Chapter 203: A Life of Luxury

Thinking about it, Sierra no longer felt uncomfortable about the trip. But there was still something she needed to make clear.

“I’ll transfer the money to you.”

She wasn’t short on cash. Plenty remained from what she took from Bradley, and her research had already been patented. Anyone who used it had to pay, and once the drug passed trials and hit the market, the money would keep rolling in. She wasn’t worried about finances at all.

Afraid Jonathan would refuse, she added, “You have to take it. Otherwise, Grandma won’t be able to enjoy herself properly.”

Jonathan chuckled. “But I didn’t pay for this either, so how can I take your money? This island belongs to Maddox. Whether we come or not, he has to spend money maintaining it. By being here, we’re actually helping him get some use out of it.”

Sierra was speechless. She had to admit—she was witnessing a whole new level of wealth. Compared to them, the Xander family was nothing.

Deciding not to dwell on it, she led her grandmother on a tour. At first, Sierra’s grandmother felt a little uneasy, but after Sierra’s explanation, she slowly started to relax. She had never seen such a beautiful place in her entire life. Honestly, neither had Sierra.

The island’s chefs had already prepared dinner—fresh seafood, caught and cooked on the spot, with incredible flavor. After dinner, Sierra’s grandmother sat outside for a while before getting tired. Sierra helped her inside to rest and only came out after she had fallen asleep.

Since it was still early, Jonathan took Sierra for a walk. Dickson, being perceptive, didn’t follow. Now, he finally understood why Mr. Jonathan always looked at him with such displeasure—he was getting in the way of their relationship. Realizing this, Dickson wisely gave them space. Sure enough, afterward, Jonathan’s gaze toward him wasn’t as cold as before.

The sea breeze at night was just right, and Sierra felt completely at ease. Above them, the stars stretched endlessly across the sky.

“This place is beautiful,” she murmured.

Sierra nodded in agreement. Jonathan, meanwhile, was already thinking about taking her to his other islands. He had two that were even more breathtaking, but they were farther away. And if he brought someone there, it would definitely attract attention.

Right now, he wasn’t ready to expose his true identity. But one day, he would take her there.

“This island is just average. Next time, I’ll take you to one of mine.”

Sierra stared at him in disbelief. “Jonathan… does your family own a gold mine or something?”

She couldn’t wrap her head around it—someone with his kind of background had once been a mercenary, and now he was… Jonathan was a mystery.

“No mines.”

Jonathan gave a faint smile. “It belonged to my mother.”

Seeing that he didn’t want to talk about it, Sierra didn’t push further.

The next few days were some of the most peaceful Sierra had ever experienced. Mornings started with a leisurely breakfast, followed by sitting in the courtyard with her grandmother, enjoying the sea breeze. Perhaps it was the relaxed atmosphere, but Sierra’s grandmother’s spirits seemed better than ever. Every day, she had a bright smile on her face.

In the evenings, when the heat had faded, Jonathan would take her, Sierra’s grandmother, and Dickson down to the shore. Sometimes they collected seashells; other times they dug for clams. If she could, Sierra wished she could freeze time right here.

After they had fully settled in, Jonathan made arrangements for a fishing trip. At first, Sierra’s grandmother was hesitant—she knew her own health. Sierra was also worried. If something happened out at sea, they might not be able to get her back in time. But Jonathan had already thought of that.

“Don’t worry. I’ve arranged for a doctor to come with us. And it’s just a day trip—it’ll be fine.”

His reassurance convinced Sierra, and Sierra’s grandmother, who had never been on a boat before, became a little excited. Since they were going, Jonathan made sure to get a large yacht. If they were going to fish, they might as well go further out and catch something big. On the way back, he even planned a snorkeling stop. There was a great spot to see sea turtles.

It was an experience Sierra had never had before. She stood off to the side, watching as Jonathan reeled in a fish nearly a meter long. For a moment, the usual coolness in her eyes was replaced with pure excitement, her gaze round with amazement.

“Mr. Jonathan, you’re incredible!”

Sierra was starting to think—was there anything Jonathan couldn’t do?