Chapter 70 — Night Barbecue
Night fell slowly over the island.
The Maldives sky turned from deep blue to violet… and then to a soft velvet black scattered with stars.
The beach had transformed.
Rows of tall fire torches burned along the white sand, their flames dancing in the ocean wind.
A massive barbecue station had been set up near the shore.
Music echoed across the beach.
Soft.
Relaxed.
Alive.
For the first time in months…
The group wasn't surviving.
They were living.
Chaos at the Grill
Near the grill, Percy and Aries had completely taken over the cooking station.
Which was already a terrible decision.
"Why is the fire THIS big?" Honey shouted.
Because Percy had somehow turned the grill into a mini volcano.
Aries flipped a piece of fish dramatically.
It immediately fell into the sand.
Percy stared at it.
"…Five second rule?"
"NO," Nova and Daisy yelled at the same time.
Daisy crossed her arms.
"You two are banned from cooking forever."
Percy looked offended.
"I am an excellent chef."
Nova pointed at the burning skewers.
"Those are literally charcoal."
Aries shrugged.
"Smoky flavor."
Ben, standing nearby, muttered tiredly:
"I am a doctor and I already know I'm going to treat food poisoning tonight."
The DJ Disaster
Meanwhile Endrix had taken control of the speakers.
He stood behind a small DJ board he had apparently hacked together from the resort equipment.
The music suddenly switched to an insane club remix.
Honey screamed.
"Oh my god YES."
She immediately started dancing in the sand.
Freya joined her instantly.
Rakhi followed.
Within seconds the beach had turned into a mini dance floor.
Cin clapped slowly.
"My wife has turned into a nightclub."
Rakhi pointed at him.
"You married this nightclub."
Joong's Secret Problem
Near the bonfire area, Joong sat quietly with a drink.
Then another.
Then another.
Alex sat beside him.
"You know that's the fourth one."
Joong looked completely calm.
"I am extremely responsible."
Then he stood up.
And immediately walked in the wrong direction.
Lyra laughed.
"Yeah… very responsible."
Daisy walked over and grabbed his arm.
"You are done."
Joong tried to protest.
"I am perfectly stable."
He then tripped slightly on the sand.
Daisy dragged him toward their villa.
"Goodnight."
Ash
Near the waterline…
Ash sat with her feet in the ocean.
She was laughing.
Actually laughing.
The sound surprised even herself.
Cole walked past and noticed.
He paused.
For weeks after the Kevin disaster…
Ash had looked like someone walking through fog.
But now…
The ocean wind pushed her hair back as she laughed at Honey trying to pull Percy into the water.
Ash looked lighter.
Not healed completely.
But moving forward.
Cole sat beside her.
"You look better."
Ash shrugged.
"Maybe the ocean fixed my brain."
Cole smirked.
"Good. That saves therapy bills."
Ash rolled her eyes.
Then she suddenly stood.
And ran toward Percy.
"REVENGE!"
Percy barely had time to react before Ash shoved him into the ocean.
Honey screamed with laughter.
Care
A little farther away…
Care sat quietly on a wooden beach chair.
Watching everything.
The firelight reflected in her dark eyes.
She wasn't smiling widely.
But the tension she had carried for months…
Was gone.
Cole walked over and dropped into the chair beside her.
"You planning to sit here like a mysterious billionaire villain all night?"
Care looked at him.
"I am observing."
Cole glanced toward the chaos.
Percy now trying to chase Ash through the water.
Honey filming everything.
Freya dancing with Rakhi.
Endrix blasting music.
Nova arguing with Daisy over spices.
Alex laughing while Lyra teased him.
Cole leaned back.
"Observing what exactly?"
Care's voice softened.
"My family."
Cole went quiet.
Because she was right.
This wasn't just a group anymore.
This was something deeper.
The Teasing Begins
Across the beach…
JJ suddenly noticed the two of them sitting alone.
She smirked.
"Oh look."
Keifer followed her gaze.
"Well well."
Percy climbed out of the ocean dripping wet.
"What?"
Honey pointed dramatically.
"THEM."
Everyone slowly turned.
Care and Cole.
Sitting together quietly.
Cole sighed.
"Here we go."
Freya grinned.
"Interesting seating arrangement."
Rakhi added casually,
"Very romantic lighting."
Care raised an eyebrow.
"You people are bored."
Percy shouted across the beach.
"WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOU TWO FOR TEN MINUTES."
Cole leaned forward.
"You're literally married, Percy."
JJ stood with her hands on her hips.
"Deflection."
Endrix lowered the music dramatically like a movie moment.
Everyone stared at them.
Cole groaned.
"You are all billionaires with unlimited resources and THIS is how you spend your time?"
Honey pointed.
"You're blushing."
"I am NOT."
Care looked at him calmly.
"You are."
Cole glared at her.
"Traitor."
The Bonfire
Eventually the chaos settled.
The group gathered around a large bonfire near the shore.
The flames rose high into the night sky.
Waves rolled softly onto the beach.
Everyone sat in a loose circle.
Some on chairs.
Some on the sand.
Some leaning against each other.
Stories began.
Old memories.
Embarrassing moments.
Percy told the story of Keifer accidentally setting off a security alarm in Monaco.
JJ nearly died laughing.
Freya exposed Endrix for hacking a hotel elevator once.
Nova described Ben fainting during his first surgery observation.
Ben protested.
"That was a tactical kneeling moment."
Ash leaned against Cole's shoulder half-asleep.
No one commented.
They just let her rest.
Care watched the flames.
Cole nudged her slightly.
"You look peaceful."
She didn't answer immediately.
The fire crackled.
The ocean breathed slowly beside them.
Finally she spoke softly.
"I forgot life could feel like this."
Cole didn't respond.
But he understood.
Because everyone here had survived something.
And tonight…
They were simply alive.
The Storm
Far out over the ocean…
A faint flash of lightning appeared.
No one noticed at first.
Then thunder rolled.
Low.
Distant.
The wind shifted slightly.
Freya looked toward the horizon.
"Storm coming."
Dark clouds slowly moved across the stars.
The ocean changed color.
The air thickened.
Percy grinned.
"Well."
Honey leaned against him.
"This trip just got interesting."
Cole looked toward the horizon.
Something about the approaching storm felt strange.
Like the ocean itself was holding its breath.
Another flash of lightning split the sky.
And the wind began to rise.