CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 1: REUNION AT THE AIRPORT

"Miss Winter, the total cost for Luna’s heart transplant is approximately two million. I hope you can fly over as soon as possible to confirm the surgical plan and pay the transplant fee."

a.m., Kybourne South Airlines Assessment Center.

Annelise stared out at the torrential rain beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Thank you, Dr. Flora. I’ll arrange my travel as quickly as I can."

In the pitch-black night, finally a trace of light streaked through.

A flight broke through the storm clouds and descended magnificently.

It raced along the brightly lit runway center, landing smoothly.

Annelise hung up the phone, and her heart, which had been suspended for four years, finally felt grounded.

She lowered her gaze, and her pale fingertips couldn’t help but caress her phone’s lock screen wallpaper.

On the wallpaper was a soft and adorable little girl.

That was her most cherished secret.

Her daughter—Luna.

Even though she had long been saving for the transplant surgery, working several part-time jobs in her spare time.

But the wages at the assessment center weren’t high, and after deducting her daughter’s monthly treatment and care fees abroad, Annelise had only saved three hundred thousand by now.

But now that a donor heart had been found, no matter how difficult it would be, she had to quickly gather the surgery funds and then head to Meridia.

However, in such a short time, where could she possibly come up with so much money?

Just then, her best friend, Sylvia Lowell, called.

Her friend had crossed oceans for love, almost six months now.

Annelise didn’t know whether she should open up to Sylvia...

"Annelise, I’m back! Just landed! Are you at work? Come over to the terminal, I brought you a gift, I miss you so much."

In the background, Annelise could hear the sweet farewell of a flight attendant.

She instinctively glanced at the only Airbus A350 that landed at the airport tonight.

Dozens of shuttle buses were connecting in the heavy rain.

Annelise was a bit surprised. "Sylvie, where are you? Were you on that just-landed flight?"

"Yeah! Warner Airlines 8630. These last few hours were terrifying, crossing through a storm zone, it was like being in an apocalyptic sci-fi movie! I still feel like my soul is floating in the air."

Annelise felt a wave of dread in her heart.

The weather tonight was terrible, heavy rain combined with sporadic thunderstorms had paralyzed the entire airport.

For several hours, that was the only plane to land successfully.

She didn’t understand why Sylvia, who always loved private jets, suddenly chose to fly an international flight back home in such weather.

"Night flights in thunderstorms are dangerous. Wait for me at the terminal, I’m coming over now!"

In the early morning at the airport, there were large-scale flight delays.

The atmosphere was tense and people were on edge.

Seeing her, Sylvia immediately gave her a face-to-face hug and wouldn’t let go. "Sweet Annelise, holding you makes everything feel real. I nearly thought I wouldn’t see you!"

Not having seen each other for half a year, Annelise thought her friend was even more elegant and lovely. "Weren’t you going to stay abroad in pursuit of your White Moonlight? What made you come back alone?"

Annelise had never met Sylvia’s mysterious White Moonlight whom she had silently loved for ten years.

But she imagined that anyone followed by someone as excellent and wonderful as Sylvia must be an extraordinary person.

"Isn’t June Winter’s wedding tomorrow? I thought I’d come back to support you!" Sylvia grabbed her hand, giving a mysterious wink. "Besides... I didn’t come back alone..."

"Really? Did you come back together? Where is he?" Annelise glanced around.

Wanting to see what kind of person could make Sylvia so infatuated.

But unexpectedly, her smile froze at the corners of her mouth.

Annelise felt ice-cold, her breath and heartbeat froze in an instant.

She never thought she’d see that person again so unguardedly.

Was it a dream?

Otherwise, how could fate give her another chance to see Elias Warner?

In the bustling crowd, he was always the most striking.

A man in a pilot’s uniform walked through the interplay of wind and light, surrounded by a large group of crew members, striding towards her.

The dawn chill was biting.

The handsome and noble man had deep eyes and a tall nose, his dark pilot’s coat lazily draped over his arm, his clean and cold right hand holding a flight case.

Though the shirt was neatly buttoned up to his neck, the restrained and hardened sexual tension seeped from the perfectly fitted fabric.

His broad shoulders, strong as pines, seemed capable of bearing mountains and seas.

Not only Annelise, but most of the girls were watching him.

Elias Warner.

This name, this person Annelise had once ripped from her heart and discarded.

Yet she’d sealed him away in the deepest part of her heart, afraid to touch it.

Wasn’t he in South Surina on a peacekeeping mission? Finally willing to come back?

But at this very moment, the man wearing Kybourne South Airlines captain’s uniform, the four stripes on his shoulder bore witness to his current status and position.

So, he was the captain of the A350 Sylvia had just taken.

No wonder...

Annelise stood there in a daze, a tidal wave of bitter pain flooded her heart, filling her breath.

Watching the man who attracted all the attention walk in their direction, Annelise wanted to hide but it was too late.

Yet unexpectedly, his gaze didn’t linger on her for a second, simply brushing past her.