Chapter 229: Arriving at the Destination

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Arriving at the Destination

Three days later.

The plane landed in a southern coastal city located at the tail end of Cyrina. Known for its tourism, the city attracted a large number of visitors every year.

The moment Vivian Lowell and Julian Faulkner stepped off the plane, Vivian was hit by an intense wave of heat and the heavy humidity in the air.

It was only May, but the weather was already blistering. Because the entire island was surrounded by the sea, the humidity levels remained exceptionally high all year round.

"It’s so hot and humid," Vivian couldn’t help but mutter.

Julian had Vance Wyatt handle their luggage before saying softly, "The shuttle bus will be here any minute. Once we get on, we’ll head straight to the hotel. We won’t be out in this heat for long."

"Mhm." Vivian nodded. Glancing at the scorching sun through her sunglasses, she felt grateful that she had come fully prepared. With her sunglasses and sunscreen already packed, she had nothing to worry about now.

Taking the shuttle to the airport exit and then riding all the way to their hotel took over an hour.

The hotel was situated in a bay on the southeastern side of the island. Because this area had been developed relatively late, the water quality was pristine. The ocean surface near the sandy beach shimmered beautifully in the light.

In the hotel suite.

Sitting on the balcony and gazing at the endless ocean, Vivian had the sudden urge to open her arms and embrace the breathtaking view. She absolutely loved this scenery!

Her moment of bliss was soon interrupted by a knock on the door. KNOCK KNOCK. Eleanor Rhodes tapped the doorframe and called out, "Vivian? Are you rested yet?

"The hotel is serving afternoon tea right now! I got a little airsick on the plane, so I hardly ate a thing. I’m starving. Let’s go down and get something to eat, okay?"

They had taken an early morning flight, arriving at the hotel around noon. Now, after settling in, it was already past two in the afternoon. Eleanor was usually in good health, but she was prone to severe motion sickness if a car ride was too bumpy or if a flight hit turbulence. It was the kind of dizziness she could only shake off by sleeping!

Having finally taken a nap, she had woken up to a loud RUMBLE from her empty stomach and immediately came looking for Vivian.

Hearing this, Vivian quickly said, "Give me a second, let me reapply my sunscreen! After we have afternoon tea, let’s take a stroll around the hotel."

Their hotel covered a massive area. In addition to a private beach, it boasted water recreation facilities and a sprawling garden perfect for walking. Since it was rare for Eleanor to go on a trip, she naturally wanted to explore the place thoroughly.

"Okay, I’ll put some on too," Eleanor said. She stepped into the room and joined Vivian in reapplying sunscreen.

As the two friends chatted, Eleanor noticed Julian sitting to the side. He was working on his laptop, but he kept shooting occasional glances their way. His gaze carried a hint of resentment as he looked at Eleanor. It was obvious he was rather displeased that she had "stolen" Vivian away from him!

HEHE.

Eleanor chuckled inwardly and turned to Julian. "President Faulkner, don’t look so glum. I heard the hotel is hosting a beach party by the shore tonight.

"You can have Western food or even do a barbecue. You should go down later and take a look. Set up a super romantic candlelit dinner for Vivian, wouldn’t that be nice?"

After all, it was the hotel’s private beach. Come nightfall, they would set up bonfires on the sand, and dedicated staff would be there to grill food. The restaurant also provided a specific menu for the beach area. Eleanor figured that if Julian had any special requests, the restaurant would definitely accommodate him.

Julian hadn’t been in the best of moods, but upon hearing Eleanor’s suggestion, his eyes flickered with interest. His tone softened significantly as he replied, "That sounds good."

He then looked at Vivian and asked, "Vivian, is there anything you’d like to eat?"

Vivian wondered, "What do I want to eat?"

She carefully rubbed the sunscreen into her arms and said, "I want barbecue! Grilled lamb chops and things like that, sprinkled with lots of chili powder, cumin, and thirteen-spice blend! And seafood!

"Oh, right! I heard there’s a ton of seafood here! I want grilled oysters and grilled scallops! And I want them spicy—the kind with bird’s eye chilies and minced garlic!

"I also want baked lobster. Something with a strong flavor profile, just as long as it isn’t sweet!"

Standing to the side, Eleanor’s stomach was about to let out a loud RUMBLE at the sound of that. Vivian had perfectly described the essence of barbecue, making her mouth water. She wanted to eat it right this second!

"Alright," Julian noted. He was listening intently, not showing the slightest bit of the gluttonous craving that Eleanor was exhibiting. After mentally recording everything Vivian had listed, he added, "You need to eat some vegetables and fruit, too.

"Leave it to me to arrange everything. How does that sound?"

Vivian agreed with a hum without a second thought. Julian knew her preferences perfectly; with him organizing it, she wouldn’t have to worry about a thing.

Soon, they finished applying their sunscreen. Vivian and Eleanor went downstairs to the hotel’s Western restaurant together. They ordered french fries, grilled wings, small cakes, and milk tea, deciding to treat themselves to a hearty snack.

The Western restaurant was located on the first floor. Sitting by the window, they could easily see outside through the large floor-to-ceiling glass.

The sun was still blazing intensely at past two o’clock. Even so, there were a few people swimming outside, along with quite a few foreigners sunbathing. Seeing the foreigners roasting themselves in the sun like that, Eleanor couldn’t help but let out a TSK of amazement.

"I’m so jealous. They never get tanned! Unlike me—if I miss even a single spot with my sunscreen, I’ll be completely dark by the end of the afternoon!"

Vivian was noncommittal. As she munched on a french fry, she remembered the first-instance judgment and brought it up. "By the way, the verdict has already been handed down.

"Eleanor, did you hear about it?"

Eleanor froze for a moment. It took her a few seconds to process the question before she remembered what Vivian was talking about. She shook her head and said, "I didn’t know. I had almost forgotten about the whole thing."

Her tone seemed rather nonchalant, but from the expression on Eleanor’s face, Vivian knew that the incident had always remained a lingering knot in her heart.

"Miss Bell got three years, Wendy Wynn got seven, and Rachel Faulkner was sentenced to death. Wendy is a foreign citizen of Chinese descent, so after she finishes her seven-year sentence, she’ll be deported. Julian said he’ll make sure she is kicked out of the country when the time comes.

"He’s also going to make arrangements with her creditors abroad to ensure they ’take good care’ of her life after those seven years are up."

The amount of money Wendy owed was far from trivial. If she hadn’t found an opportunity to sneak back into the country, her life abroad would have been utterly miserable by now! This time, with Julian pulling some strings, Wendy’s life wouldn’t be any easier once she completed her sentence and returned abroad!

"It’s what she deserves," Eleanor said absentmindedly. Taking a large gulp of her milk tea, she was just about to change the subject to recent happenings at the pet hospital when Joy Drake walked over from nearby.