The villa was no more than a three-minute walk away, but with the two of them walking and chatting, the journey stretched into ten minutes.
"I've safely walked you back to your room. Go on inside," Chase stopped outside Villa No. 5 and didn't move any further.
Anna gave him a subtle smile. "Thank you."
Chase chuckled lazily, "Princess, you're too polite."
"If there's anything missing in the villa, just send me a message."
"Alright," Anna waved her hand, "Bye, good night."
"Good night."
Just as Anna turned to head towards the villa, Chase called out, reminding her, "Remember to wear a light jacket when you go out tomorrow morning. The temperature difference here is big in the early mornings and evenings."
Anna fluttered her long lashes. "But I didn't bring a jacket."
Chase raised an eyebrow. "What about your friend?"
Anna remained calm and replied, "She didn't bring one either."
Chase looked at her with a knowing gaze, teasing, "Well, then maybe you shouldn't go?"
"You can't let someone freeze just for the sake of watching a sunrise."
Anna raised an eyebrow, retorting, "Are you planning to go back on your word?"
"I wouldn't dare. Once I say something, there's no taking it back," Chase shifted away from his teasing tone, "If you don't mind, would you settle for wearing my jacket?"
"I wouldn't mind at all. I'd be grateful," Anna said, and then, as if remembering something, she suddenly asked, "What time should I wake up?"
Chase looked at his phone to check the sunrise time for tomorrow. "I'll be here to meet you at five."
"Alright," Anna immediately set her alarm. "Which villa do you stay in?"
"The one next to yours—Villa No. 6."
Back in her room, Rachel had just finished dealing with work. She was about to call Anna to see where she had been.
"Where did you go? I've been working for nearly two hours, and you just got back."
Anna took off her shoes and slipped on a pair of slippers. "I was just by the beach in front of the hotel."
"The beach?" Rachel leaned back, confused, "And you didn't invite me?"
Anna sat on the single chair opposite her, "I'm going to watch the sunrise tomorrow morning. Want to come with me?"
Rachel propped herself up on the chair, sensing something interesting. "Wait, why the sudden decision to watch the sunrise?"
Anna ran her fingers through her hair and spoke slowly, "Chase invited me to watch the sunrise with him."
"Chase?" Rachel perked up, leaning forward with curiosity, "Since when did you two get so close?"
Anna gently adjusted her hair, then explained, "I bumped into him while he was walking his dog by the beach."
Rachel raised an eyebrow, guessing what might have happened next. "So you two ended up watching the moon together at the beach? And you came back together too?"
Anna nodded with a soft "Mm."
Rachel let out a teasing sound, dragging out her voice. "You two are quite romantic, huh?"
"Princess, have you heard this saying?" Rachel leaned in, clearly eager to get her thoughts on it.
Anna looked up, puzzled. "What saying?"
"The beach is the place where love most easily blossoms, especially at night."
Rachel, clearly enjoying herself, asked, "Do you think that's true, Anna?"
Anna thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I think it's true."
Rachel's eyes widened, and she sat up straight, her voice rising in excitement, "Anna, you—"
Anna picked up the bottle of water from the table, unscrewed the cap, took a sip, then casually said, "He has something that others don't."
Rachel instantly knew who she was referring to. "What's that?"
"Attraction."
Anna answered smoothly, before steering the conversation back to the initial question, "So, Moon, are you coming with me to watch the sunrise?"
Rachel waved her hand dismissively. "Chase invited you, so I'll pass."
"I can't even wake up that early, and I'm on vacation—sleeping in is a must."
"Alright then," Anna stood up and began pulling her dresses out of her suitcase and hanging them in the wardrobe.
"Do you want me to bring you breakfast when I come back?"
"No need, I'll definitely still be asleep by then," Rachel said, then added, suddenly sounding like a concerned mother, "But remember to bring a jacket when you head out tomorrow morning."
Anna lowered her gaze, glancing at the suitcase at her feet, filled with neatly folded clothes—light ones, thicker ones, dresses, pants... She had everything she needed.
What she had said earlier downstairs about not bringing a jacket? That was a lie.
"Chase will bring one for me."
"Chase will bring you one?" Rachel's voice rose in surprise. "What exactly happened during your little outing tonight that I don't know about?"
"Nothing happened," Anna tilted her head, a smile on her lips. "And if something did, I'd definitely tell you."
Rachel raised an eyebrow, replying, "You'd better keep your word."