Chapter 300!!
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"We have to go see the volcano," Margot said excitedly as we were driven to where we were going to stay.
I looked away from the lush green that surrounded us on both sides of the road and turned to her. "Yeah, let's hope it won't be like when we did it in Hawaii."
Margot laughed, remembering our hike on Maui two years ago, when the Halemaʻumaʻu crater had suddenly become more active than expected. We'd been halfway up the trail when we were told to go back. The lava lake had risen dramatically, and sulfur dioxide levels had spiked. We'd spent the rest of that day watching from a safe distance as plumes of volcanic gas billowed into the sky.
We were in the islands of Vanuatu, one of the many beautiful Pacific island nations. Located northeast of Australia, it was a place Margot had been wanting to visit for years.
Margot and I had been crossing items off a list she'd made when she was a teenager a bucket list of Pacific islands she wanted to visit. We were now four down, with Vanuatu being the fourth. Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga were already checked off.
This was also the perfect place, I'd decided, to finally ask her to marry me.
Was I nervous? Yes. Very much so. Mainly because I wanted everything to go perfectly.
I had planned to do it tomorrow. If I waited the entire week we were going to be here, I was going to go crazy. And I was sure Margot suspected something was up; she could always read me so well. The ring box felt like it was burning a hole through my backpack.
We arrived at the resort about twenty minutes later.
It wasn't a resort in the traditional sense, no sprawling complex. This was a private villa estate, something I'd specifically sought out. Exclusive, intimate, and breathtakingly beautiful.
The main villa was a stunning blend of traditional Melanesian architecture and modern luxury. Thatched roofs, open-air design, natural wood and stone throughout. The entire property sat on a hillside overlooking the impossibly blue ocean, with dense tropical forest behind it and a private stretch of white-sand beach below.
We were greeted by a small group of locals who worked at the estate. They wore welcoming smiles, offering us cold drinks, fresh coconut water and passionfruit juice as we stepped out of the vehicle.
The owner of the property, a man in his fifties named Samuel Tavala, stepped forward to greet us personally.
"Mr. Adler, Ms. Robbie, welcome to Vanuatu," he said warmly, shaking our hands. "We are honored to have you here."
"Thank you for having us," I said. "This place is incredible."
"Please, let me show you around," Samuel said.
He led us through the main villa first. Open-air living spaces with beautiful views of the ocean. A massive deck with lounge chairs and a private infinity pool that seemed to blend into the sea beyond. The bedrooms were equally stunning, a king-sized bed draped in white linen, ceiling fans turning lazily overhead, sliding glass doors opening directly onto the deck.
"Everything is locally sourced," Samuel explained as we walked. "The furniture, the art, the food we'll prepare for you. We want you to experience the true spirit of Vanuatu."
Margot was enchanted. She kept stopping to admire details: the hand-carved wooden sculptures, the vibrant paintings by local artists, some she wanted to buy to take back home. We were introduced to the rest of the small staff: Marie, a chef, a cheerful woman in her forties who promised to prepare the best seafood we'd ever tasted; Thomas, a quiet man who nodded respectfully and explained he could arrange any activities we wanted fishing, snorkeling, hiking.
After the tour, Margot wandered off to explore the deck, drawn to the view of the ocean stretching endlessly before us.
I hung back, catching Samuel's attention.
"Is everything set up?" I asked quietly.
Samuel smiled. "Yes, Mr. Adler. We'll have everything in place by midday tomorrow. Flowers, champagne, and all that everything you requested."
"Thank you," I said.
"Congratulations," Samuel added warmly.
I held up a hand, half-smiling. "Well, don't say it yet."
Samuel chuckled. "Why not? You make a very good couple so in love. I can see it."
I was about to respond when Margot came back over, curious.
"What were you two talking about?" she asked.
I didn't miss a beat. "Oh, he was just telling me about this secluded beach nearby."
Samuel picked up the thread smoothly. "Yes, it's a beautiful place. Very private. And there's a Blue Hole there as well. The water a most wonderful place for a swim… and the sunset is even more spectacular."
Margot's eyes lit up. "We have to go there first."
A response I'd expected, I thought, smiling inwardly.
"You'll have to hike to reach it," Samuel continued. "About one hour through the forest. But I will personally lead you there. And along the way, you'll see some of the most beautiful birds and animals we share this island with. It's truly special."
Margot got even more excited. "That's even better."
"We can do it tomorrow afternoon," I said, looking at Samuel for confirmation.
"Of course," Samuel said with a nod as he walked off.
Margot turned back to the view, leaning against the railing. She looked out at the endless blue expanse of ocean, the sun glinting off the water.
"We should really buy an island with all that money of yours."
I laughed. "Yeah, let's not. Billionaires and islands won't be a good look in a few years."
Margot looked at me, confused. "What?"
"Very bad optics… very bad."
"You're weird sometimes," she said, smiling.
"You love it," I shot back.
"I do," she admitted as she walked closer to kiss me.
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I put on the small backpack and walked out of the room.
A day had passed since we arrived, and it had been great. But it was finally afternoon, and it was time to go on the hike to the beach.
I saw Margot waiting for me, talking to Marie, the chef.
Margot was wearing a coral-colored tank top with a thin, open white cardigan over it, dark pants, and sturdy trail shoes. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and sunglasses rested on top of her head. She looked beautiful and ready for adventure.
I looked up at the sky. It was kind of cloudy. The sun that had dominated the day was gone, hidden behind a thick layer of gray.
Please don't tell me it's going to rain.
I saw Samuel coming over and immediately asked, "Is it going to rain? I thought it was the dry season."
"Yes, it is," Samuel said, looking up at the sky with a slight frown. "The rain won't come for another month or so. It's just a bit cloudy." He smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure it will all pass by the time you get there."
"Good," I said, exhaling.
Samuel continued, "I'll come with you until the beginning of the path to the beach and will wait for you there to guide you back."
"Can we just come back alone?" I asked. "You don't need to do that."
Samuel shook his head. "I would rather lead you back. Once, a couple like you got lost by going the wrong way. It's easy to miss the markers if you're not familiar."
I nodded. Fair enough.
We began the hike after taking a short drive to the starting point.
Samuel led the way, moving confidently along the narrow trail that cut through the dense tropical forest. The air was thick with humidity, and the sounds of the jungle surrounded us—birds calling, insects buzzing, leaves rustling in the breeze.
As we walked, Samuel gave us a tour, pointing out the local wildlife.
"That's a white-bellied honeyeater," he said, gesturing to a small bird flitting between branches. "And over there see the bright blue? That's a Vanuatu kingfisher. Very rare."
Margot was enchanted, stopping frequently to look, her face lit up with wonder.
She had always wanted to buy a pet bird, and I was sure by her expression that by the end of this month she would have definitely bought one.
Then, as we continued deeper into the forest, a flash of brilliant color caught our attention.
A rainbow lorikeet vivid greens, blues, and reds flew down from the canopy and began circling around Margot.
She stopped, delighted. "Oh my God, look at it!"
"Looks like she likes you," I said, grinning.
The bird made another pass, then landed directly on top of Margot's head.
Margot froze, eyes wide, a huge smile spreading across her face. The lorikeet chirped and made soft, chattering sounds.
Samuel laughed. "Ah, that's a lucky charm. These birds don't usually do that. It means good fortune."
I reached out slowly, trying to pet it.
The lorikeet immediately lunged at my hand, its beak snapping.
"Rude," I said, pulling my hand back.
Margot laughed. The bird stayed on her head for a few more moments before finally flying off back into the trees.
As we walked, the sky was getting darker and darker.
I glanced up. The clouds were thickening, turning from light gray to an ominous charcoal.
Samuel pulled out his phone, looking at it with a frown. His expression shifted—nervous, uncertain.
"Maybe it's best we return," he said, looking back at us.
"It's going to rain, isn't it?" I said, a bit annoyed at the man who had told me definitely it was not going to rain. "I thought you said—"
"It's highly unusual," Samuel said, cutting me off. "We should go. Now."
Margot looked disappointed. "Well, we can always come back tomorrow."
I nodded, trying to hide my frustration. Fucking Murphy's Law.
We turned around and began heading back.
We didn't make it five minutes before the rain came.
And it wasn't just rain.
It was a deluge.
The sky opened up, and water came pouring down in thick, heavy sheets. Visibility dropped instantly. The trail, which had been dry and clear moments ago, turned into a slick, muddy mess.
We were only halfway to the beach, and after fifteen minutes of walking back, Samuel stopped in his tracks.
"Oh no," Samuel said, his voice tight.
"Oh no?" I repeated. "What do you mean, 'oh no'?"
Then I heard it.
A roar.
Not thunder. Water.
The small stream we'd crossed earlier barely ankle-deep was now a raging torrent, swollen and fast-moving from the sudden downpour.
"We need to move!" Samuel shouted over the rain. "Away from the stream!"
We scrambled off the trail, trying to get to higher ground.
But the rain was relentless. The ground beneath us was turning to mud. I could barely see two feet in front of me.
A surge of water, flash flooding from upstream, came rushing down the hillside, cutting across the trail.
I stumbled, trying to keep my footing.
My backpack, strapped loosely because I'd been adjusting it earlier, caught on a low-hanging branch as I turned.
The backpack flew off my shoulder, caught by the current.
"NO!" I yelled, lunging for it.
The ring. The ring was in there.
"DANIEL!" Margot screamed. "COME BACK!"
"Mr. Adler, stop!" Samuel shouted from somewhere behind me.
But I was too angry, too desperate to listen.
I waded into the water, reaching for the backpack as it tumbled downstream.
The current was stronger than I expected. The water was up to my knees now, pulling at me.
Then I felt a hand grab my arm.
Margot.
She had waded in after me.
"Daniel, stop!" she yelled, pulling at me. "It's just a backpack, you fool!"
"But—" I started.
"I don't care!" she shouted over the rain. "Get out of the water!"
She dragged me back, physically hauling me toward the bank.
Samuel was on the other side of the surging water now, separated from us.
"Go to the beach!" he shouted, pointing inland. "It's safer there! I'll come around and find you!"
I nodded, water streaming down my face. My backpack and the ring were gone. I felt like crying.
Damn it, fuck, fuck, I cursed in my head, too angry at myself to hear what Margot was saying to me. But I did come back to reality when I felt her hands on mine as she pulled me away.
"Come on," she said firmly.
We began our trek through the rain. Margot scolded me as we walked, her cardigan now draped over her head in a futile attempt to shield herself from the downpour.
Both of us were soaking wet, clothes clinging to our bodies, mud caked on our shoes and legs.
She was angry. Really angry.
"Why would you do that?" she demanded, her voice sharp even over the sound of the rain. "You could have been swept away! For a fucking backpack, Daniel!"
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Sorry?" she shot back. "You could have died! What were you thinking?"
I didn't have a good answer. I couldn't exactly tell her the truth that the ring was in there, that I was supposed to propose to her at the beach.
So I just kept walking, miserable and drenched.
Margot was still mad, and we continued in tense silence.
Seeing how the rain was making it hard to see anything, we decided to stop and take shelter near some large trees.
I leaned against the thick trunk, catching my breath. Margot stood a few feet away, arms crossed.
"I'm sorry," I said again. "I just... I wasn't thinking."
She sighed, her anger softening slightly. "You scared me."
"I know."
We stood there for a moment, the sound of rain pattering against the leaves above us.
"What was in the backpack that was so important?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
"Just... stuff," I said lamely.
She didn't push it.
Instead, she came over and sat down beside me, leaning against the same tree. We were both shivering slightly, the adrenaline wearing off.
I hugged her closer.
"Remember when we first met?" Margot said suddenly, a small smile playing at her lips.
I looked at her. "Of course."
"Scarlett invited me that day," she said. "She told me it was a great networking opportunity. Said I should meet Daniel Adler himself."
I smiled. "You know, I never asked you what you thought of me when you first saw me."
Margot laughed. "You were already so famous. Scarlett had been going on and on about you—how brilliant you were, how talented. Built you up like you were some kind of god."
"And?" I prompted.
"I walked in and you turned towards me," she said, grinning now, "and your mouth just... dropped open. You literally gaped at me."
I laughed out loud, remembering that moment vividly. I had recognized her immediately, and for a split second, I'd completely forgotten how to act like a normal human being.
"What can I say?" I said, still laughing. "You made me speechless."
"You looked like you'd seen a ghost," Margot said, nudging me with her shoulder. "I thought maybe I had something on my face."
"You were perfect," I said. "You are perfect."
She leaned her head against my shoulder.
We sat like that for a few more minutes, the rain finally tapering off to almost nothing.
"Come on," I said, standing and offering her my hand. "Let's keep going."
We arrived on the beach after another fifteen minutes of trekking.
And it was beautiful.
The sky was clearing, the heavy gray clouds breaking apart to reveal streaks of orange and pink. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over everything. The sound of the waves rolling gently onto the shore mixed with the calls of distant birds.
It was breathtaking.
On the beach, I could see the remains of what I had asked to be set up. The rain had washed most of it away scattered flowers, an overturned table, champagne bottles half-buried in the sand.
Margot was too engrossed in the sky at first, taking it all in. She only noticed the debris after a moment.
"Looks like something was here," she said, curious.
"It was," I said quietly.
The loss of the ring was still heavy in my mind.
It could be found, I thought.
It's gone, a voice in my head said.
There was no way to find it. It was somewhere in the forest, buried in mud… fuck, it was gone.
I looked at Margot, who was still staring at the sunset. She then looked back at me with a smile.
Well, the plan might have gone to shit, but fuck it. I was going to do it anyway.
I looked to my left, and something caught my eye a vine-like plant with small flowers blooming on it nearby.
It was perfect.
I walked over.
"Where are you going?" Margot asked.
"Be back in a sec," I said.
I carefully pulled off a section of the vine, making sure the flowers stayed intact. Then I twisted it, shaping it into a rough circle a makeshift ring.
I walked back over to Margot and stood in front of her, our eyes meeting.
"I had this whole thing planned out here," I said, gesturing to the remains of the table in the distance. "Flowers, champagne, sunset, the works."
I stepped closer to her.
"We've been together for six years," I said. "Six wonderful years. And it's been... it's been the best part of my life."
Margot's eyes widened. She understood what was happening. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
"The truth is, there's only one thing that's ever been clear in my life and that's you. That's us. Everything else... none of it matters. What matters is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you," I said, getting down on one knee in the wet sand.
I held up the vine ring, small flowers still clinging to it.
"So, Margot Elise Robbie," I said, looking into her eyes, "will you marry me?"
She nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Yes," she said softly. "Yes."
I slipped the vine ring onto her finger, then stood up and kissed her, pulling her into my arms.
We held each other tightly, both of us laughing and crying at the same time.
She pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes. "It's about damn time."
I laughed. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," she said, smiling through her tears.
"The ring was in the backpack, wasn't it?" she asked.
"Yes," I admitted.
She laughed.
I laughed.
And we kissed again.
"This was perfect," she said.
"It was," I agreed.
We watched the sunset together, standing on the beach, arms around each other.
Then we began to head back, walking slowly along the shoreline before cutting back into the forest.
"I can't believe I lost it," I said, shaking my head.
"It doesn't matter," Margot said. She held up her hand, showing off the vine ring. "This is more special."
I hesitated. "The ring was a family heirloom. From my mom."
Margot stopped and looked at me.
Then her eyes widened. "There was no earring, was there?"
I nodded. "No. It was always the ring."
"I knew something was off," Margot said, half-laughing, half-exasperated. "I knew it… I always knew it…"
"Well, it's gone now," I said.
As we trekked back, hoping to meet Samuel midway, Margot put her hand on my shoulder, motioning for me to stop.
"Oh my God, Daniel, look!"
I followed her gaze.
There, washed up at the base of a tree, was my backpack.
We both ran over.
I grabbed it, unzipping it frantically. Inside was the ring box.
I opened it.
"It's here," I said, staring at it in disbelief.
I looked at Margot, then at the vine ring on her finger, then back at the actual ring.
"Well," I said, holding it up with a grin, "since you prefer that ring so much—"
She grabbed it out of my hands. "I will take them both, thank you very much."
I laughed as she slipped the real ring on as well.
I held her closer, and we began walking back again, both of us grinning like idiots.
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Justice League next.
You can read up to chapter 310 here.
p.a.t.r.eon.com/Illusiveone (check the chapter summary i have it there as well)