Xavier and I follow them, his hand finding mine as we walk side by side.

The silence between us is comfortable, but the amount of guilt for the lies was slowly eating me alive.

The lies—everything was piling up, and I didn’t know how much longer I could carry the weight of it all.

Louise quickly changed into a simple black bikini and tied her hair up into a ponytail. She twirled in front of the mirror, examining her reflection with a satisfied smile before turning to me.

"Alexandra! Here's your suitcase!" she called out, holding it out for me.

I walked over and took the suitcase from her hands, unzipping it with curiosity. Inside, neatly folded on top, was a beautiful crimson-colored bikini. I lifted it up, the silky material slipping through my fingers like water.

"I'm sorry, I think I'm going a little bit overboard. It's just exciting!" Louise apologized, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm.

I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "Thank you for inviting me on this trip," I replied sincerely, touched by her excitement and thoughtfulness.

Louise suddenly let out a loud squeal as she spotted the bikini in my hands. "It's so cute, isn't it? I picked it out for you!" she declared, grabbing my wrist and dragging me into the bathroom before I could even respond.

The next thing I knew, I was slipping into the bikini, adjusting the straps as I examined myself in the mirror. The deep crimson color contrasted beautifully with my skin, and I had to admit, Louise had great taste.

Louise clapped her hands together, beaming. "You look amazing! I can't wait to see Xavier!!" she exclaimed with a teasing grin. My face flushed instantly, and I swatted at her playfully.

"Louise! Stop it!" I whined, but she only giggled, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.

I quickly threw on a pair of shorts and a simple tank top before Louise and I skipped downstairs. As we descended, we noticed Mrs. Knight standing in the living room, talking sternly to Xavier.

Her expression softened the moment she saw us. "Girls, I'm sorry, but I need to go for an interview. So I'm afraid that I will not be going to the beach. I'm sorry," she explained, looking genuinely disappointed.

Louise let out a dramatic sigh, crossing her arms as she stared between Xavier and me. "Well, that’s a shame! But don’t worry, Mrs. Knight, we’ll take good care of your son!" she said with an exaggerated wink.

Xavier, who had been standing silently, shifted slightly closer to me and took my hand. His touch sent an unexpected warmth through me.

"Let's go, lovebirds!" Louise announced, linking her arm with mine and pulling me toward the door.

Before stepping out, I turned my head and smiled at Mrs. Knight. "Good luck on your interview, Mrs. Knight!" I said earnestly.

She beamed at me, clearly pleased, and called out after me, "Call me, Ella!"

Xavier chuckled softly as we finally made our way outside.

The moment we stepped out the doors of the Knight family's beautiful home, we were greeted by the golden sand stretching endlessly before us. The ocean waves shimmered under the bright sunlight, their rhythmic crashing against the shore a soothing melody.

Louise let out an excited yell, immediately tossing her sandals aside. "Beach time!" she declared before dashing towards the shore with an enormous smile plastered on her face.

I couldn’t help but grin at her enthusiasm. Slipping off my own sandals, I turned to Xavier with a playful smirk. "The last one to the shore is a rotten potato!" I declared, taking off in a sprint before he could react.

I could hear his footsteps close behind me, the sand kicking up under his feet. "XAVIER, there's something behind you! Stop running!" I pointed theatrically toward the house, feigning horror.

Xavier, momentarily tricked, glanced back, and I seized my opportunity to sprint ahead. With a triumphant squeal, I reached the shoreline first, stepping into the cool, foamy waves just as they washed up onto the shore. The sensation sent a pleasant chill up my spine.

Before I could celebrate my victory for too long, I felt strong arms wrap around me. I turned around to see Xavier pouting. "That's just mean," he said, his lower lip jutting out slightly.

Louise came dashing towards us, practically bouncing in excitement. "Let's go swimming!" she squealed.

Before we could strip off our extra layers and dive in, Xavier held up a hand. "Wait! We need to rent out a parasol first."

Louise groaned. "Fine! But hurry up!"

After renting out a parasol and setting it up, Louise and I wasted no time, racing straight into the ocean. The moment my body met the cool water, a wave of relaxation washed over me. The sun was shining, the water was crystal clear, and for the first time in a long while, I felt completely carefree.

HEY!" Xavier called out from behind, but I barely heard him over the sound of my own laughter.

Louise grabbed my hands, and we jumped together, splashing water everywhere, our giggles echoing under the bright sun.

Xavier approached with a mock pout, crossing his arms. "I see how it is," he said dramatically. "Betrayed by my own girlfreind and family."

Louise and I exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter again. "Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Xavier," Louise teased.

Xavier sighed, placing a hand over his heart. "I suppose I’ll forgive you both… if you let me join in."

"Hmm…" I tapped my chin playfully. "I don’t know, Louise. What do you think? Should we let him?"

"Absolutely not," Louise replied, grinning. "He’ll just try to steal our fun."

"Oh, you wound me," Xavier gasped, feigning offense.

I laughed, shaking my head. It had been so long since I had actually had a proper vacation. The last few years of my life had been an endless cycle of work, stress, and paying off debts, leaving me little room to breathe.

But now, as I stood ankle-deep in the crystal-clear water, the sun warm against my skin, a rare sense of peace settled over me. The rhythmic sound of the waves lapping against the shore and the gentle breeze brushing past my face felt like a dream—a moment I wished I could bottle up and revisit whenever life became overwhelming.

Xavier, standing a few feet away, observed me with an amused glint in his eyes. "A penny for your thoughts?" he asked, his voice light and teasing.

I turned to him, my lips curling into a playful smile. "They are priceless, and you'll never know," I teased, reaching up to retie my ponytail. But before I could secure it properly, a mischievous thought crossed my mind. I flicked a few drops of water in his direction.

Xavier gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his chest as if I had wounded him. "Oh, you did not just do that," he said, his eyes narrowing.

I grinned. "Oh, but I did."

In retaliation, he splashed water right back at me. I let out a yelp, dodging as gracefully as I could, though a few stray droplets still landed on my face. I stuck my tongue out at him like a child, reveling in our playful moment.

Xavier’s smirk widened. "This means war, sweetheart."

Before I could react, he lunged forward, sending a wave of water toward me. I let out a shriek and turned to escape, but he was faster. I felt his strong arms wrap around my waist, and suddenly, my feet were off the ground.

"Xavier, put me down!" I protested, squirming in his grasp.

He only chuckled. "As much as I like your playful side, you will not escape your punishment."

I barely had time to process his words before I was unceremoniously dropped into the water. The coolness engulfed me, and I surfaced quickly, spluttering. My hair clung to my face as I glared up at him.

"Really? Charming. Is this how you treat your girlfriends?" I huffed, pushing my soaked strands back.

"Only you, sweetheart," he replied smoothly, his grin unapologetic.

I shook my head and turned away with a dramatic sigh. "I’m not afraid of water, Xavier. However, there is one thing that is absolutely unforgivable."

He raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"You ruined my ponytail!!" I declared.

As if the universe wanted to make my suffering worse, I reached up to fix my hair, only for the inevitable to happen—my hairband snapped. I gasped audibly, holding the broken tie in my palm like it was a national tragedy.

Xavier let out an unrestrained laugh at my misfortune. Before I could retort, Louise, who had been swimming nearby, rushed over.

"I’m sorry for your loss," she said solemnly, placing a hand on my shoulder before promptly diving back into the water.

Xavier chuckled as I stood there, going through the five stages of grief in the span of thirty seconds. "Why do you always tie your hair up?" he asked, breaking the silence.

I hesitated before answering. "It gets in the way of my concentration."

The real reason, though, was much more ridiculous. I had always loved the idea of flipping my ponytail dramatically like a superhero, but unfortunately, genetics had failed me in every way possible—I had no superpowers, no athletic abilities, and certainly no superheroic grace.

Xavier gave me a knowing look but didn’t push further. Instead, he lazily floated in the water while I let myself drift, enjoying the moment.

Just then, something small and dark emerged from the water, mere inches from my face. I turned and found myself staring into large, beady eyes.

For a moment, I was too stunned to react.

Then, realization hit me like a truck.

"TURTLE!!" I squealed, my excitement overflowing. Unfortunately, my outburst scared the poor thing away, and it swiftly disappeared beneath the surface.

Xavier burst out laughing, shaking his head as I pouted. "I just wanted to admire it," I muttered, still disappointed.

"Maybe if you didn’t scream like a banshee, you’d actually get to," he teased.

I splashed water at him in response. "You’re the worst."

He only grinned in return.

But before I could wallow in my misery for too long, something—or rather, someone—caught my attention.

She stood at the shore, the sunlight casting a golden glow on her flawless skin. Her wavy locks framed a face that could have belonged to a goddess, her features delicate yet striking. She smiled warmly, then waved in Xavier’s direction.

I turned to look at him and froze.

Xavier, who had been carefree and playful moments ago, now stood completely still. His expression had changed.

Who is this woman?

“It’s been so long since we last met, Xavier! I’ve missed you so much!” The yet-to-be-identified woman babbles to Xavier, her voice carrying a tone of familiarity and entitlement that instantly sets me on edge.

Xavier gives a polite smile, the kind I recognize as his ‘business’ smile—the one he wears when he’s dealing with people he’d rather not engage with but has no choice. He doesn’t respond immediately, instead running a hand through his wet hair before finally stepping out of the water with obvious reluctance.

Droplets of water trail down his toned body as he reaches for a towel, but before he can even dry himself, the woman tugs him towards the sun loungers.