The Arrival—And a Brewing Storm
Bora Bora was breathtaking. My parents were delighted with their gorgeous overwater bungalow, complete with a glass floor, an outdoor shower, and a private deck. Mark’s parents, however, barely acknowledged theirs. Their expressions when stepping into their luxury bungalow? Disappointment.
Mark and I had booked the only available villa—a 4,000-square-foot paradise with an infinity pool, a private ocean slide, a sauna, and an outdoor tub. It was pure bliss.
That evening, as we all enjoyed dinner under a stunning sunset, my cousin Jason, who had joined us on the trip, leaned over and grinned.
“That ocean slide of yours is insane! Can I try it tomorrow?”
I laughed. “Of course! It’s amazing.”
A loud gasp shot across the table.
“Wait… what?” Linda’s hand smacked against the table. “You have an ocean slide?”
Richard frowned. “Your place has a slide?”
Mark shifted uncomfortably. “Uh… yeah?”
Linda snatched his phone and scrolled through the photos we had taken earlier. Her face turned red.
“Mark, this is your villa?!”
Richard scoffed. “And we’re in a bungalow?”
I blinked. In a bungalow—as if they were being deprived.
“Mom, Dad,” Mark started, “your place is incredible. It’s the best bungalow available.”
“But it’s NOT a villa,” Linda snapped. She turned to me, her voice sharp. “Why do YOU get the best accommodations?”
I took a slow breath. Stay calm, Emily. Stay calm.
“There was only one villa available,” I said evenly. “We didn’t want to choose between our parents, so we kept it for ourselves.”
Linda huffed. “We are the elders! We shouldn’t be in lesser accommodations while our children enjoy luxury!”
Lesser? In Bora Bora?
Richard crossed his arms. “Mark owes us. We raised him. We deserve this.”
Linda nodded smugly. “You should make it right.”
I turned to Mark. He sat frozen, his hands clenched into fists. For the first time, I saw it—the internal battle. His entire life had been spent trying to keep them happy, even at his own expense.
Then, he exhaled and looked at me. A tiny, almost imperceptible nod.
My heart leaped.
He was finally letting me handle it.
I turned back to my in-laws, my voice steady. “You’re right. Family should be treated well. I’ll make sure you get the special arrangements you deserve.”
Linda smirked. “Well, it’s about time.”
Richard scoffed. “Should’ve done that in the first place.”
They stood up, already assuming they had won.
“We’ll expect the move first thing in the morning,” Linda declared.
I smiled sweetly. “Of course.”
A Special Arrangement
That night, I made a quick call to the resort concierge.
“You’d like to book flights home?” the woman asked.
“First-class,” I confirmed. “Only the best.”
The next morning, I awoke to the sound of suitcases rolling across the wooden deck. Stepping onto our balcony, I watched Linda and Richard head toward the front desk, their expressions smug.
The concierge greeted them warmly.
“Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, your special arrangements have been finalized.”
Linda beamed. “Finally! Where are our new villa keys?”
The concierge handed them an envelope.
“Your first-class tickets.”
Silence.
Linda’s eyebrows shot up. “Tickets?”
Richard ripped open the envelope, his expression shifting.
“This must be a mistake,” he muttered.
I stepped forward, smiling.
“You said you deserved the best,” I said. “So we’re sending you home, first-class.”
Linda’s jaw dropped. “YOU’RE SENDING US HOME?!”
I shrugged. “Very comfortably.”
Linda turned to Mark, desperate. “You’re letting this happen?”
Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Honestly? Yeah.”
Linda gasped. “But we’re your parents!”
“And we’re on our honeymoon,” he said simply. “You didn’t even enjoy Bora Bora, Mom. You complained the entire flight.”
And just like that, their luggage was loaded onto a boat. They had no choice but to leave.
A Honeymoon to Remember
Mark exhaled, shaking his head. “I can’t believe you actually did that.”
I wrapped an arm around his waist. “Believe it.”
For the first time since we arrived, we were finally free to enjoy our honeymoon—without stress, without interruptions.
And it was perfect.