CHAPTER 379: OUR ISLAND (4)

Georgia’s POV

As we followed the pebble path, the trees thinned, sunlight brightening with every step until the shadows finally gave way to an open clearing, and I stopped mid-walk, gasping softly.

"Nick..." I breathed.

Before us stood a wide, stunning villa, three stories tall, with a sleek tropical-modern design that somehow blended effortlessly into the greenery behind it. Concrete walls softened with wooden accents, tall glass windows, a wraparound balcony... and on the side, a glimmering blue pool stretched toward the cliff’s edge.

Nick squeezed my hand. "We never saw this part of the island before," he said quietly. "When we were stranded... this whole area was covered in thick greenery. Honestly, we had no idea anything this flat and open even existed here. We only discovered it via the drone the engineers brought."

I turned in a slow circle, taking in the massive transformation. "This place is... wow."

Nick’s lips curved proudly. "Main Villa. Six rooms in total, perfect for big groups. Huge families, group of friends trips, even company outings."

"There’s also a smaller cabana at the back—"

"That’s where we’re staying!" Evelyn cut in, raising her hand like a proud student announcing a correct answer. "Steven and I already claimed it."

Steven just nodded, amused and helpless in the way husbands often are.

Nick chuckled and continued, "Anyway, the Main Villa is the only building with a kitchen for now for the guests. It has an open dining area," he pointed toward the large woven canopy structure attached to the villa, "plus a grilling station over there."

I followed his gesture, and sure enough, a rustic yet modern grilling area sat framed in bamboo and stone, smoke lazily drifting upward from an open flame.

"And the living room, dining, and kitchen are all in one big open space," Nick added. "All six rooms are on the second floor."

"What’s on the third?" I asked, leaning my head against his arm.

"The roof deck," Nick said. "Covered in solar panels. They give some shade, and they’re powering the whole island right now until we finish the rest of the systems."

"Damn," Steven muttered. "You built a sustainable private island."

Nick shrugged as though it wasn’t impressive at all, which only made it more impressive.

We continued walking toward the villa, and then I spotted someone moving at the grilling station.

Benjamin.

Holding a huge pair of tongs like a weapon and flipping something on the grill.

He looked up, saw us, and waved with the enthusiasm of a man reunited with civilization. "They’re here!" he shouted before turning back and cupping his hands around his mouth. "PRUDENCE! WENDY! YOUR BABIES HAVE ARRIVED!"

I laughed, covering my face as my heart swelled with affection and warmth. Nick’s arm slid around my waist, tugging me closer as everyone burst into laughter.

"Welcome home, love," he whispered. "This is our home away from home."

Prudence and Wendy reached me first, wrapping me in those familiar motherly hugs that always made me feel like I belonged somewhere safe.

"My new daughter!" Prudence said dramatically, kissing my cheek twice like she hadn’t seen me in years.

"We’ve been waiting for you!" Wendy chimed, squeezing my hands. "Lunch is ready, come sit!"

They practically guided, no, dragged me toward the big wooden dining table where the plates were already set. Chairs on both sides, the sea breeze flowing through the open space, and the smell of grilled seafood filling the air.

And my stomach immediately said: absolutely not.

I sat first, excited to finally eat after all the traveling... but the moment Benjamin walked by carrying a bowl of freshly steamed mussels and oysters, something inside me twisted violently.

I frowned and sniffed the air.

"What’s that smell?" I asked, face scrunching like a crumpled paper ball.

People looked around, sniffing, checking plates, before anyone could figure out what I meant, it hit me all at once.

My body moved before my brain did.

I bolted up from the seat, rushed to the nearest sink, and vomited like my entire soul was trying to escape my body.

Chaos erupted behind me.

"GEORGIA!"

"Love, are you okay?"

"Oh my god, she’s sick, what’s happening?"

"Get water! Someone get water!"

Nick was at my side in seconds, one hand holding my hair back, the other rubbing circles on my spine like he’d trained for this exact role.

Prudence and Wendy flanked us, both hovering with frantic motherly energy.

"What’s going on?" Prudence asked, voice climbing in pitch.

Nick sighed helplessly. "Morning sickness. She’s been like this since she woke up."

Wendy snapped her fingers. "Oh boy, she’s just like her mother."

I paused mid-gag. "Huh?"

Wendy nodded dramatically, as if she were about to deliver a TED Talk.

"She had late morning sickness. We thought she skipped it entirely. But around her tenth to twelfth week?" She held up ten fingers. "Boom. Not morning sickness, all-day sickness. Nausea the whole day. The smell of flowers made her cry."

I groaned. "Oh god... that’s exactly how I feel."

Wendy patted my shoulder sympathetically. "I’ll make lemon ginger tea. That helped her a lot."

Prudence placed a cold hand on my forehead. "Sweetheart, are you okay? Do you need to lie down?"

I shook my head weakly. "Just... please..." I pointed vaguely behind me, not daring to look. "Put the seafood away. Far. Like, at the end of the table. I cannot stand the smell, and those are my favorite, this is making me cry!"

Nick muffled a laugh. "You heard her. Move the seafood away from the table. Emergency."

Everyone scrambled like we were performing a military evacuation of shellfish.

I leaned against Nick’s chest, eyes closed, breathing slowly through the lingering nausea.

"I swear," I whispered, "I used to love oysters."

Nick kissed my temple. "Right now, oysters don’t love you back."

I groaned again. "Traits the baby got from you, maybe."

He laughed softly as he held me tighter. "I’ll take that. What do you want to eat then?"

"Cakes and grilled pork. Plus watermelon. Maybe those wouldn’t make me throw up in an instant."

"Coming right up," Nick said, and in an instant, he was gone, looking for the food that I wanted.