I blinked twice. Then a third time.
It still didn't feel real.
The moment we stepped off the boat and onto the dock, the world shifted. Crystal-clear water stretched endlessly around us, the soft lull of waves breaking gently against the shore.
The air smelled of salt and something sweet—fresh, untouched. Ahead, a sprawling villa rose from the lush greenery, its sleek modern design seamlessly blending into the tropical paradise around it.
To my right, Danielle's jaw had all but dropped. Her eyes darted in every direction, trying to take in everything at once.
"It's… it's really a private island," she breathed, her voice full of disbelief.
"I know, right?" My own voice sounded distant like I was still trying to convince myself this was real.
"I mean, I thought—" She cut herself off, shaking her head. "I wasn't expecting an actual island."
"Me neither," I admitted, still dazed.
