The Juan That Got Away complete novel free to read Wattpad

The late afternoon sun hung low on the horizon, its rays filtering through the rustling palm fronds and casting warm, golden ribbons across the weathered planks of the resort's main boardwalk. Jade Nguyen paused at the top step of her family's beachfront veranda, allowing the humid breeze to wrap around her like an old, familiar quilt.

It carried with it the unmistakable tang of salt-an aroma intertwined with the distant, rhythmic echo of crashing waves. This place should have felt like home-inviting and reassuring-but today, every creaky plank and peeling paint board whispered reminders of everything her family had at stake.

Her father's old lounge chairs stood ghostly at the edge of the veranda, their once-vibrant cushions now damp and forlorn after last night's storm, their fabric faded and weary from years of sun and sea. The flower beds that had once bloomed with a riot of colours now languished, choked with stubborn weeds that clawed their way through the soil, hiding the memories of vibrant blossoms that used to sway in the wind.

And beyond the horizon, an imposing orange yacht loomed, trailing along the skyline like a predator circling its prey: the flagship of Elliot Drake's Drake Industries, here to survey the very stretch of sand her family had lovingly stewarded for generations.

Jade inhaled sharply, her chest tightening as she steadied herself. She hadn't intended to return to this place, having carved out a life focused on law school, clerkships, and high-profile environmental victories-each step pulling her further from Dune Haven Resort, the eco-retreat her parents had dedicated their lives to nurturing.

But the stark reality of bankruptcy notices and looming foreclosure warnings offered no consolation to her pride or ambition. When her mother's voice broke over the phone-"They're closing in, Jade"-she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that her next case was no longer confined to courtrooms or legal statutes.

She brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, shaking off the weight of despair that threatened to cloud her resolve. Squaring her shoulders, she steeled herself for the challenges ahead. Regret would have to wait. First, she had a resort to save. With determination pulsing through her veins, Jade turned away from the veranda and descended the steps onto the sun-bleached sands, feeling the warm grains slip slightly beneath her heels.