, and I could tell right away he was a good-looking man, just like his sister.

"I thought my sister was kidding me, Ms. Brownwood, but I could tell she wasn't lying at all. Are you that scared?" He asked me, and I could see the concern on his face as I nodded at him.

"I am sorry, but don't worry, Maddie, a few hours from now, the water will be friendly again, and I hope I can tour you around the boat later." He said, and I smiled at him.

"Now, it is time for you to eat your lunch." He said, and I shook my head.

"I don't think that is a good idea captain, I am pregnant, and I think I have seasickness; that is why the food I ate this morning has gone to waste right away. I will eat more later during dinner because I don't want to get up yet." I declared.

"And right now, I felt so dizzy, and it feels like the entire ship is spinning," I added.

"Okay, I understand, but you need to eat for your baby, Madeline." He answered.

"I know, but I can t afford to eat and vomit again. I felt so weak and sick right now." I said.

"Okay." He said and nodded his head, and got out of the room.

Karen was right; the ocean calmed down that I couldn't hear the loud roaring of the waves anymore, and finally, all I could listen to was the noise of the engine. When I looked at the clock, it was already six o'clock in the evening, and I was starving. I wanted to get out of my cabin for the first time because I wished to look for Karen, and before I could get out of my room, someone knocked, and when I opened the door, I found tha captain again, and he was smiling at me.

"Feeling better?" He asked.

"Yes, and I am starving," I answered, and he laughed.

"I am glad you said that. I came to pick you up because I know you got so tired from lying on your bed the entire day. Please follow me to the mess hall, Madeline." He said, and he turned his heels away from my cabin while I followed behind him, and for the first time, I looked around the boat, and I didn't want them to know this was the first time I boarded a ship. 

Karen was already in the dining room, and she was beaming at me. And the moment I sat down on the seat in front of her, the Messman served my food immediately, and I said my thanks to him. And I could hear the grumbling of my stomach as I looked at the grilled salmon and vegetable frittata in front of me. And I can tell Karen looked so fascinated as I devoured my meal because I felt so hungry. And she was smiling at me until I finished eating my food, and I think I will gain weight if I stay on this ship longer because of the food they feed me.

"Did you enjoy your meal?" Karen asked me, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling at her.

"Of course, the food is superb," I replied.

"I am glad you are finally able to eat properly." She responded as she looked at me intently.

"Are you going to your uncle's house?" She asked me, and I was stunned, and I didn't know how to react since I didn't know where I was going.

"I don't know," I replied, and I gave her an honest answer.

"So, it was true you had amnesia?" She asked.

"What?" I asked her, and she smiled at me tenderly.

"It is okay, Madeline. I know what you have been through is not easy, you are still trying to recollect your past, yet you still can't remember anything; that is why your family is sending you abroad to your estranged uncle, hoping a new environment will help you remember who you are." She said, and I became speechless as I realized whoever the mastermind of all this had fabricated a story, and I could tell whatever I was going to say to them they would never believe me because they thought I had a sickness. And this is horrible, but I will do everything I can to let Karen and the Captain know who I am, and before we can reach the port of our destination, I will make sure I can convince them that I am Madeline Brownwood Divenson.