Chapter 148 Tides of Firsts 2
Chapter 148: Tides of Firsts-2
Gli
The young woman scrambled to comply, reaching for the ridiculous purple bear on the top shelf.
Ashcroft stood there in silence as they worked, jaw tight, expression unreadable.
What the hell are you doing, Nicholas?
He exhaled sharply, the corner of his mouth twitching with something between irritation and
surrender. She’s going to drive me insane.
Not long after, Damien and Maya walked into the souvenir shop.
Maya stopped short, blinking in surprise. The shelves that once displayed rows of colorful magnets were completely bare.
“Excuse me,” she asked the staff politely, “where are your magnets?”
The young attendant froze, glancing nervously toward the manager-then at Ashcroft, who stood near the counter with his hands in his pockets, sunglasses dangling from his fingers.
“I-I’m terribly sorry, ma’am,” the staff stammered, bowing slightly. “We don’t have any left. The next delivery won’t arrive until tonight.”
Damien’s gaze swept the shop, then landed on the manager. “What’s going on?”
Before the poor man could answer, Ashcroft’s voice cut in smoothly, calm and composed.
“I bought them all.”
Damien raised an eyebrow. “Hmm.”
Ashcroft met his look without flinching. “What? I’m feeling generous. Thought I’d bring some back
for my men.”
Your men, Damien mused silently, eyes narrowing with faint amusement. The same men who
handle guns all day, who could kill a man with their bare hands… want fridge magnets?
He said nothing, only hummed in quiet disbelief.
Maya folded her arms, her lips curving with barely restrained laughter. “I’m assuming you got the huge purple teddy bear for them too?”
Ashcroft froze, caught mid-motion. His jaw flexed slightly before he cleared his throat. “Oh, that? That’s for my… uh… dog. Yes. For my dog.”
The corner of Damien’s mouth twitched. Maya’s eyes sparkled.
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Chapter 148 Tides of Firsts-2
Cham
Ashcroft slipped his sunglasses on, as if that somehow restored his composure. Then he turned to the manager. “Send everything to the yacht.”
The manager bowed quickly. “Y-yes, sir.”
Ashcroft nodded once. “Good.” He glanced briefly at Damien and Maya, then added coolly, “I’ll go
ahead. I’ll wait for you onboard.”
And without waiting for a reply, he walked out-shoulders squared, stride confident, though the faintest flush of embarrassment lingered beneath the surface.
Behind him, Damien exhaled softly, lips curving into a smirk.
Maya shook her head, half amused, half endeared. “Dog, huh?”
Damien’s smirk deepened. “He doesn’t even own a damn dog.”
Maya bit back a laugh, shaking her head. “Of course he doesn’t.”
Maya carefully selected a few souvenirs: a couple of T-shirts, a keychain, and a mug for Jaime, along with a paperweight etched with the resort’s name. For Ms. Janice, she picked a shirt, some local accessories, and a cute little rattan pouch. Not forgetting a few edible treats, she added nuts and chocolates to the collection, imagining how delighted they would be.
At the checkout, the crew efficiently packed the souvenirs, handling each item with care, and set
them aside to be sent directly to the yacht.
As expected, Damien tried to insist she take whatever she wanted, but Maya held firm. When he offered to pay instead, she politely declined. With a soft, amused sigh, he finally relented, letting her handle it herself-though that smirk of his lingered, equal parts entertained and quietly impressed by her resolve.
For Maya, the simple act of paying felt different now. There was a quiet satisfaction in it-a newfound sense of freedom she hadn’t felt in years. The money she had once scraped and saved day and night for Jaime’s operation, always feeling like it would never be enough, now sat as her safety net.
When her new compensation came through, the company’s medical insurance covered everything
Jaime needed-every test, every treatment. That crushing weight she had carried for so long had
finally lifted. And she knew, deep down, it was because of Damien-and Nicholas, too. They had
given her and Jaime a chance to breathe again.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.