Chapter 2

Ruby sat beside me, fiddling with the drawing she'd prepared for her dad—a wobbly but colorful picture of our family of three.

Ruby insisted on surprising her dad, which is why I booked this flight.

"That watch must be expensive, right?" I asked, controlling my emotions.

"Not really."

Rose waved her hand dismissively, the corners of her mouth curved just right—not too showy, but unable to hide her smugness.

"My husband makes hundreds of thousands a month. Buying this is nothing to him."

Hundreds of thousands a month?

I knew Jett's salary very well.

An ace captain's pay wasn't low, but it definitely didn't reach hundreds of thousands monthly.

Not to mention he only became captain thanks to my connections.

Three years ago during the captain promotion assessment, his performance was mediocre.

It was my father—a director at Jett's airline—who intervened to secure his qualification.

And for these three years, despite having the captain title, he'd actually only served as first officer.

All of this, Rose's "ace captain" had clearly never mentioned.

"Your husband treats you so well."

I said, though my eyes couldn't move from that watch.

The back of the case should have an inscription: "To Jett, may every flight be safe—your eternal love."

It was a limited edition I'd searched three cities to find three years ago.

Rose was immersed in her own happiness, completely oblivious to my increasingly rigid expression.

"It's what he owes me. Who told him he couldn't spend Valentine's Day with me? He spent half the night last night trying to make it up to me."

Last night, Jett called, his voice full of exhaustion:

"Rachel, I have extra simulator training tonight. It's too late, so I'll just crash at the company dorm and not come home."

"Won't you be tired flying on Valentine's Day tomorrow?"

I'd felt sorry for him then.

"For you and Ruby, any amount of exhaustion is worth it."

He said it so sincerely, I didn't doubt him at all.

Turns out his so-called "extra training" was in another woman's bed.

"That's not all he's given me. He gives me gifts every month."

Seeing how attentively I was listening, Rose couldn't control her need to show off anymore.

She leaned over and picked up an orange Hermès Birkin bag from beside her seat, its color painfully bright under the cabin lights.

"This one, birthday gift from last year."

She stroked the bag like stroking a lover's face.

My breathing stopped.

That bag, limited to fifty pieces worldwide, had disappeared from my closet six months ago.

Jett had said he accidentally damaged it while grabbing something, then just threw it away.

Then he "had a friend" buy me a new one.

I'd been touched by his sincerity at the time.

"Mom," Ruby suddenly tugged my sleeve, her childish voice clear, "that lady's necklace is the same as yours!"

My gaze mechanically moved to Rose's neck.

A rose gold chain with a delicate airplane pendant, the wings set with tiny diamonds.

It was a custom fifth wedding anniversary gift I'd commissioned from a designer, with our initials engraved inside.

"It really is."

I heard my own dry voice.

Rose's smile finally froze for a moment, but quickly recovered:

"How could it be? My husband had this custom-made just for me. He said it has great meaning—like him flying me around the world."

Jett had said the same thing to me at our fifth anniversary dinner.

He said once Ruby was older, he'd take us around the world.

That night he put this necklace on me, saying it was one of a kind, just like our love.

The day the necklace went missing, Jett turned the whole house upside down.

Finally he held me and said, "Out with the old, in with the new. I'll get you an even better one."

A month later, a more ornate necklace with bigger diamonds appeared in my jewelry box, supposedly custom-made by a friend.

Paid for with my money, of course.

Taking my things to give to his mistress, then using my money to buy replacements for me.

My stomach churned.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Rose finally noticed my condition.

"A bit airsick."

I forced a smile and accepted water from a flight attendant.

The warm water slid down my throat as I forced my voice steady:

"How long have you and your husband been married?"