No Turning Back After the Calm

Before the flight takes off, my fiance, the pilot, boards the plane with a suitcase.

He says it's a gift from his childhood sweetheart and warns me not to touch it.

I can't shake the uneasy feeling creeping into my heart, so I sneak inside. To my shock, I find high-risk contraband hidden in the luggage.

I report it immediately and use my commendation to cover for Edward's mistake and save his career.

However, his precious childhood sweetheart is arrested, detained, and sentenced.

He doesn't say a word after the incident. However, during another flight, he cuts the cord to my parachute.

"Jade, I know you're jealous of Cindy! You sabotaged her during her flight attendant training and framed her afterward! Do you think this will make me love you? Dream on! I would never marry a petty woman like you!"

I plunge from ten thousand meters above the ground, leaving nothing but blood and broken bones behind.

When I open my eyes again, I see Cindy sending Edward off, and he's carrying the same suitcase.

I quietly step back and decide I won't save him this time.

"Mr. Crowley, according to protocol, this luggage needs to go through security and be registered," one of my crew members reminded him politely.

Edward Crowley frowned and snapped, "Inside this luggage are gifts from Cindy, so there shouldn't be a problem. Just put it under my name and save yourself the time."

"I've had proper training, and I know the rules. There's no way I'd make a mistake about something like this," Cindy Austin said sweetly beside him.

The flight attendant let out a soft chuckle but said nothing, still refusing to let it pass.

Nearby, the other crew members whispered, "She doesn't know the rules! She failed the training three times, and if Jade hadn't pulled strings to get her a retake, she wouldn't be here at all. Nonetheless, she still failed that retake."

Upon hearing this, Cindy's expression sank immediately.

"That's only because Jade purposely made things hard for her!" Edward defended her angrily. "I should've filed an appeal long ago! Cindy's amazing. There's no way she could've failed!"

As he spoke, he suddenly turned to me and gritted his teeth. "Look at your subordinates! How dare they ridicule Cindy in front of me! God knows what they're saying behind our backs!"

I remained expressionless as I stared at him.

Meanwhile, Cindy stood off to the side, looking pitiful, yet her eyes gleamed with provocation. "Edward, who has more power here? Is it you, the pilot, or the lead flight attendant? From what I'm seeing, it seems like Jade has more say than you right now."

Her words set Edward off even more. He kicked the boarding stairs and shouted, "If you won't let me on, then I'm not flying this plane!"

I lowered my gaze as memories of my past life flickered.

Back then, I bit back my doubts because I was scared his fury would delay the flight. But I secretly went through his luggage after takeoff and found contraband. Fearing it might destroy his career, I used my commendation to cover the penalty and shield him from the consequences.

And how did he repay me? By cutting my parachute cord and sending me to my death. My so-called loyalty was nothing but a cruel joke.

I lowered my gaze and muttered, "Edward is the captain, so he knows the rules. We won't check it if he says it's under his name. Just let him board the plane."

Cindy's eyes brightened when she saw me give in and added coyly, "I want to fly with Edward, too! It's been so long since I've been on a plane."

Edward nodded without hesitation. "Since Cindy hasn't flown in almost a year, she should experience the route this time." His tone was full of entitlement.

"That's against the rules." I finally looked up. My voice was cold and firm.

His expression darkened at my words, and he glared at me as fury burned in his eyes.

"What did you just say? Do you not wish to fly anymore? If so, then you're done!"