Chapter 68 — Arrival in Maldives
The seaplanes skimmed low over the Indian Ocean, their wings cutting through the warm tropical air.
Below them—
Endless blue.
Not the deep intimidating blue of the open ocean.
But layered colors.
Turquoise.
Aqua.
Glass-like shallow water glowing over coral reefs.
Even the most composed among them leaned toward the windows.
Not dramatically.
Just… quietly impressed.
Inside the first seaplane, Ash had her face pressed near the glass.
"Okay," she muttered.
"This… this is illegal."
Lyra leaned across from her seat.
"What?"
Ash pointed down.
"How can water be this blue?"
Lyra laughed.
"Relax. You literally grew up near beaches."
"Yeah but not Photoshop water."
Behind them, Daisy leaned over the seat.
"Wait till you see the villas."
Ash turned.
"They float?"
"Yes."
Ash stared.
"…Like actually float?"
Joong looked up from his tablet.
"They're built on pillars."
Ash pointed at him dramatically.
"You ruined the magic."
Joong smirked and went back to checking emails.
Daisy leaned closer.
"He's been secretly checking company reports since takeoff."
Joong didn't even look up.
"Multinational operations do not pause for vacation."
Ash sighed.
"You are the least fun billionaire in existence."
Meanwhile in the second seaplane—
Percy was bouncing in his seat.
Honey was filming everything on her phone.
"Guys look at this," she whispered excitedly to the camera.
"Percy has been vibrating for twenty minutes."
Percy grinned.
"I see water."
Honey sighed.
"You always see water."
Percy shrugged.
"Yes."
That was apparently enough explanation.
Beside them, Freya was calmly watching the ocean.
Endrix leaned toward her.
"I already hacked the resort network."
Freya blinked slowly.
"…why?"
"In-flight WiFi was slow."
Freya sighed.
"You are a menace."
Across the aisle, Rakhi elbowed Cin.
"You're quiet."
Cin smirked slightly.
"Just calculating how much this island costs."
Rakhi raised a brow.
"And?"
Cin shrugged.
"…We could buy three."
The seaplanes began descending.
The island appeared.
White sand.
Tall palm trees swaying in the breeze.
A long wooden dock stretching across crystal-clear water.
Luxury floating villas scattered across the lagoon like pearls.
The pilot spoke calmly.
"We'll be landing shortly at the private dock."
Even the quiet ones leaned toward the windows now.
Care watched silently.
Her chin resting lightly on her hand.
The seaplanes touched the water smoothly.
A soft splash.
Then they glided toward the dock.
Resort staff waited there in crisp uniforms.
Calm. Professional.
But their expressions clearly said—
These people booked the entire island.
The doors opened.
Warm tropical air rushed inside.
Ash stepped out first.
The sunlight hit her face.
She looked around.
Palm trees swaying.
The ocean stretching forever.
White sand glowing under the sun.
She exhaled.
"…Okay."
Then she suddenly ran.
Straight toward the beach.
Lyra burst out laughing.
"Ash!"
She chased after her.
Their footsteps hit the sand.
Ash kicked off her shoes mid-run.
"FIRST ONE TO THE WATER WINS!"
Lyra shouted back.
"THIS IS NOT A RACE!"
"It is now!"
Behind them, the rest of the group stepped off the dock.
More controlled.
More calm.
But even they were smiling.
Percy looked at the ocean.
Then at Honey.
Then back at the ocean.
Honey narrowed her eyes.
"…Don't."
Percy grinned.
Honey pointed a finger.
"Percy don't you—"
Too late.
Percy sprinted.
Then jumped.
Straight into the water.
Fully clothed.
A massive splash.
Honey screamed.
"PERCY!"
He surfaced seconds later, laughing like a child.
"WATER'S PERFECT!"
Honey threw her hands up.
"I JUST DID YOUR LAUNDRY!"
The resort staff tried very hard to maintain their professional expressions.
They failed.
Meanwhile—
Cole was standing near the dock with Nova and Ben.
Opening emergency medical kits.
Nova glanced at him.
"You packed five of these?"
Cole shrugged.
"Maldives sun is brutal."
Ben smirked.
"You are incapable of relaxing."
Cole closed the kit.
"And you're incapable of planning."
Ben shrugged proudly.
"That's Nova's job."
Nova sighed.
"I regret everything."
Care stood slightly away from the group.
Watching them.
Ash and Lyra splashing water at each other.
Percy swimming like a lunatic.
Honey yelling from the shore.
Daisy dragging Joong away from his emails.
Freya calmly removing her shoes before stepping into the water.
JJ walked beside Care.
"You're smiling."
Care blinked.
"…Am I?"
JJ smirked.
"Yes."
Then chaos started again.
Because Ash came sprinting back toward them.
"EVERYONE GET IN THE WATER."
Cole raised a brow.
"No."
Ash grabbed his arm.
"Yes."
He didn't move.
"Absolutely not."
Ash looked at Care.
"Your bodyguard refuses."
Care tilted her head slightly.
"Cole."
Cole sighed.
"…yes?"
"Go."
Cole stared at her.
"You're enjoying this."
"Very much."
Ash grinned.
"YES."
She shoved him toward the water.
And suddenly—
They were all in chaos again.
Water fights.
Sand flying.
Laughter echoing across the island.
Even the serious ones couldn't fully resist.
For the first time in months—
There were no hospitals.
No board meetings.
No investigations.
No danger.
Just nineteen people.
Friends.
Family.
Trying to remember how to breathe again.
Later that evening—
They gathered near the beach bar.
Sunset painting the sky orange and pink.
Care leaned back in her chair.
Cole sat beside her.
Watching the couples scattered around.
Alex and Lyra whispering quietly.
Ben and Nova arguing about sunscreen again.
Daisy stealing Joong's phone.
Percy trying to drag Honey into the water again.
Care smirked slightly.
"Look at them."
Cole followed her gaze.
"Hopeless."
Care nodded.
"Completely."
Cole raised his voice.
"Alex."
Alex looked up.
"Yes?"
Cole gestured toward Lyra.
"You've been staring at her for ten minutes."
Lyra burst out laughing.
Alex didn't even deny it.
"She's pretty."
Lyra smacked his arm.
Care leaned forward.
"Ben."
Ben looked up cautiously.
"Yes?"
"Nova has corrected you nine times today."
Nova smirked.
"Ten."
Ben sighed.
"Traitor."
Daisy pointed suddenly.
"WAIT."
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed dramatically between Care and Cole.
"…Why are YOU two sitting together?"
Ash's eyes widened.
"Oh my god."
Percy gasped loudly.
"WAIT A SECOND."
Care blinked slowly.
"…What?"
Joong smirked.
"You two have been side by side since morning."
Cole frowned.
"That's because we're coordinating logistics."
Ash leaned forward.
"ON VACATION?"
Cole paused.
"…yes?"
The entire group started laughing.
Care shook her head.
"Incredible."
Cole muttered.
"They are insufferable."
JJ grinned beside them.
"Oh no."
She leaned back casually.
"This is just the beginning."
The sunset deepened.
The ocean turned gold.
Laughter carried across the quiet island.
And somewhere between teasing and chaos—
Something subtle shifted.
Between Care and Cole.
Neither of them noticed yet.
But everyone else did.
And they were absolutely going to make their lives miserable about it.