The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold)

Chapter 1254

The campfire crackled as a chicken roasted to perfection, its mouthwatering aroma wafting through the

air.

The locals had never ventured beyond their island for they had no need of boats. They raised cows and

chickens, and when the tide receded, they'd gather fish and shellfish from the bountiful sea. There was

no fear of hunger here; the island provided.

The doctor arrived with a fine bottle of wine, and soon the beachside gathering was alive with song and

dance. Laughter mingled with the clink of glasses as they shared the roast and sipped the vintage,

which Tanya noted with approval, had the complex bouquet of a Lafite.

Tanya, however, kept to herself, sipping quietly at her wine. She wasn't one to join the revelry.

After their feast, the women sprang into action. They herded the cows and chickens into the barn, then

set about harvesting crops and picking fruit. Tanya knew this flurry of activity had to mean a storm was

brewing. Tanya was certain that they must be in contact with the outside world or they couldn't have

known the weather forecast.

She approached the doctor, "Is there a storm coming?"

"Yes," the doctor replied with a nod.

"How do you all know?" Tanya inquired.

The doctor pointed to a line of ants marching up a palm tree, saying, "These ants are our weather

forecasters. When they move up the tree, a storm is on its way. The higher they climb, the worse it will

be." She paused and then added, "Look at them all going up to the top of the tree today, that means

there's a big storm."

Indeed, as evening approached, dark clouds massed and fierce winds began to howl.

Inside the sturdy villa, the dining room was lit with a warm glow. The staff sat leisurely, relishing a

sumptuous dinner. Having had chicken at noon, they now savored fish and coconut crab by candlelight.

Tanya cracked a piece of succulent crab meat and remarked, "This storm's a fierce one, but thankfully,

we're rarely hit. Our little island's quite sheltered."

The doctor chuckled, "A storm now and then adds a bit of excitement. Falling asleep to the sounds of

the wind and rain is rather pleasant. Tomorrow morning, we'll don our helmets and pick up the coconuts

the storm has scattered."

Under the table, kittens nibbled on fish scraps while a pup gnawed contentedly on a bone. The room

was a picture of harmony, untouched by the tempest outside. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Tanya's thoughts, however, were on the boat she had been secretly building. She needed to make sure

it remained hidden, especially now. The storm churned up the sea, sending three-meter waves

crashing toward shore.

Tanya sat by a window, her gaze lost to the churning ocean, as she dined alone. She preferred the

solitude to the noisy dinner conversations in languages she hardly understood.

After the meal, the locals gathered in the great hall, extinguished the lights, and lit candles. They began

to share ghost stories, a thrilling pastime on such a tempestuous night. Tanya couldn't grasp the tales,

but the expressions of fear were a universal language.

They would have had nothing to aspire to, and everything would have been about living.

With nothing else to do, Tanya retreated to her room to sleep early.

The next day, after the storm had passed, Tanya covered her unfinished boat with branches before

anyone else awoke. Returning to the house, she found the doctor stepping out with a cup of coffee.

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"In a place with only women, don't you ever want to marry, or have children?" Tanya asked.