Chapter 307: The Promise

Richard had accompanied Sharon and Kristal on a trip to the scenic Isle of Lavista that Saturday, at the same day that the Dalton and the Foster heirs celebrated their first birthday.

Situated at the northern tip of the country, the remote island was famous for its verdant rolling hills, pristine beaches, and breathtaking coastal scenery.

Accessible only by boat, it remained largely untouched by modern development. Even the internet connection was notoriously unreliable, making it the perfect escape for those who wanted to get away from the noise of the world.

"I had no idea such a beautiful place existed in your country!" Kristal exclaimed, breathing in the fresh sea breeze.

"This is paradise!"

Their first stop was the island’s famous sandbar, a magnificent stretch of powdery white sand that emerged from the sea during low tide. Winding through the shallow turquoise waters in the shape of an S, it branched into slender sandy trails that seemed to float on the ocean’s surface. At one end stood a small, rocky hill covered in lush tropical vegetation, completing the postcard-perfect scenery.

The water was so clear that the rippling sand beneath their feet was visible, while gentle waves lapped against their ankles.

Sharon and Kristal wasted no time wading into the shallow water, laughing as they splashed one another.

Richard, however, remained on the exposed portion of the sandbar, watching them from a distance.

Something felt wrong.

He couldn’t quite explain it. The uneasiness had been lingering since they arrived, like a forgotten thought hovering at the edge of his consciousness.

The sight of the beautiful island should have put him at ease, yet it stirred something deep inside him instead.

Then, almost involuntarily, his thoughts drifted to Isobel.

A memory from years ago surfaced in his mind.

"Richie, when I grow up, will you take me to the beach?"

The little girl had looked up at him with bright, expectant eyes.

"It must be wonderful to swim in the sea and build sandcastles!"

"Of course." Young Richard had answered without hesitation.

"I’ll take you to the Isle of Lavista someday. You’ll love it there. The sand is as white and fine as powder, and the water is so clear you can see straight through it."

"Have you been there before?" Isobel asked with innocent voice.

"Yes. My parents brought me there when I was little."

At once, the excitement had faded from Isobel’s face.

"You’re lucky, Richie. You still remember your parents." She lowered her head, her small fingers twisting together. "I don’t even have memories of my own."

The sadness in her voice had struck him harder than he expected.

Richard had lost his patience with many things, but when Isobel looked at him like that, he felt that he had limitless amount of patience and tenderness.

He reached for her hand and held it firmly.

"Don’t be sad, Isobel. You have me, don’t you? I’ll always be your family. I promise."

He paused before adding, "And I’ll bring you to Lavista someday."

The little girl immediately raised her head.

"Pinky swear?"

Richard had laughed.

"That’s childish!"

But despite his teasing, he still hooked his big pinky around hers.

"Fine. Pinky swear."

The memory lingered, leaving Richard with an unfamiliar ache in his chest.

How wonderful would it be if Isobel were the one standing beside him today?

He could almost picture her running barefoot across the white sand, her face alight with wonder as she felt the seawater lapped at her feet.

Knowing Isobel, she would probably insist on building the biggest sandcastle on the beach, then pout when the waves inevitably swept it away.

The thought brought an unexpected smile to his lips.

Yet the smile soon faded.

That was a promise made by a younger him who believed he could always keep his word. Years had passed since then, and the distance between them had grown in ways he had never imagined.

Would Isobel even remember that childish promise?

"Richard!"

A sweet voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He turned toward the sea and saw Kristal waving enthusiastically at him. With one hand raised above the water, she tried to tame her auburn hair as the sea breeze swept it across her face.

Her white sundress clung lightly to her figure, its delicate fabric fluttering in the wind. With the sunlight glimmering on the water behind her, she looked almost ethereal, like a sea nymph emerging from the turquoise depths.

Richard paused.

He had always known Kristal was beautiful. But there was something different about her now. Without the careful composure she usually maintained, she seemed more natural, more carefree—and somehow, even more captivating.

For a moment, he simply watched her.

Then he shook off his distraction and started toward them.

He had barely taken a few steps when he encountered a group of young women coming from the opposite direction.

Richard wore a fitted dark blue shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean physique, paired with board shorts printed with ocean scenery and a surfer riding a wave. His dark sunglasses concealed his eyes, but they did little to diminish his striking appearance.

The women immediately noticed him.

One of them, dressed in a revealing bikini, stepped forward with a bright smile and held out her phone.

"Handsome, could you take a picture of us?"

Richard didn’t even slow down.

He walked past her as though he hadn’t heard a word.

The woman’s smile stiffened.

She had expected him to stop. Most men would have jumped at the opportunity to speak to a woman like her, but this man hadn’t even spared her a glance.

"How arrogant!" she muttered, watching his retreating figure. "If you weren’t so handsome, do you think you’d be worth my attention?"

Her companions giggled, though their eyes remained fixed on Richard.

None of them noticed the way his expression changed when he reached Sharon and Kristal.

Nor did they know that, while the women on the beach were captivated by his appearance, Richard’s thoughts remained with someone who wasn’t there.

A little girl.

A childish promise.

And a pinky swear he had never truly forgotten.