That evening, amidst the humid sea breeze and the sound of waves on the tropical island, Charlie wade found a rare moment of true calm.
Beside him, Claire Wilson had fallen asleep early, her back turned to Charlie wade, and he noticed nothing unusual.
The next morning, while Charlie wade was still sleeping, Claire Wilson quietly got out of bed.
Though she tried her best to make no noise, Charlie wade quickly sensed her movement and woke up.
After getting up, Claire Wilson left the bedroom. In this overwater villa, both the bedroom and the living room had large doors facing the sea, opening to a jelly-like turquoise ocean.
Stepping out from the bedroom, she reached a private overwater terrace with wooden railings, the entire villa built on underwater reefs, with waves crashing beneath her feet.
On the terrace were two outdoor lounge chairs, and below, a large freshwater pool.
When Claire Wilson stepped out, the skyline was just beginning to brighten, though the sunrise was not yet visible.
She sat on a lounge chair, propping her chin with one hand, staring intently at the brightest spot on the horizon, her expression slightly dazed.
At that moment, Charlie wade pushed open the door and stepped out. Hearing his approach, Claire Wilson turned to him, somewhat surprised, and asked, “You’re awake? Did I disturb you?”
“No,” Charlie wade smiled faintly, “Why are you watching the sunrise alone and not calling me along?”
Claire Wilson said a bit unnaturally, “I didn’t want to wake you. You’re always rushing about outside, working so hard. We’re finally on a holiday, so I wanted you to rest more.”
Charlie wade nodded and sat beside her. On the sea, the morning glow was starting to turn red, casting a rosy hue on Claire Wilson’s fair face, making her look like a fresh, ripe apple, radiant and alluring.
Charlie wade was momentarily entranced, but as he glanced around, he didn’t feel calm. Instead, a sense of restlessness crept in.
Since the age of eight, when his parents were killed in Aurous Hill, he hadn’t lived a single day of normal life. Even now, vacationing in the picturesque Maldives, he still had to wear a mask in front of his wife, his mind consumed with the need to avenge his parents.
That deep-seated hatred lingered in his heart, making it hard for him to truly relax, even on holiday.
He longed to kill Wu Fiona soon, to cast off all disguises and live well with Claire Wilson, free from thoughts of the Po Qing Society or Wu Fiona. But achieving that goal was still far off.
In a daze, the sun rose in the east.
The same red sun captivated Claire Wilson, while Charlie wade watched it in a trance.
As the sun fully rose above the sea, a seaplane appeared on the horizon.
Seeing the plane draw closer and lower, Claire Wilson said to Charlie wade, “Someone’s arriving on the island so early. Could it be Miss Tawanna Sweet?”
“Possibly,” Charlie wade replied casually.
He found Tawanna a bit of a headache.
Claire Wilson teased, “Seems you and Miss Sweet are quite fated, having worked together for so long and now meeting here.”
