Chapter 67 — Departure
The private airport runway glowed under the soft gold of the late afternoon sun.
Three enormous jets waited on the tarmac.
One matte black.
One deep silver.
One midnight blue.
Care's jet.
Keifer's jet.
Cole's jet.
Ground crew moved quickly around them while luggage carts rolled across the polished runway.
But the real chaos?
The group.
Nineteen people.
And absolutely zero organization.
"ASH YOU ARE NOT BRINGING THAT."
Daisy stood with her hands on her hips, staring at the massive beach bag Ash was dragging behind her.
Ash turned slowly.
Inside the bag?
Six bottles of sunscreen.
Three sun hats.
Two umbrellas.
And an entire first-aid kit.
"It's the Maldives," Ash said calmly.
"Yes."
"Sun exists there."
"Yes."
"So sunscreen exists with me."
Daisy rubbed her forehead.
"You packed six."
Ash looked offended.
"What if we lose one?"
"WHO IS GOING TO STEAL SUNSCREEN ON A PRIVATE ISLAND?"
Across the runway, Honey was filming everything on her phone.
"This," she whispered dramatically to the camera, "is how billionaires prepare for tropical survival."
Percy leaned over her shoulder.
"She forgot mosquito spray."
Ash gasped.
"OH MY GOD."
She immediately started digging through the luggage again.
Daisy screamed.
"ASH STOP."
Meanwhile near the jet stairs—
Lyra walked beside Alex.
Or more accurately—
Alex walked behind Lyra carrying a stack of books that looked like a portable library.
Lyra glanced back.
"You brought all of them?"
Alex adjusted the pile.
"It's only eight."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"We are going for one week."
"Yes."
"You read one book every three days."
"Yes."
Alex blinked calmly.
"Backup plans."
Lyra burst out laughing.
"You're unbelievable."
Near the fuel truck—
Joong was standing slightly away from the group.
Phone in hand.
Typing rapidly.
Daisy suddenly appeared beside him.
"What are you doing?"
Joong locked the phone instantly.
"Nothing."
She squinted.
"You're checking business emails."
"No."
"Joong."
"No."
She snatched the phone.
"JOONG."
On the screen—
Thirty-two unread emails from Lucas Company.
Daisy groaned.
"We are going on vacation."
Joong sighed.
"The board asked a question."
"You answered?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Five minutes ago."
Daisy grabbed his face.
"You are banned from work."
Joong smiled softly.
"Yes ma'am."
Not far away—
Ben and Nova stood beside a luggage case that looked suspiciously medical.
Cole noticed immediately.
"What's in that?"
Nova answered calmly.
"Tropical emergency supplies."
Cole folded his arms.
"How tropical?"
Nova opened the bag.
Inside—
Snake bite kit.
Emergency IV supplies.
Portable oxygen.
Cole nodded approvingly.
"Respect."
Ben sighed.
"I thought this was a vacation."
Nova closed the case.
"It is."
She looked at Cole.
"But statistically someone here will do something stupid."
Percy raised his hand.
"Already planning it."
Near the jet stairs—
Endrix sat on a luggage cart with a laptop open.
Typing rapidly.
Cole walked past.
"You're not hacking anything here."
Endrix didn't look up.
"I'm improving the in-flight WiFi."
"By hacking the satellite network?"
"Yes."
Cole sighed.
"Just don't crash the plane."
Freya appeared beside Endrix.
"If the plane crashes, I'm divorcing you."
Endrix finally looked up.
"That feels unfair."
Meanwhile—
Rakhi and CiN stood near the runway watching the chaos.
CiN shook his head slowly.
"We're going to destroy that island."
Rakhi smiled.
"Or heal."
CiN glanced around.
"…maybe both."
At the far end of the runway—
Care stood quietly.
Watching everyone.
For the first time in weeks—
Her expression looked lighter.
Peaceful.
JJ walked beside her.
Hands in the pockets of her coat.
"You needed this trip."
Care exhaled slowly.
"We all did."
Her eyes moved across the group.
Ash arguing with Daisy.
Lyra laughing.
Percy teasing Honey.
Nova scolding Ben.
For the first time since the shooting—
No one looked broken.
Just chaotic.
Alive.
Suddenly—
Cole walked over.
He looked at the runway.
Three jets.
"You know this is ridiculous."
Care smiled faintly.
"We have nineteen people."
"We could have used one jet."
"Yes."
"So why three?"
Care shrugged slightly.
"Comfort."
Cole smirked.
"Billionaire logic."
Then Percy shouted across the runway.
"HEY CARE."
Care turned.
Percy pointed dramatically at the couples.
"Before we leave we need to establish rules."
Care blinked.
"…rules?"
Honey grinned.
"Yes."
"Couple rules."
Cole groaned immediately.
"Oh no."
Percy counted on his fingers.
"Alex and Lyra."
"Ben and Nova."
"Daisy and Joong."
"Keifer and JJ."
"Freya and Endrix."
"Ella and Aries."
"Rakhi and CiN."
He looked proud.
"Seven couples."
Care folded her arms.
"And?"
Percy pointed at the jets.
"No romantic nonsense on shared flights."
Honey added,
"We are not listening to honeymoon conversations at 30,000 feet."
Everyone started laughing.
JJ crossed her arms.
"Speak for yourself."
Keifer smirked beside her.
Cole leaned closer to Care and whispered,
"This is exactly why we needed three jets."
Care nodded.
"Strategic separation."
But Percy suddenly turned.
Pointing at them.
"And you two."
Care blinked.
"Us?"
Percy grinned like a villain.
"Yes."
Cole frowned.
"We're not a couple."
Honey raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly."
Everyone slowly turned to look at them.
Care immediately shook her head.
"No."
Cole raised both hands.
"Nope."
JJ smirked.
"Oh this is interesting."
Lyra joined in.
"They're always together."
Ben nodded.
"Suspiciously together."
Daisy gasped.
"WAIT."
"You two share office lunches."
Cole looked betrayed.
"You noticed that?"
Daisy pointed dramatically.
"Evidence."
Care rolled her eyes.
"We work together."
Percy clapped.
"WORK COUPLE."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Cole groaned.
"Oh my god."
Care looked completely unimpressed.
But the small pink color creeping up her neck betrayed her.
JJ noticed immediately.
"Oh look."
"She's blushing."
Care glared.
"I am not."
Cole muttered,
"This is why we should have taken separate flights."
Keifer finally stepped forward.
"Alright children."
Everyone quieted slightly.
He pointed toward the jets.
"Boarding."
Honey raised her camera again.
"Maldives trip officially begins."
Ash suddenly shouted from the luggage cart.
"WAIT."
Everyone turned.
"I FORGOT MOSQUITO SPRAY."
Daisy screamed again.
"ASH GET ON THE PLANE."
Moments later—
Engines roared to life.
Three jets rolled forward across the runway.
Care stood near the window of her jet.
Watching the city shrink below.
Cole stood beside her.
Arms folded.
The ocean stretched endlessly ahead.
Blue.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
After everything they had survived—
This felt unreal.
Cole glanced at her.
"Ready?"
Care looked out at the clouds.
A small smile appeared.
"Yes."
For the first time in a long time—
They were leaving the chaos behind.
And flying toward something lighter.
Toward healing.
Toward the Maldives.