"Captain Holland, the cabin door is closed, passengers are seated, overhead bins secured, and all crew members are in position. Requesting pushback."

Fifteen minutes before takeoff, Jared sat in the cockpit, listening to Rachel's voice crackle over the internal intercom.

It was completely different from the angry tone of the woman who had just cursed him for smudging her foundation.

Rachel's voice was now gentle and intelligent, like a clear spring flowing over the tip of his heart.

Jared paused for a few seconds before pressing the intercom button. Calm and steady, he replied, "Tower has cleared us for pushback. Ground tow vehicles are ready. Cabin crew, maintain radio silence."

Rachel replied, "Copy that."

The aircraft successfully took off. About an hour later, the intercom rang again.

"Captain, cabin service has commenced. Passengers have reported the air conditioning is too cold. We have adjusted it to 25 degrees Celsius. Will this affect the aircraft balance?"

Jared replied steadily, "No impact. Cabin temperature can be adjusted within the 22 to 26 degrees Celsius range."

"Copy that."

The two co-pilots exchanged glances and chuckled.

Moris laughed. "Flight Attendant Rachel has such a lovely voice... it's practically melting my ears."

David chimed in from the other side, "Don't let her voice fool you. She's not the soft-spoken type her name suggests. Back in college, she was already famous as the aloof goddess."

Moris asked, "Is she really that cold in private? Does she treat her significant other that way too? That sounds stiff and boring."

Jared listened silently throughout.

Stiff and boring?

Only he knew how soft and alluring Rachel could be at night-

like winter ice melting in his palm, pooling into a soft, clear stream.

But outside those moments, Rachel was rebellious and unmanageable by day.

These past few days, she had been especially unruly, leaving behind the divorce papers and walking out the door.

Jared's gaze grew deep and icy...

Moris asked, "Captain, what do you think of this Rachel?"

Jared's tone was indifferent. "She's okay."

Moris and David exchanged glances. Seeing his serious expression and the restrained tone of his voice, it sounded like mere politeness.

Had they misjudged? Did the captain have no interest in Rachel at all?

David looked at the wedding ring on Jared's left hand and smiled, trying to smooth things over. "Our captain has a lovely wife at home. Naturally, she's the best. No one can compare to her."

Jared didn't respond, as if tacitly agreeing.

The intercom was still on.

Rachel had expected instructions from the cockpit, but instead overheard the entire exchange.

She remembered what Charles had said.

Many colleagues in the aviation department assumed Olivia was Jared's wife.

When David said, "Your wife is the best... no one can compare to her," he was referring to Olivia.

And Jared hadn't refuted it.

Hah. This "stiff, boring, free bedmate" of his was nothing but a complete clown.

After over four hours, the plane arrived at L.A's International Airport.

"Captain, no medical emergencies occurred on this flight. Passengers in the rear economy section reported loose tray tables, which have been logged in the cabin report."

The familiar female voice came through the intercom, and Jared paused.

Rachel's tone was cold, as if hiding some emotion-

an emotion clearly directed at him.

His brow furrowed as he pressed the intercom button. "Copy that. Maintenance will handle the inspection. Thank you for your hard work, Flight Attendant Rachel. This flight went smoothly."

The final sentence carried a hint of testing.

On the other end, Rachel's voice grew even colder. "The cabin report will be submitted after the flight. Goodbye."

Jared's frown deepened.

She didn't even address him as "Captain"?

The intercom cut out completely.

Moris shivered. "Good heavens, she truly lives up to her reputation as the Ice Queen. When she turns cold, every word cuts like an ice pick... enough to freeze you to death."

David added, "She's got such a strong personality. I wonder what kind of man could ever win over a woman like Rachel?"

Jared's face darkened. He tugged at his tie with one hand and walked away from the cockpit without looking back.

*****

Rachel changed into casual clothes in the lounge.

The trip back to L.A marked the end of a duty period. For the final three days of July, she was forced to take leave. She wouldn't be able to numb herself with work again until August.

Pushing her suitcase through the airport basement, her phone rang-it was Charles.

"Rachel, is your duty shift over?"

"Yes."

"Then wait at the airport for a bit. Taylor and I will come pick you up."

"No need to go through all that trouble. I'll just take a taxi."

"Alright then. Be careful. I ordered some grilled meat and fresh buns for delivery. We'll have a barbecue at home tonight."

After hanging up, Rachel turned toward the elevator lobby.

This level of the underground garage was filled with private cars; the open-air platform would be a better spot to hail a taxi.

Before she could take two steps, an arm clamped around her from behind.

A familiar, deep voice spoke.

"Our car's right up ahead. Where are you heading?"

Rachel turned, meeting Jared's deep brown eyes directly.

"If Captain Holland is here to discuss divorce proceedings, I'm happy to talk. If not, then no thanks. I'm meeting friends for a barbecue tonight, so I'll just-hey! What are you doing?"

Before she could finish, Jared bent down and hoisted her onto his shoulder, one arm cradling her flailing legs while the other grabbed her suitcase as he strode off.

"Jared Holland! Put me down! What if someone sees us!"

The man chuckled. "Scream louder. I guarantee the whole parking garage will hear your echo."

"..."

In this position, her head was upside down and her chest felt slightly constricted.

Rachel endured the discomfort. Moments later, another wave of dizziness swept over her as Jared shoved her into the back seat of the Bentley.

Jared sat beside her and ordered the driver in a deep voice, "Donald, back to Galaxy Villa."

"Yes, sir."

As the Bentley began to move, Rachel fought off the dizziness and immediately reached for the door handle.

Anticipating her move, Jared swept her into his arms, placing her across his lap and pinning her restless wrists with his large hands.

Rachel struggled, her wrists hurting from the restraint, her anger boiling over. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Taking my runaway wife home counts as me being crazy?"

Rachel shot back, "Who ran away? We're separated-pending divorce."

Jared held her wrists with one hand and gripped her slender waist with the other, keeping her seated sideways across his lap.

"Rachel, divorce isn't like breaking up with a lover. It's not something you can end by simply announcing it unilaterally and then walking away."

Rachel replied patiently, "I've already signed the divorce agreement. All you need to do is sign it, and we can schedule a time to go to the-"

Jared cut her off.

"I tore it up."

Rachel froze for a second before comprehending his meaning.

That divorce agreement... he tore it up?

"Why did you tear it up?"

Didn't he want to give the love of his life a proper status for raising his sister?

He should be eager to finalize the divorce too.

Their eyes locked.

Jared raised one eyebrow, his tone dripping with condescension. "Your handwriting is too ugly. I can't stand looking at ugly things."

This excuse was both absurd and provocative.

Rachel's blood boiled.

"You are seriously sick. Did Sahara cut out your brain along with the umbilical cord when she gave birth to you?"

Instead of getting angry, Jared smacked his lips as he studied her red lips. "You're so good at cursing. Did you smear poisonous honey on your mouth?"

"..."

Rachel refused to engage with him.

He was always like this... a few offhand teasing remarks would turn her anger and hurt into what he saw as unreasonable tantrums.

The Bentley rolled out of the underground garage.

The midsummer sun streamed through the windows, illuminating Jared's deep, knowing gaze.

His fingertips lightly brushed the fabric at Rachel's waist. "Where have you been staying lately?"

Rachel averted her gaze, refusing to look at him or answer.

Jared's hand on her waist pinched slightly, his breath sharpening-a warning, a threat.

"It's fine if you don't want to say. I can find out myself."

Rachel's expression shifted.

Being a captain was merely the respectable front for Jared, the second son of the Holland family. Rachel knew he held controlling stakes in multiple high-end clubs and commanded an intelligence network spanning L.A's elite circles.

She had heard whispers of even darker secrets within certain major conglomerates... things she had never witnessed firsthand, yet feared nonetheless.

If Jared discovered she was staying at Charles's place, his rage might harm Charles and Taylor.

She steadied her voice and spoke truthfully. "I applied for employee housing through the aviation department. While waiting for approval, I'm staying at Charles's apartment."

"Charles?" Jared pondered, recalling the name after a long pause. "Your childhood friend who also works in the cabin crew?"

Rachel gave a soft nod.

Jared's handsome face darkened, his anger nearly boiling over.

"Rachel, you went to another man's home and lived with him?"

His jaw tightened, his voice low and gritted. "Do you think I'm dead-your husband?"

Rachel corrected him. "We weren't living alone."

Jared asked, "And his girlfriend?"

Rachel thought for a moment before nodding. "Sort of. They shared one room, and I stayed in another."

In truth, she had only stayed at Charles's place for one night.

The other two days, Rachel was on duty, flying abroad and staying in company-arranged accommodations.

She paused, then added, "My luggage is still at Charles's place. Plus, I've made plans to meet them for a barbecue tonight. Could you pull over, Donald, so I can get out?"

Jared's expression softened slightly. "Address. I'll go with you and get your luggage."

Rachel shook her head. "The luggage isn't the main thing. The main thing is the barbecue."

She had promised Charles she wouldn't stand anyone up.

Jared scoffed, pulling his phone from his pocket and dialing a number.

"Mrs. Smith, my wife wants a barbecue tonight. Make sure to prepare a feast."

"..."

Rachel was speechless for a moment. "Jared, you're being unreasonable."

Jared lowered his phone, his fingertips tracing the curve of her slender waist, drifting to the hollow of her lower back. He traced slow circles there, his deep brown eyes smoldering.

"Honey, when I'm truly unreasonable, you won't even get the chance to complain."

That look made Rachel involuntarily imagine scenes too explicit to dwell on.

She forced herself to compose her expression, banishing those thoughts from her mind.

"If what I said last time at the estate didn't get your attention, then I'll repeat it again-this time seriously."

She locked eyes with him, enunciating each word. "Jared, I want a divorce."

His lowered lashes concealed the shadow in his eyes.

"For real?"

"Yeah."

"Reason."

Rachel thought for a moment before offering a mutually respectable answer. "Irreconcilable differences."

Jared snorted derisively, finding her words utterly laughable.

After a long silence, his gaze grew increasingly menacing. "Got a dog on the side?"

Rachel's anger flared instantly.

"You're the one with the dog."

And that thousand-year-old green tea bitch you keep by your side-burying your head in the sand.

Jared scoffed lightly. "Talking requires evidence. Have you found a dog hair on me? Smelled another dog's scent on me?"

Rachel fell silent.

She could guess that Jared was still mindful of their nominal relationship and hadn't engaged in anything substantial with Olivia.

Olivia's current frail condition wouldn't allow anything improper anyway.

Precisely because of this, all the grievances, sorrows, and pain Rachel had endured over the years had been twisted into "unreasonable tantrums."

She knew full well how much Jared cared for his foster sister... everyone did.

On their wedding anniversary, she had personally cooked dinner-yet Jared spent the entire day at the hospital by Olivia's side, even preparing an anniversary gift for her.

On New Year's Eve, after a huge fight, he stayed out all night instead of coming home, choosing to accompany Olivia to watch fireworks on the mountaintop.

Over the past three years, countless similar incidents had unfolded.

Every time Rachel was driven to emotional collapse, everyone blamed her.

They claimed Jared and Olivia were merely foster siblings.

They called her petty and jealous-even jealous of his sister.

In the end, she was trapped.

This twisted love triangle was driving her to the brink of a mental breakdown.

With nowhere to vent her pent-up rage, only helplessness remained.

She lowered her lashes, hiding the fragile glimmer in her eyes, forcing her voice steady.

"Jared, I truly don't want to live with you anymore."

Jared's eyes grew dark.

Silence hung in the car for several long seconds, the air turning icy around him.

"Don't forget why we married in the first place. The Holland family isn't somewhere you can just walk in and out of as you please."

Rachel's face paled.

"Back then, I had my reasons, and..." She faltered, guilt flickering in her chest. "It was an accident."

Those final words made Jared's pupils darken further, clouded with gloom. The car filled with the oppressive weight of his presence.

His long fingers gripped Rachel's chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"I don't care what your reasons were. You provoked me first back then. Don't even think about escaping me until you've paid the full price."

Rachel did feel guilty about that incident.

But she had never pressured Jared to marry her because of it.

She would have preferred him to treat her the way his elder brother treated women-banishing them from the city.

Rather than this... indulging in reckless passion with her one moment, while secretly harboring deep, unrequited love for Olivia the next.

Rachel was furious.

The humiliation she had endured before Sahara these past few days, the indignities at Mrs. Smith's hands, and Olivia-that thorn lodged in her throat-had been suppressed for far too long.

Swallowing that thorn hurt too much.

She refused to swallow it anymore.

She wanted to pull it out-and return it to Jared.

She looked at his handsome yet icy face, her red lips curling in scorn.

"I only slept with you once. Over three years, how many times have you demanded it? Isn't that enough to pay the interest?"

"You hold her on the tip of your tongue, yet revel in passion with me night after night. Have you ever considered how that betrays her?"

"Jared... how despicable are you?"

Jared tightened his grip on her jaw.

After the initial shock, his eyes darkened with a terrifying crimson, like a storm brewing.

"Say that again."