ATHENA

I stare down at the document again, still in disbelief. "This whole ind?"

Alex just shrugs, like it''s no big deal.

"Yes baby, all of it."

"Alex, this is insane. This is like... billionaire-movie-level romance."

"You married me, baby," he says with a wink. "I don''t do average."

I shake my head, halfughing, half-speechless. The idea that this breathtaking paradise is mine now feels surreal.

Other girls would be like no this is too much, but not me. I''ll take it as an apology for the pain he put me through for three years. So yes, I''m taking the ind. Thank you very much.

Twenty minutester, I''m slipping into a deep green bikini I found tucked neatly into one of the vi''s drawers, brand new and clearly pre-nned by my over- prepared husband.

It hugs my curves perfectly, the top held up by thin gold straps and the bottoms high-cut enough to make walking in front of him dangerous.

Alex stands near the open ss doors, already shirtless, again. He''s wearing ck swim trunks that hang low on his hips. He turns when he hears me approach and freezes.

His eyes trail down my body slowly, then rise again to meet my gaze with an expression so intense it sends heat flooding through me.

"You sure you want to go outside?" he rasps, stepping forward. "Because if I take one more look at you, I might forget what sunlight feels like and take you right back to that bed."

I smile, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward the beach. "Then don''t look, just run."

We dash barefoot across the wooden deck, myugh echoing into the salty breeze as the sand greets our feet like warm silk.

The beach stretches wide and empty with no other person in sight.

"Why didn''t we go to a public beach like normal people?" I ask, trying to catch my breath from all the running.

"Unless you want me to go on a murder spree." He says nonchntly.

"Why would you murder people?"

"If any man saw you like this, Athena. I''d blind them. If they touched you," He shakes his head, "Let''s just think of this private ind as you saving humanity from extinction. Especially the male poption."

"Now I''m very sure that you''re crazy." Iugh even though the back of my head knows he would do exactly just that.

The ocean sparkles in every shade of blue, the waves rolling in gentle and rhythmic as the sun kisses our skin.

"I bet you can''t catch me," I tease, bolting into the surf.

"Oh, you''re really trying me today," Alex growls behind me.

I shriek when he catches up, his arms wrapping tight around my waist as he lifts me off the ground, spinning us both into the shallow water. I''mughing so hard I can barely breathe.

"Put me down!" I gasp between giggles.

"Nope. This is what happens when you run from your man," he grins, then drops me gently into the sea. The cool water rushes around us, and I ssh him in revenge, sending droplets flying.

We wrestle and ssh like two kids, the tension of thest few weeks washing away with every wave. At some point, he pulls me under for a kiss, our mouths meeting beneath the sun in a perfect, salty moment that makes me forget everything else.

When we finally crawl out, soaked and breathless, we copse onto the sand under a palm tree. I lie back on the towel we brought with us, my chest heaving, my hair damp and clinging to my cheeks.

Alex lies beside me on his side, propped up on an elbow, his fingers tracingzy patterns across my stomach.

"You''re happy," he murmurs, like it''s the most important observation he''s made in days.

I turn to face him, smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. "I am."

"Good," he says, kissing the tip of my nose. "Because we''re not leaving until you''ve made a thousand memories on this ind."

"And when I hit a thousand?" I whisper.

"Then I''ll give you another ind, so we can make new ones." he says without hesitation.

Iugh, rolling onto him. "You''re crazy."

"I''m crazy about you."

Iugh, rolling onto him, pressing my palm to his chest as I rest my chin there. The warm, steady beat of his heart thumps beneath my hand, making my heart swell.

Maybe I should continue with the drug so I can save more lives.

We lie there for a while, tangled in each other under the palm shade, the sound of

the waves lulling us into that dreamy, sun-kissed daze.

Eventually, Alex reaches for his phone, squinting at the screen.

"It''s almost Rayen''s bedtime," he murmurs, swiping to open the video call.

My heart jumps. I sit up immediately, brushing the sand from my arms

and fixing my damp hair, as if my

almost

t four year old

notice

care what I look like.  s

The screen rings for a second before it connects.

Rayen''s little face pops up, his curls slightly messy, his cheeks flushed, and a wide grin spreads across his face when he sees us.

"Mummy! Daddy!!"

"Oh my god, baby!" I breathe, smiling from ear to ear.

Alex shifts the phone, so we''re both in view, and I wave with both hands like a total dork.

"Are you in the jungle?" Rayen asks, squinting at the trees behind us.

"We''re at the beach," Alex answers, "but technically, this whole ind is your mums. So you''re looking at her kingdom."

Rayen''s eyes widen. "Can I visit?"

Iugh. "Of course, baby."

He goes on to tells us about his day, how he helped his friend with math, got picked to lead the morning pledge, and scored two goals during football.

"You''ve been busy," I say, my voice softer than I expect. My eyes sting a little as I watch him talk SO

confidently, so animated, his dittle hands waving everywhere.  s

He''s growing up too fast.

"Are you sleeping well?" I ask.

Rayen nods quickly. "Yes. Granny,

Aunt Sloane, and Aunt Isabelle take milk for me.

turns to make warm

Can you please tell them I cam bathe myself now? I don''t like being

touched."

s

Alexughs.

I re at him, making him fake a cough, but he just won''t stopughing.

"Mummy, will tell them. But they''ll still need to check on you to see if you''re scrubbing."

He sighs, "Okay mummy."

"I just miss you. So much."

"I miss you too," he says, suddenly a little shy. "But Daddy said honeymoons are important. So don''te back until you finnish."

Alex looks proud next to me.

I lean in, blowing a kiss. "We''ll call again tomorrow. Sleep well, my precious boy."

Rayen blows a kiss back, then hangs up, and the screen fades to ck.

I let out a slow breath, holding Alex''s hand,

"He''s doing okay."

"He''s doing amazing,” Alex says, brushing his lips against my temple. "That''sfnd546 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?/fnd546

because of you."

Before I can respond, Alex''s phone buzzes again. This time, it''s a different tone.

He nces at it, then frowns.

"It''s Sloane."

He answers, putting the call on speaker.

"What''s up?"

Sloane groans onto the speaker. "You need toe home soon."

Alex sits up.

"Did something happen?"

"It''s urgent, Alex,” she says, “ I can''t exin it all over the phone, but I need both

of you back as soon as you''re done with the honeymoon."

"Are you in danger?" Alex asks.

"No. There''s nothing like that. Just don''t extend for too long!"