Panic surged through me. Could Jim recognize me because of Aunt Marie? I didn’t want to answer, but I also didn’t want to provoke him.

“A-Aria. Aria Greenfield,” I stammered, standing up cautiously.

Before he could respond, I bolted past him, darting into the restroom and locking the door behind me.

“What the—!” I heard him exclaim, followed by three loud bangs on the door.

“Hey! I’m still talking to you, brat!” he shouted.

My heart raced as I pressed my hands together, praying he’d leave me alone.

“If you don’t come out, I’ll break this door down!” he growled, his voice menacing.

Just then, as if my prayer has been answered, Granny Chan’s voice cut through the tension. “What are you doing, Jim?”

I exhaled in relief, hearing him mutter something and stomp away.

I took a moment to calm myself, splashing cold water on my face three times before gently patting it dry with the towel. I cracked the door open cautiously, peeking outside. Seeing no one, I hurried back to the girls’ room, locking the door behind me for good measure.

My red jacket, white t-shirt, and cargo pants were fully dry now. As I picked them up, I was surprised by a pleasant scent coming from the fabric. It smelled fresh, almost as if someone had rewashed them and used fabric softener, even though they had dried from the rain.

I guessed it must have been Granny Chan. I made a mental note to thank her later.

I quickly got dressed and tied my boots, glancing at my wristwatch. Only 25 minutes left until we reached the island. A mix of excitement, exhaustion, and nerves churned inside me. After all these years, I was finally going to meet Aunt Marie in person.

I couldn’t wait to confront her, to ask about everything I’d heard and get some answers. Why had she done the things people hinted at? Bill’s distressed expression from the night I asked about her surfaced in my mind, and I clenched my fists in frustration.

I pulled out my phone to check it—4% battery. Still no replies.

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“What? Seriously? No one even bothered to reply?” I muttered, shaking my head. “Even if they’re busy, they could’ve at least said something.” I sighed. “Oh well...”

Pushing my frustration aside, I folded my clothes, packed the lunch box back into my bag, and zipped it up, making sure everything was in order. I grabbed a hair tie and quickly pulled my hair into a ponytail, not bothering to comb it—I was too lazy to dig out the comb from my perfectly packed bag. My thoughts wandered as I looked at the bag for a moment.

I checked my wristwatch again—20 minutes left. Tucking it under my sleeve with the red bracelet, I smiled, eager to finally see the island from up close. I unlocked the door and almost bumped into Casandra.

“Oh, sorry!” I quickly apologized.

“It’s fine,” she said, brushing it off. She seemed to be preparing for landing too.

“Aria,” she called, stopping me in my tracks.

"Yeah?" I turned to face her, noticing the serious look on her face. It reminded me of when Jim caused trouble yesterday, but this time, it wasn’t threatening—just a warning out of concern.

"Be careful. I don’t know where you're going, but..." Casandra trailed off, carefully picking her words. It reminded me of her conversation with Gideon. His words echoed in my mind: “Casandra, our mission is too important to take any chances. We can't afford any risks—not with her or anyone else.” It seemed like Casandra was still thinking about that.

I decided to ease her worries since I could tell she meant well. “I’ll be fine, Casandra. Thanks. You have my number, right? Plus, I’m meeting my aunt, so there’s no need to worry.” I smiled. “Oh, should I save your number?”

Casandra’s face lit up, and she smiled. “Ah, no need. You’ll know it’s me when the time comes. Anyway, I should go get my things ready,” she said with a smile.

I nodded, watching her head inside as I stepped outside.

I spotted Gideon and he gave me a slight bow, acknowledging my presence before excusing himself and turning back toward the cabin, likely to prepare his things. I wanted to clarify whatever misunderstanding he might have, but I had nothing to say. I simply nodded back.

As soon as he was out of sight, I felt Jim’s intense gaze on me. His expression suggested he was trying to recognize me, as if he was connecting me to someone he knew.

I’d forgotten about him for a moment. I didn’t want Granny Chan or Bill to get into trouble if Jim found out about my connection to Aunt Marie and that she had sent me to the island. So, I quickly bowed my head, trying to show respect while also avoiding any potential conflict. I then turned toward the control room, eager to put some distance between myself and him.

When I entered the room, Granny Chan and Bill looked up at me in surprise. It seemed I had barged in without permission. I wasn’t sure where to go to avoid Jim. I must’ve looked troubled, as Granny’s voice softened with concern.

“What’s wrong, dear?” she asked, then paused as if realizing something. “Is Jim bothering you again? That man never learns, does he?”

I quickly denied it, not wanting them to misunderstand and think Jim was causing trouble when he hadn’t.

Up ahead, I could clearly see the shape of the island as we drew nearer.

If this is some kind of hide-and-seek, or whatever game you're playing, Aunt Marie, just wait—I’m going to find you. A confident smile spread across my face.