My Manor

"Jiang, here are your drinks and the grilled meat." Holding a glass of juice and a plate of grilled beef, Afra walked into the captain's room and smiled at Jiang Hai, who was focused on the satellite navigation while steering the boat.

Since boarding the ship, Afra and the others had returned to their respective rooms. There weren't enough rooms for everyone to have their own, so they naturally shared. Except for Jiang Hai, who had a room to himself, the others were paired up. Fortunately, they didn't mind. After settling in, they changed into swimsuits. Though they couldn't swim in the sea while the ship was sailing, that didn't stop them from enjoying themselves on the deck.

Unknowingly, it was already noon, so they started preparing lunch on the grill.

While the ship's kitchen was fully equipped, it wasn't quite the same as cooking at home. Still, they decided on a barbecue. With the fire already lit, the meat was cooking nicely.

"Oh, thank you." Jiang Hai set the satellite route before turning around with a smile—only for that smile to freeze.

Afra was wearing the same bikini she had worn on the beach that day. He had seen her in it before, but now, it brought back memories of what could have happened if that meddling Qin Feng hadn't interrupted. Something extraordinary might have occurred between him and the stunning woman in front of him.

"Eat something first." Seeing Jiang Hai's stunned expression and the heat in his gaze, Afra's face flushed. She felt a bit shy but enjoyed the attention. Taking a step closer, she straightened her posture and whispered to him, relishing his reaction.

"Oh… ah, thank you!" Snapping out of his thoughts, Jiang Hai smiled, a little embarrassed, and took the juice and barbecue from her hands.

Whether intentional or not, his fingers brushed against hers.

Afra's blush deepened, but to her disappointment, Jiang Hai didn't take things further. Instead, he simply took the food, returned to his chair, and started eating. He had to admit, though it wasn't beef from his own manor, the girls' grilling skills far surpassed his own. The flavors were excellent.

As Jiang Hai ate, Afra didn't leave. She sat across from him, gazing at him intently.

For her, Jiang Hai occupied a strange place in her heart. She really liked him—but it wasn't love. Even though she had regained her best condition, she still saw herself as unworthy, tainted by her past. Not fit to be a wife, nor even a lover.

Afra just wanted to be by Jiang Hai's side, to serve him, to be useful in whatever way he needed.

She knew she wasn't suited for intellectual tasks, nor was she particularly strong. But offering herself? That might be the best contribution she could make. Yet despite her repeated hints, Jiang Hai always maintained his distance. She could tell he was attracted to her, but for some reason, he always held back. She understood—he didn't want to hurt her. But what she wanted was for him to do just that. He really had no talent for these things.

"You guys did a great job. What's on the grill now?" Jiang Hai quickly finished his plate, licking the sauce from his lips with satisfaction.

"We're grilling chicken and pork belly now. Honestly, we're not that skilled, but the charcoal grill makes the meat taste better than an oven. Plus, with scenery like this, the food isn't the most important part." Afra smiled.

Jiang Hai followed her gaze out the window. The view truly was breathtaking—blue skies, white clouds, and a sea as vast and brilliant as the sky. The warm sunshine completed the picturesque scene.

"Aren't you coming out to play with us?" Afra asked hesitantly as she gathered the empty plate and cup. She hoped he would join them.

"I can't. I need to monitor our position. Have fun." Jiang Hai shook his head. In truth, he wouldn't mind watching the other beauties outside in their swimsuits, but he had responsibilities.

Afra shrugged, causing her upper body to bounce slightly, then turned to leave. "Alright, I'll bring you more food later!"

Watching her walk away, Jiang Hai smacked his lips. He wasn't oblivious to Afra's feelings. In fact, it wasn't just her—Dinah Taylor, Hilda Leonard, Becky Hall, Sheila Rodney, Otilia Kershoff, Bridget Nelson, and Janice Joy all had similar feelings.

He wasn't sure if they genuinely liked him or if they simply wanted to repay a favor. If he wanted to be with them, they wouldn't refuse; in fact, they would likely take the initiative. Afra had even joked before that they wouldn't mind if all eight of them were together.

But Jiang Hai cared. He wasn't a gentleman, nor was he hesitant when it came to pleasure. But he would get married and have children someday. If nothing unexpected happened, Afra and the others might stay in his manor for the rest of their lives. He couldn't give them a real status. And if something did happen, it would only make things awkward, not to mention that his future wife might not accept such a situation.

If he started something with them, he wouldn't be able to cast them aside afterward.

That's why he restrained himself, even if it made him seem like a rabbit avoiding the grass near its burrow. He wasn't exactly brave in this regard, and it was frustrating. The constant temptation was enough to make anyone miserable.

Beautiful women were offering themselves to him, and he was in a state of wanting but unable to act. It was suffocating.

In the past few days, he had relieved his frustration more often than when he was in Winthrop.

He had considered finding someone else for relief, but with these girls watching him so closely, it was nearly impossible.

"Beep, beep, beep…" Just as Jiang Hai was lost in thought, the satellite GPS alarm went off.

On the vast ocean, with no strong winds, it was easy to get lost while sailing. His destination wasn't land or an island but an unmarked spot in the ocean. When he was alone, it didn't matter—he simply followed the coordinates. But now, with the ship carrying others, he needed to avoid large cargo routes and stay on course.

That meant no autopilot. He had to make manual course corrections constantly.

This was the real reason he hadn't joined the girls outside. Fortunately, after hours of sailing, he had finally reached his destination. According to the GPS, the ship was now above the trench he had been searching for. The sonar confirmed his suspicions—the depths below were immense.

Jiang Hai grinned. The first step was complete. The journey had taken time, but they had arrived.

He stopped the boat slightly off-course from the trench and let out a breath of relief.

Now, it was time to prepare for the night's mission. Not only was he retrieving the armor, but he was also after jewelry worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Glancing at the sonar data, Jiang Hai left the captain's room and returned to his cabin. He needed to check his preparations.

"Hey, Jiang Hai, you're here!" Darlene greeted him with a smile.

"I felt the ship stop. Are we there?" Marian looked up and asked.

Jiang Hai nodded. "Yeah, we'll stay here for the night and head back tomorrow." He ruffled their hair with a grin.

Though they didn't understand his plans, Darlene and Marian were obedient. They knew they were here to have fun, but Jiang Hai had important business.

He had work to do tonight.