Longing For The Beach Billionaire Daddy
Chapter 220

*Shelby*

As the first morning rays began to peek through the window, I scrambled out of bed and quickly got ready for the day. Surprisingly, I wasn’t hungover at all. I was giddy with anticipation, eager to get some alone time with my husband. With Lin and Aubrey on babysitting duty, Michael and I eagerly set off for a private snorkeling tour.

After a quick breakfast and a whole bunch of goodbye k****s, we headed down to the docks and found the small vessel that would take us out on the water.

When we stepped outside, the sun was high in the sky, glistening off the deep blue waters that lay before us. As we boarded the boat, our excitement evident, the guide greeted us with a warm smile.

“Welcome aboard! Today, we’ll take you to some of the most breathtaking snorkeling spots in Maui. Get ready to be amazed!”

“I’m so excited! Thank you for this, Michael.”

“Anything for you, Shelby. You know that. You needed this. We needed this.”

“Well, thank you for making it happen.”

The marvels began the moment we left the dock. A colorful kaleidoscope of fish seemed to appear out of nowhere, mesmerizing us with vibrant hues and graceful movements. But, I couldn’t help but squirm with excitement as we pulled to a stop in the open water.

We hurriedly put on our snorkels and fins, tucking the mouthpieces between our lips with a quick flick of the tongue, feeling the cold rubber of the mouthpiece between our lips as we adjusted straps and tightened buckles. Tingles of anticipation ran through me as we finished and got ready to get in the water.

The air was still, not a single cloud blocking the sun’s rays that bounced off the calm surface of the sea. Excitement bubbled as we descended the steps into the water and we followed our guide into the crystal blue depths below.

Adjusting our fins and masks, we followed the guide’s every move with anticipation.

Taking one last breath at the surface, we plunged into the warm abyss and were immediately embraced by a world teeming with life.

It was vibrant and awe-inspiring as pastel-hued coral lit up against the outlines of fish of all shapes and sizes.

I could feel the light tug of the water as it pulled me this way and that, like a puppet on an invisible string. With each move, I gracefully swayed and spun in its calming embrace, my body led by forces beyond my control. My legs scissored in a slow fluid motion as I closed my eyes and swayed with the current for just a moment.

The clear turquoise water revealed more and more of the ocean’s marvels as we moved along the surface. Michael gestured toward a school of golden-hued fish, darting around in formation, each reflecting sunlight with its tiny scales. Further down, two sea turtles gently paddled past us, their eyes met ours for a moment before they continued on their journey.

We swam further, the gentle waves lapping against our bodies. The colors of the coral and fish intensified, and I felt as though I was in a dream world. I felt Michael’s hand on my back, guiding me toward a particularly impressive coral reef. Its colors were so vivid, it was almost as if it was glowing. As we approached, I saw something moving inside the coral. It was a giant octopus!

I gasped, and Michael squeezed my hand in excitement. The octopus was a deep purple color, and its tentacles reached out in all directions. It was almost like it was inviting us to come closer.

As we continued exploring, my eyes caught sight of a dark figure lurking in the distance. I nudged Michael and pointed in that direction, my heart racing with excitement and curiosity.

The guide motioned for us to follow him, and we swam toward the looming shape. As we got closer, the shape began to take form–it was a giant manta ray, its wingspan wider than both of us combined. The manta ray moved with grace and fluidity I could only hope to achieve.

I couldn’t help but smile beneath my mask as I observed these gentle creatures in their natural habitat. Their presence was a reminder of the beauty and resilience that thrived in the ocean’s depths.

After an exhilarating snorkeling session, we fell back onto the creaky boat, drops of seawater dripping off our wetsuits and our eyes still glimmering with excitement after an hour spent snorkeling. Our faces were red, our eyes bright as we recounted our experiences with the vibrant coral reef. The guide’s face lit up as he shared his best-kept secret–a nearby pod of dolphins was known to swim around these waters.

He told us about how they were attracted to human interaction, leaping from the ocean in search of any boat willing to stay for a while. He put his binoculars to his eyes and slowly scanned the horizon, then pointed out toward the sea.

“Look!” he shouted.

As if on cue, the dolphins appeared, their sleek forms breaking through the surface in graceful arcs. We watched in awe as they leaped and twirled, their synchronized movements a mesmerizing spectacle to watch. Though smaller than the dolphins we had encountered in other places, their beauty remained unparalleled.

Michael and I exchanged glances, as he reached out and entwined our fingers, our hearts filled with gratitude for this shared experience. We got lost in the magic of the moment, the sight of dolphins dancing against the backdrop of the sun-kissed sea etching itself into our memories.

As the tour came to a close, we found ourselves reluctantly bidding farewell to our aquatic companions. Even this slice of paradise wasn’t enough to make me forget what was waiting for me back in our suite.

Over a leisurely lunch on the beach, we reminisced about our adventures, savoring the flavors of the island as we shared stories and laughter. But the pull of parenthood was undeniable. As much as I was enjoying our time together, I yearned to be reunited with my precious twins.

I wanted more of their laughter and innocence filling our lives with immeasurable joy.

“I know we had more planned, Michael,” I said, leaning into him. “But, I just miss them so much.”

His eyes softened, and he pulled me closer into his embrace. “We’ve had an incredible day, Shelby,” he murmured into my hair. “But there’s nothing quite like being with our babies.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of contentment and longing. “I couldn’t agree more. Our little ones are the heart and soul of our lives. Let’s head back and shower them with love.”

With renewed determination, we made our way back to the boat, bidding farewell to the captivating beauty of Maui and heading back to our babies.

As the boat gently rocked its way back to the shore, I felt a sense of peace wash over me, savoring the last moments of today’s adventure. However, the serenity was abruptly shattered by the shrill ringtone of my phone, jolting me from my thoughts.

Instinctively, I reached for my waterproof bag and pulled out my phone, glancing at the caller ID. It was my client, the one involved in the environmental standards lawsuit. A mix of concern and curiosity flooded my mind as I answered the call.

“Hello? John? What’s going on?” I asked, my voice filled with a tinge of worry.

The voice on the other end trembled with urgency, barely audible under a wave of fear-induced panic. “Shelby … it’s them. I know it was them!” he shouted.

“Hold on, John. Take a deep breath and tell me what this is about.”

“They called me from a blocked number, threatening me if I didn’t drop the case. But I refused, and now my house … it’s burned to the ground!”

My heart started to pound faster as I realized the gravity of what I was hearing. Shock rolled through every fiber of my being, leaving me momentarily speechless. The weight of the situation settled heavily on my shoulders as I struggled to grasp the magnitude of the terror my client had just faced.

Taking deep breaths to steady myself, I replied, “Okay. Okay. Take a breath, John. I know it might seem impossible at the moment, but I need you to be calm, okay? First and foremost, you need to make sure you’re safe. Is everyone okay?”

“Yes, yes. We were lucky in that sense. We were out at the time, so no one was home.”

“Good. That’s wonderful, John. Thank god no one was hurt.” I ran a hand through my damp hair, my fingers shaking at the implication. “I want you to find a secure place to stay. Can you do that?”

“I–I think so. I can take my family somewhere … off the books.”

“Good, that’s good. I want you to leave all your phones too. Just in case, okay? Get burners, or just use the landline wherever you’re staying. I want you to call me when you’re safe. Can you do that?”

“Yes. Yes, of course. I’ll call you.”

After assuring him that I would do everything in my power to help, I ended the call and turned to face Michael, who had been watching me with growing concern.

“What happened?” he inquired, his voice filled with genuine worry.

I exhaled slowly, my mind racing to process the unsettling turn of events. “It’s bad, Michael. They threatened him. Then, when that didn’t work, they burned the man’s house down.”

Michael’s expression mirrored my shock, his eyes widening with disbelief. “Are they okay?”

“Luckily, no one was inside at the time.”

Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I realized that our wonderful vacation had taken an unforeseen detour, abruptly pulling us back into the complex world of legal battles and dangerous enemies. Hadn’t we moved past that? I really thought we were done with all of that stress, but I was wrong.

“I don’t … I’d ask you to walk away from this, but I know I would be wasting my breath. We’ve dealt with worse. I’ll call Bruce and get the team on this. You don’t have to worry about us, about the twins. We’ll be safe. What are you going to do about the client?” Michael asked.

“He’s safe for now. I’ve promised to help him, and I intend to keep that promise. But … it means we have to go back early.”

A mixture of concern and determination flickered in Michael’s eyes. “Whatever it takes, Shelby. We’ll do what we have to do. Our priority is keeping your client–and our family–safe and making sure justice is served.”

I nodded, grateful for his unwavering support.

With a sad quiver to my voice, I said, “So, I guess it’s time to go home.”