Chapter 6101

The young woman spoke with a forlorn expression, saying, "They are still haunting us; they will follow us wherever we go..." The middle-aged man leaned in closer and whispered, "You know, he doesn't lack for money—he's wealthier than we are. When he arrives in the Maldives, he'll undoubtedly opt for the most luxurious options. This implies that this family definitely has some influence. Regardless, once we reach the island, everyone will be lost in their own activities, so we won’t have to deal with them. Just try to endure it." The young woman felt a surge of anger and muttered, "I’ve let them ruin my good mood... It's so frustrating..." The middle-aged man quickly interjected, "Oh, please keep it down! Isn’t it better to know less than to know too much? I’ll take the blame for this whole situation. If I had realized, I wouldn’t have stirred up trouble with their family at the airport." The young woman felt quite dejected. She had anticipated a wonderful journey, but she never imagined that she would be bothered by Elaine from the airport waiting area all the way until getting off the plane. It was an uncomfortable feeling to be so pressed upon. Fortunately, Elaine seemed to regard them with disdain, showing little interest in causing them any further trouble. They exchanged no words and settled into a heavy silence. Charlie's family entrusted their luggage to the staff and made their way to the VIP lounge on Baima Island for a brief rest. Unexpectedly, a few minutes later, the middle-aged man and the young woman entered, looking somewhat embarrassed, accompanied by a private butler who was one of the other three staff members. With everyone exchanging glances, the man raised his hand in greeting to Charlie, accompanied by a few nervous smiles. Charlie nodded back and smiled in return. He didn’t have any issues with this man; he had encountered many pretentious individuals in his life. Given that his father-in-law and mother-in-law had reached the height of prestige, Charlie could appreciate the man’s behavior as understandable. Noticing the polite greeting exchanged between the man and Charlie, Elaine felt a swell of pride, attributing the moment to her own influence, so she made the final judgment at Aurous Hill Airport without further complaint. However, instead of continuing to focus on them, she merely regarded others with a haughty air, her chin held high. After about twenty minutes, the butler named Hani approached Charlie respectfully, saying, "Mr. Wade, we are ready to board the plane." Charlie nodded and replied, "How long will the seaplane flight take?" "It's a little over half an hour," Hani responded, maintaining his respectful demeanor. "The straight-line distance is less than 200 kilometers, so you’ll arrive shortly.” "Alright," Charlie confirmed, then stood up to leave the lounge with his family. The departure and arrival point for the seaplane was located in the parallel waters adjacent to the airport runway. The seaplane itself was quite small, even smaller than a typical private jet. Once onboard, everyone had to wear noise-canceling headphones due to the loud propeller noise during takeoff and landing, which made normal conversation impossible. Once the couple boarded the plane, they took a seat at the back, remaining silent throughout the entire journey. The woman appeared gloomy and reluctant while the man could only hold her hand and gently massage it in an attempt to comfort her. The plane picked up speed on the water's surface and then veered off toward the north of Male. Along the route, they passed numerous picturesque islands. Almost every island featured a similar layout—expansive beaches, reefs, and dense forests, with some large buildings scattered about. The main structures typically housed public facilities, while smaller buildings served as independent guesthouses. Some of these homes were nestled in the tropical forest by the beach, while others were built directly on the reefs or emerged from the sea. The plane landed on the water and gradually glided toward the dock. As the group disembarked, they were greeted by the slightly salty breeze of the tropical island. Charlie had booked the best over-water villa for four nights for his family. Once they arrived on the island, the butler drove them in a golf cart to their guest room, all while providing an overview of the island's amenities.

White Horse Island featured a wealth of facilities, including six different restaurants, multiple bars, and a spa. It offered nearly every form of water entertainment imaginable, including various diving activities. Of course, all of these activities came at an additional cost. A Western meal or a traditional Maldivian dish would start at a minimum of $500 per person. Even a basic essential oil spa treatment would begin at no less than $1,000—making the overall value seem quite low. While the accommodation fees didn’t appear excessively high, the moment one arrived on the island, all kinds of expenses skyrocketed. Nonetheless, guests here were predominantly affluent, and amounts in the hundreds of thousands of dollars were just trivial figures to most, so they accepted the prices without a second thought. After the family settled into their two rooms and took a brief rest, Charlie intended to go out for dinner. He shared the restaurant details in a WeChat group with his family, and Elaine was quick to reply, "Let’s try the local seafood tonight! I’ve heard the local cooks make it incredibly delicious." "Sounds good," Charlie said in agreement. He then reached out to the butler from his phone in the room and asked him to secure a reservation at a local restaurant in the Maldives. Once the reservation was made, the family changed into vacation attire—t-shirts and shorts—and enjoyed the refreshing sea breeze as they made their way from the water villa to the restaurant. The views along the path were breathtaking; Jacob and Elaine were so captivated that they hardly put their phones down to capture the scenery. However, Claire felt disinterested and trailed behind, fidgeting with her hands and wishing for something more engaging. Noticing his wife's mood, Charlie asked with concern, "Honey, why do you seem a bit down? Are you not enjoying the surroundings?" Claire forced a smile and shook her head, replying, "Maybe it’s the travel fatigue that’s lingering. Plus, I’m still feeling a bit weak with my mom's situation on my mind." Charlie quickly offered, "I have some herbal medicine to boost your energy. I'll bring you some later." He was thinking of retrieving a revitalizing elixir upon their return, encouraging Claire to take it. However, Claire gently declined, saying, "There’s no need to worry; I suspect I’ll feel better once I've eaten." Charlie nodded, sensing something was off with Claire but unable to identify the issue. He wasn’t particularly perceptive when it came to emotions, attributing Claire's condition to the challenges caused by Jacob and Elaine as well as the exhausting journey, so he focused on ordering some delicious food to help Claire regain her strength. When the four of them arrived at the Maldivian-style restaurant, the sunset hung above the sea, casting vibrant shades of red across the clouds, sky, and water—a breathtaking panorama where sea and sky blended seamlessly. The restaurant wasn’t overly crowded since six options spread out the guests, ensuring that no single venue felt noisy. The family opted for a table with views of the sunset and ocean. Charlie passed the menu to Claire and Elaine, hoping they would choose some dishes they liked. At that moment, Jacob glanced outside the restaurant, exclaiming, "Wow, that guy is really something with two wives!" Charlie, Claire, and Elaine instinctively followed his gaze and spotted a Middle Eastern man walking over, flanked by two women in headscarves, both of whom appeared heavily pregnant. Elaine commented, "What’s the big deal about that? Isn’t it legal for them to have four wives?" Seeing Charlie’s shocked expression, she added, "Come on, son-in-law, don’t pine for such things! Their customs differ from ours—just take it all in!" Breaking free from his astonishment, Charlie awkwardly smiled and responded, "Mom, I’m not envious; I know that man..." "Know him?" The three family members looked surprised. It was unexpected for Charlie to encounter a friend here. Charlie confirmed the man’s identity in his mind. Although he wasn’t in military attire, he recognized his old buddy from Syria, Hamid.