Page 56 of Below the Deck

Because if Rory hadn’t done the things he was being accused of here, he wouldn’t have given in to this despicable extortion so easily, would he? Her husband was clearly desperate enough to do pretty muchanythingto keep these accusations from getting out. If it were only unsubstantiated rumour, he wouldn’t have been so scared by the threat of the recordings being leaked.

Talia picked the phone back up and forwarded each of the emails in the folder – attachments included – to her own email address. She would need this evidence for whatever legal battle was to come. The emails wouldn’t be sent until the power came back on, but she had no intention of allowing Rory anywhere near this phone until well after that happened. She put it away again, feeling the tears dry on her cheeks, listening to the swell of the sea.

‘Are you all right, Talia?’ Eleni was leaning forward, looking at her from along the sofa; her eyes weren’t the only ones she’d felt on her the entire time she’d been reading.

Talia got to her feet so quickly she felt a rush of dizziness, and stumbled towards the toilets adjoining the salon.

She stepped inside and locked the door behind her, catching sight of her reflection in the mirror. Clearly, she wouldn’t have been able to hide her distress in the salon: streaks of mascara stained her cheeks, her eyes were red and her face blotchy.

She collapsed into heaving, breathless sobs.My marriage is over.

Perhaps, deep down, she’d already known that. Maybe thatwas why she’d been drawn to another man. Not that she wanted to be with her lover now, either. She’d seen things, on this trip. He wasn’t who she thought he was. No; perhaps she wouldn’t be withanyman. And maybe that wouldn’t be so awful. Hadn’t she only recently read a piece in the Sunday supplement about how women who lived alone tended to not only be healthier and happier, but were able to actually rewire their entire nervous systems for the better, because their brains and bodies could finally relax?

She picked up the hand towel and dabbed gently under her eyes.I can survive this.She’d manage without Rory’s financial support if she had to. She had some savings of her own, and the inheritance from both her parents that she’d tucked away. Perhaps she wouldn’t be able to keep up the lavish lifestyle she’d been accustomed to, but she’d be all right. She could ask for more days at work; cut back on some of her luxuries. She could start shopping at Sainsbury’s rather than Waitrose.See?She still had her sense of humour. This wouldn’t be the end of her …

She looked at herself in the mirror.I’ve just got to get through the next few hours.She could hide in the cabin, keeping her distance from both Rory and her lover, under the pretence of a migraine perhaps, until tomorrow. Then she could go home and start making plans for a formal separation.

Talia knew she needed to leave the bathroom. But he was still sitting out there – the man who’d been blackmailing Rory all these months.

It all made such horrible, perfect sense now. His hatred towards Rory; his keen interest in Talia – and now that she thought about it, his attempts to get closer to the other women here too.

The evil, scheming bastard.

Sam never really cared about Talia. He wasn’t interested in protecting her from Rory’s occasional harsh words and condescending comments. He didn’treallythink she deserved ‘so much better’ than the marriage she had.

All along, Sam had only wanted more evidence to keep blackmailing her husband.

GENDARMERIE MARITIME DE POLYNÉSIE FRANÇAISE

CASE NUMBER: 247849

POLICE EXHIBIT EIGHT

Emails recovered from guest laptops on board theLusso di Mare

Date:16 March 2026

Sender:[email protected]

Recipient:[email protected]

Subject:Great meeting today

Rory,

Thanks for the meeting earlier – I thought it was very productive. I’ll look forward to receiving confirmation of my space on this year’s bonus trip.

Best,

Sam

•

Date:23 March 2026

Sender:[email protected]

Recipient:[email protected]