Chapter 163: Going On A Vacation Trip
Damian stepped out of the car and the first thing that hit him was the heat. It wasn’t the dry, suffocating heat of a city afternoon but a heavy, humid warmth that wrapped around his skin and settled into his bones. The air felt alive, thick with movement, distant voices, rolling suitcases, engines humming, and announcements echoing overhead.
Airports always had its unique vibe.
His gaze lifted lazily and then stopped the moment it spotted Clara.
She stood just beyond the glass doors, one hand on her hip, the other holding her phone loosely. She wasn’t smiling. But the moment their eyes met, something in her posture shifted, like a tension she had been holding finally loosened.
Damian walked toward her without slowing down, Hazel and Racheal naturally falling into step beside him, while Ruby trailed slightly behind, already smiling.
Clara didn’t wait for greetings.
She stepped forward and stopped right in front of him, her eyes scanning his face, his posture, his chest, as if confirming something only she understood.
"You look better," she said, but her tone carried accusation more than relief.
Damian smirked faintly. "Not the reaction I was expecting."
"You almost died, and now you’re traveling." Clara replied flatly, then exhaled and shook her head.
Hazel stepped slightly closer to Damian. "He’s fine."
Clara glanced at her, then at Racheal, then at Ruby who had now joined them, and for a brief moment something unreadable passed through her eyes before she simply nodded as a smile bloomed on her face.
"Okay, Let’s go." She said
From that point on, everything moved smoothly. Private check-in with no queues or delays. Staff were already waiting, informed and prepared for their arrival.
Damian noticed it, but he didn’t comment. He had stopped questioning convenience a long time ago. He already assumed it had something to do with Twenty.
Honestly, having the cartel at the palm of his hand made life much easier.
They moved through security like ghosts passing through walls, drawing attention without trying. People looked, but of course they did. There were four gorgeous women, and Damian himself didn’t help matters.
By the time they stepped into the aircraft, the world outside had already begun to feel distant.
The cabin was quiet with soft golden lighting. First class had enough space to make silence feel natural instead of awkward.
Damian didn’t hesitate. He took his seat and leaned back slightly, his body relaxing into it as if it had been waiting for this exact moment.
Hazel took the seat on his right, her thigh brushing against his without hesitation, while Racheal settled on his left, close enough that her shoulder rested lightly against his arm.
Across from them, Ruby dropped into her seat with visible excitement, immediately leaning toward Clara."Are you alright? You seem a bit off today."
Clara gave a small smile. "I’m sorry but it’s that time of the month, so I’m a bit on edge."
Ruby glanced at her deeply, understanding what Clara meant.
"You must be frustrated that it’s happening during the week of our trip. I’m sorry about that" Ruby gently patted her head.
Clara could only nod with a bitter smile. This trip was meant to be filled with intimate moments with Damian. But now she doesn’t see that happening. She already feels like a third wheel.
The plane began to move.
Damian didn’t look out the window immediately. He closed his eyes instead, listening to the hum of the engines, the subtle shift in pressure and the quiet breathing of the women beside him.
He was truly having fun extending his senses to the limit and taking it everything at once.
Racheal adjusted slightly, her head tilting just enough to rest against him. Hazel’s fingers found his hand without thinking, her grip light.
For the first time in days, there was no tension in his body. No immediate danger or calculation.
Time passed. And at some point, Damian opened his eyes and turned his head slightly.
The sky stretched endlessly outside, clouds drifting beneath them like a second world. The city was gone. The noise was gone. Everything that mattered before felt smaller now.
Across from him, Ruby and Clara were still talking, though quieter now. Clara’s posture had relaxed, her guard lowered just enough, while Ruby spoke with animated expressions, pulling reactions out of her effortlessly.
Damian watched them for a moment before looking away.
Then he closed his eyes again.
When the plane began its descent, the change was immediate.
The ocean appeared first, endless and deep, stretching beyond the horizon in every direction. Then came the color shift. Dark blue fading into lighter shades, then into clear turquoise waters that revealed the reefs beneath.
Damian leaned slightly forward, his gaze narrowing.
Then he saw it.
The island with white sand and clean lines. The water was so clear it barely looked real and at the center of it, their villa stood like it had been placed there for them alone.
The plane touched down smoothly, and the moment they stepped out, the air changed again.
It was a salty warm wind accompanied by the sound of water in the distance.It was quieter here, but not empty. The kind of quiet that made you aware of everything.
A boat was already waiting. There were no introductions or delays.
The engine started, and the boat cut through the water cleanly, leaving a trail behind them as the island grew closer.
Ruby moved to the edge almost immediately, leaning forward slightly as she stared into the water. "You can see the bottom..."
"Beautiful, right?" Damain commented and Ruby nodded in agreement.
Seeing the usually stern Ruby, bubbly and happy, Damian couldn’t help but feel satisfied. She’s not an easy woman to please.
Clara, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought. Damain noticed but didn’t bother doing anything now. He planned to do that privately when they got to their new home for the entire week.
For now all Damian could do is enjoy Hazel and Racheal’s warmth and take his mind off his worries.