Chapter 269 Too Friendly

Chapter 269 Too Friendly
LEITANA

It was mid-afternoon, and the warm Vanuatu sun was shining brightly through the large windows of our new home. Rosie and I had spent the morning playing in the garden, chasing butterflies and collecting pretty shells from the beach nearby.

She was full of energy, laughing and running around with Mr. Fluffy tucked under one arm. I watched her with a soft smile, my hand resting on my growing belly, feeling the baby kick gently every now and then.

“Lei, can we go somewhere fun today?” Rosie asked suddenly, bouncing on her toes. “Like the big waterfall mi heard about or the place with the flying foxes!”

I smiled, kneeling down to fix her hair. “That sounds perfect, mi baby. Mi know a nice place, the Mele Cascades. I heard the waterfall is so beautiful, with clear pools we can swim in. We can have a picnic and play in the water.”

Rosie’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Let’s go!”

I stood up, holding her hand as we walked toward the study where Ravial was working. My heart was still heavy from last night, but I tried to push it down. I knocked softly on the door and stepped inside. Ravial was seated at his desk, talking quietly to a few of his men. He looked up the moment I entered.

“Mi Ravial,” I said quietly, “Rosie and I want to go to the Mele Cascades for a bit. Just for a few hours. We will be back before dark.”

Ravial stood up immediately, dismissing his men with a nod. They left quickly, closing the door behind them. He walked over to me, cupping my face gently with both hands.

“Okay, my lamb,” he said softly. “Give me a few minutes. I’ll come with you.”

I shook my head, stepping back slightly. “No, mi Ravial. You have work. We can go alone.”

“Not happening.”

I crossed my arms, annoyance flaring up. “Why? Why mi have to have you or bodyguard following me around everywhere? What are you hiding?”

Ravial gritted his teeth, his hands clenching at his sides. “This is about the blindfold thing, isn’t it?”

“What? No… Well, yes, partly. I still don’t understand why you hide your eyes from me. But that’s not the only reason. I just want to go out with Rosie without men hovering around.”

He stared at me for a long moment, the tension thick between us. Then he sighed heavily, rubbing his temple.

“Fine,” he said finally. “A few of my men will go with you. They’ll stay at a distance, but they will be there. That’s the only way I’m allowing this.”

I rolled my eyes, frustrated but knowing it was the best I would get. “Okay.”

He stepped forward, pulling me into his arms and kissing my forehead. “I’m not trying to cage you, my lamb. I’m trying to keep you safe. Both of you.”

I nodded, still upset, but I hugged him back.

He kissed the top of my head again. “I love you even when you’re annoyed.”

A few minutes later, Rosie and I left the house with two of Ravial’s men following a respectful distance behind us. The drive to the Mele Cascades was beautiful, winding through lush green hills and past small villages. Rosie chattered excitedly the whole way, pointing at everything she saw.

When we arrived, the waterfall was as breathtaking as they said, cascading down rocky tiers into clear, turquoise pools surrounded by tropical greenery.

We spent the afternoon swimming in the cool water, building little dams with stones, and eating fresh mango and coconut under the shade of the trees.

I sat on a large flat rock near the lower pool, watching Rosie play in the shallow water with a few other children from nearby families. She was splashing and laughing, her little voice carrying over the sound of the falling water.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over me, blocking the sun. I looked up, shielding my eyes with my hand.

A pretty lady stood there, smiling warmly. She seemed to be in her late twenties, with long dark hair tied back and big brown eyes. She wore a simple yellow sundress and carried a small bag.

“Hello,” she said softly. “My name is Lila. That little boy playing with your daughter is my son, Koa.”

I nodded, smiling back politely. “Nice to meet you. My name is Leitana. Your son is so cute.”

Lila sat down on the rock beside me, still smiling. “Yes, he loves the water. Are you a single mom too? It’s nice to see another mother here with her child.”

I shook my head gently, keeping my answer short. “No, I'm not single. My husband is at home.”

Lila kept talking, her voice friendly but a little too much. She told me about her life in the village, how hard it was raising Koa alone after her husband left, how expensive everything was now.

She asked me questions about where I lived, how I got here, and if I was visiting family. I answered politely, trying to be kind, but something about her made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Her eyes lingered too long on my belly, and her smile felt a little too wide.

I didn’t say anything though. I just nodded and smiled, not wanting to be rude.

But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.