⸻

"You two-!" Jane's voice cut sharply through the office, echoing off the high ceilings and polished wood walls. Her face was flushed with anger, her eyes wide with what looked like a mix of shock and betrayal.

Jayden's head was still lowered, his face hidden just long enough for the situation to look far worse than it was-his body bent awkwardly under the desk, his head resting against Michael's legs as he'd tried to scramble out of sight. Before he could straighten up fully, before he could even get his hair out of his eyes-

Michael jumped in front of her, his hands raised defensively.

"It's not what you think!" he said quickly, waving his hands in a panic as if he could physically block her understanding, could rewrite what she'd just seen. "We were just-"

Jane's eyes narrowed into sharp slits. She hadn't even fully processed who was there yet-only the image burned into her mind.

Then-

Jayden stood up fully, brushing dust from his shirt and pushing his hair out of his face. His eyes met hers, wide with panic and something that looked like shame.

"Jane, I can explain-"

"No need," she cut him off, her tone instantly shifting from angry to cold, controlled, professional. The same voice she used when addressing unruly passengers or dealing with safety violations. "I already understand. There's no need to say anything more."

Michael froze, his mouth hanging open. "What do you think you understand?!" he cried out dramatically, throwing his hands up in the air. "Don't jump to conclusions! This isn't Jayden's fault-it's mine"

Before he could say anything else-

Smack.

The sound echoed through the quiet office like a gunshot.

Michael clutched his cheek in shock, his eyes watering as he stared at Jane in disbelief. A bright red handprint was already forming on his skin.

"Of course it's not Jayden's fault!" Jane snapped, her voice rising with anger as she stepped between him and Jayden, as if shielding her husband from harm. "He trusted you-treated you like a friend-and this is how you repay him?"

Michael blinked, completely lost.

"Repay him... how exactly?!" he sputtered, rubbing his cheek gingerly.

"You even tried to force him!" Jane continued, grabbing Jayden's arm and pulling him gently but firmly away from Michael. Her eyes were blazing with protective fury.

"Force him to do what?!" Michael shouted, utterly bewildered.

"I saw everything!" Jane shot back, her voice cracking slightly with emotion. "The way you were holding him down-"

"I was trying to push his head further under the desk so you wouldn't see him!" Michael interrupted, his own voice rising now. "I wasn't-we weren't-!"

Jane turned, glaring at him with a warning that carried real weight-she was a pilot, trained to stay calm under pressure, but right now she looked ready to take him down with her bare hands.

"Let me make this clear-if you dare lay a finger on my husband again, I won't show you any mercy," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "I'll report you to HR, I'll have you grounded, and I'll make sure you never fly with Aurelia again. Do you understand me?"

With that, she dragged Jayden out of the office, slamming the door behind them with a force that made the walls shake.

Behind them-

Michael stood frozen, hand still on his cheek. The red mark was already darkening, and he could feel the sting spreading down his jaw.

"...What did I do to deserve this?" he muttered, his voice full of wounded disbelief as he sank into the nearest chair. "I was just trying to help..."

⸻

Out in the corridor, Jane didn't slow down. Her heels clicked sharply against the tile floor as she pulled Jayden along, her grip on his wrist firm but not painful-almost protective, like she was guiding him away from danger.

"Jane..." Jayden said carefully, trying to step in time with her long strides, trying to regain control of the situation before she dragged him all the way to the parking lot. "There's been a misunderstanding. A big one."

She stopped abruptly and turned to him, her expression shifting from determined to confused.

"What could possibly be misunderstood?" she asked, genuinely baffled as she looked up at him. "I saw what I saw, Jayden. And I heard the rumors today-everyone's talking about it."

Jayden opened his mouth to explain-I'm the Chief Pilot. I was hiding because I didn't want you to know. Michael was just helping me.

Closed it.

Because there was too much to explain. Too many secrets stacked up between them. And none of it was safe to say-not now, not when she was already so upset.

"I heard the rumors today," Jane continued, folding her arms across her chest as she leaned against the wall. "About Michael Torres... and the chief pilot. Everyone says they're together."

Jayden's heart skipped a beat, his hands unconsciously clenching at his sides. She's talking about me.

"No wonder he abandoned his fiancée for five years," she added, her tone edged with disdain as she shook her head.

She huffed softly, her expression softening into something like pity.

"It's even more unfortunate that he shares your surname," she said, pouting slightly as she reached up to brush a strand of hair from his forehead. "What rotten luck. People might get confused and think you're related."

Jayden's thoughts spiraled into chaos. She thinks I'm just some unemployed cargo pilot with the same last name as the Chief Pilot. She thinks the Chief Pilot is cheating on his fiancée and having an affair with Michael. And she thinks Michael just tried to assault me.

I definitely cannot reveal the truth now.

"...Yeah," he said slowly, choosing survival over honesty as he nodded along with her words. "What rotten luck."

Jane looked at him again, her expression softening almost immediately-all the anger and protectiveness melting away into genuine concern. She reached up to cup his face gently, her hands warm against his cheeks.

"Did he do anything to you?" she asked, her eyes scanning his face quickly, as if checking for injuries. "Before I walked in-did he try to hurt you?"

Jayden blinked, caught off guard by her sudden tenderness. He'd been prepared for anger, for accusations, for her to walk away in disgust-not for her to hold his face like he was something precious.

"...No," he said honestly. "He didn't get the chance. You arrived just in time."

Jane nodded, satisfied with his answer. She dropped her hands to his shoulders, giving them a reassuring squeeze.

"Good," she said firmly, her protective edge returning for just a moment. "Thankfully I arrived in time. I won't let anyone hurt you, Jayden. Not while I'm around."

She took his hand again-this time more gently, her fingers lacing through his as she started walking toward the elevator.

"Don't worry," she added, her voice softening once more. "I won't let him do anything to you. I'll make sure he stays away from you from now on."

Jayden looked down at their joined hands, feeling a mix of guilt and warmth flood through him. She was protecting him-protecting the lie he'd built between them.

"...Thank you," he replied, his voice quiet.

But in his mind-

Michael... I'm sorry. Very sorry.

Because explaining this? Would only make things worse.

The walk to Jane's family house was quieter than usual. The autumn air carried the scent of wood smoke and fallen leaves, and golden sunlight filtered through the trees lining the quiet suburban street. Jayden's steps, normally steady and confident, dragged slightly against the pavement-each footfall heavier than the last. His hands-usually composed, folded neatly at his sides-were clenched into tight fists, faint tremors running through his fingers as he tried to keep his nerves in check.

Jane noticed immediately. She'd been watching him out of the corner of her eye, her own mind racing with memories of family gatherings past-always tense, always full of judgment. She slowed her pace, turning to look at him with a soft, reassuring smile.

"Hey," she said gently, reaching for his arm and giving it a light squeeze. "Don't be nervous, okay? My family already knows we're married-They just want to meet you."

Jayden forced a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. The corners of his mouth lifted just enough to be polite, but the rest of his face remained tight with tension.

"I am perfectly calm," he said, his voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He'd faced severe turbulence, mechanical failures, even emergency landings-but the thought of meeting Jane's family made his hands shake.

But his gaze dropped to the ground immediately after, his eyes fixed on a crack in the sidewalk as if it held the secrets to surviving what was to come.

Jane raised a brow, seeing right through his facade... then laughed lightly, looping her arm through his and linking their elbows together.

"Sure you are," she teased, giving him a gentle tug forward. "Come on. It'll be fine. My mom's making her famous chicken curry-you'll win them over with one bite."

When they arrived, the house was already alive with voices-loud, overlapping, full of the kind of energy only family gatherings can bring. The front door stood open, inviting in the warm afternoon air, and the smell of spices, garlic, and freshly baked bread spilled out onto the porch.

The dining table was full-six relatives already seated, plates set with colorful ceramic dishes, glasses of juice and water scattered across the polished wood. Conversations flowed mid-sentence-talk of neighbors, work, upcoming weddings filling the air.

The moment Jane stepped in, a few heads turned. Her mother-Maria, with dark hair streaked with gray pulled back in a bun-stood up immediately, wiping her hands on her apron as she rushed forward to embrace her daughter.

"Mija," she said, pressing a kiss to Jane's forehead. "You're late. We were just about to start."

"Mom," Jane greeted, returning the hug before giving a small nod to the rest of the table as she took her seat at the far end. "Everyone, this is Jayden."

Jayden sat beside her, posture straight as a plumb line, his back not touching the chair as he sat at attention. His eyes scanned the room carefully-taking in each face, each expression, filing away details like a pilot mapping out a flight plan.

Then-

"Jane."

Her aunt's voice cut through the room like a knife. Rosa-Jane's mother's older sister-leaned forward slightly, her painted nails tapping against her plate as her eyes fixed on Jayden like she was evaluating merchandise. She wore a bright purple dress that clashed with the warm tones of the room, and her jewelry jangled as she moved.

"So this is your new... boyfriend?"

A pause. The question hung in the air, loaded with implication. Everyone at the table knew Jane had married-but Rosa had always been the kind of woman who chose what she wanted to believe.

Jane didn't hesitate. She picked up her fork, setting it down carefully beside her plate before meeting her aunt's gaze directly.

"He's my husband," she said calmly, her voice clear and steady. "We're married."

Silence fell like a dropped glass. Forks paused mid-air, conversations died, and all eyes turned to Jayden-some curious, some judgmental, some outright hostile.

"Married?!" her aunt exclaimed, her voice rising an octave as she sat back in her chair. She turned sharply to Jane's mother, her eyes wide with what looked like genuine shock. "Did you get the bride price? The traditional gifts? Did he ask for your blessing properly?"

Jane's mother avoided her gaze, her fingers tightening slightly around her spoon as she stirred her curry without really moving it. "We talked about it," she said quietly.

"Did he buy a house? A car?" the aunt pressed on, her tone sharp and probing as she leaned forward again, her eyes never leaving Jayden. "What does he do for a living? How will he provide for my niece?"

No answer. Jane's mother just shook her head slightly,clearly uncomfortable.

The aunt clicked her tongue, a sharp, disapproving sound that made Jane's jaw tighten.

"Oh, sis," she said, shaking her head in mock pity as she reached across the table to pat her sister's hand. "Your daughter marrying like this... so reckless. No ceremony, no proper arrangements-what will people say?"

"As long as he treats her right," Jane's mother replied firmly, finally lifting her chin and meeting her sister's eyes with a strength that surprised everyone at the table. "That's all that matters."

Jane's jaw tightened further. She said nothing-but her silence was strained, her hands clenched in her lap as she fought the urge to defend herself and Jayden.

Then-

A soft laugh cut through the tension. Jenny Burrows -Rosa's daughter, leaned closer to Jane's mother, her voice low but loud enough to carry across the table. She wore a tight red dress and too much makeup, her smile sweet but her eyes cold.

"Aunt... didn't you know?" she said, smiling widely as she looked around the table to make sure everyone was listening. "He loiters around our airport every day. Unemployed. He's basically living off Jane-using her money to pay for food and rent."

She leaned back in her chair, amused by the gasps that rippled through the table.

Jane's mother shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her face flushing with embarrassment as she glanced at Jayden-who remained perfectly still, his expression unchanged.

The aunt seized the moment, sitting up straight as she turned her full attention to Jane's mother.

"Honestly, sis," she continued, her tone turning cruel as she shook her head slowly. "You got pregnant out of wedlock. The father? Unknown. And now this-your daughter's marriage to a man with no job, no prospects..."

She shook her head in mock pity.

"You are too careless. Aren't you afraid she'll end up exploited and abandoned... just like you?"

The room went still. The only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall and the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Something in Jane snapped-her calm facade cracking as anger flared in her eyes.

"My affairs are none of your concern," she said, her voice cold and sharp as she stood up from her chair. "Worry about your own daughter and leave my life-and my husband-out of it."

Her aunt turned instantly, her face hardening with anger.

"Oh, please," she scoffed, patting Jenny proudly on the shoulder. "Jenny is nothing like you. She has her head on straight."

Jenny smiled sweetly, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she looked at Jane with barely concealed disdain.

"She has a successful career... and an outstanding boyfriend," her aunt continued, her voice swelling with pride as she looked around the table for approval. "Not only is he a captain-he's also an airline stakeholder. Owns shares in Aurelia itself."

She leaned back in her chair, satisfied with the impressed murmurs that ran through the table.

"I'll just sit and enjoy my retirement knowing my daughter is taken care of."

Jane let out a small, amused breath, sitting back down as a knowing smile played on her lips.

"Oh really?" she said, her voice casual as she picked up her glass of water and took a slow sip. "That's interesting."

The aunt frowned slightly, sensing a trap but not knowing where it was set.

"Because I heard," Jane continued casually, setting her glass down with a soft clink, "that she and her boyfriend were grounded for misconduct."

Jenny's smile faltered. Her face flushed bright red, and she reached for her glass of wine with a trembling hand.

Her aunt stiffened, eyes snapping toward her daughter. "Jenny?"

Jenny recovered quickly, forcing a laugh as she waved her hand dismissively. "Mom, don't listen to her," she said, her voice tight with anger. "She's just jealous I found someone better than her unemployed husband."

Then she looked at Jane, smirking as she leaned forward slightly.

"Bitter, aren't you?"

Jane didn't react. She just picked up her fork and started eating her curry, her expression calm and unreadable.

But her aunt wasn't done. She turned back to Jane's mother, her voice full of false concern.

"Honestly," she continued, shaking her head sadly, "she should've asked Jenny's boyfriend to introduce her to someone decent instead of grabbing some random man off the street. Someone with money, with connections-someone who can actually take care of her."

Her gaze slid to Jayden, her eyes cold with judgment.

"She should just get divorced now. Before she ends up with nothing."

"What?!" Jane's mother exclaimed, stunned as she looked from her sister to her daughter. "Rosa, that's enough-"

"Did you even sign a prenup?" the aunt added, now addressing Jane directly as she ignored her sister's protest. "If he's using your money now, what's going to stop him from taking everything if you split up?"

"That's right," the grandmother chimed in, finally speaking up from her seat at the head of the table. She was small and frail, but her voice carried weight in the room. "Girls shouldn't marry just for looks. If he has no money and needs to eat off you, why marry him? It's not practical."

The words hung heavy in the air-cruel, judgmental, and impossible to ignore. For a moment-

Jayden stayed still. He sat perfectly straight, his hands resting on the table as he stared at his untouched plate of food. The polite, quiet man from earlier was gone-vanished under the weight of their words.

Then slowly...

He picked up his glass of water. His movements were deliberate, measured, each motion perfectly controlled. He took a slow sip, holding the cool liquid in his mouth for a moment before swallowing.

Set it down.

Hard.

The sound echoed across the table like a gunshot, making several people jump.

All eyes turned to him.

His expression had changed. His jaw was set, his shoulders squared, and his eyes-usually calm and gentle-now burned with restrained fury. The air around him seemed to shift, the warmth of the room suddenly feeling cold and sharp.

And when he finally spoke-

His voice was low.

Controlled.

But carried a weight that silenced the entire room.

Jayden set the glass down harder than necessary.

The sharp clink cut through the chatter like a warning signal, making every head turn his way. Water sloshed slightly over the rim, leaving a small dark circle on the polished wood table.

He exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling in a deliberate rhythm as he steadied himself, then lifted his gaze to scan the table-his eyes meeting each face in turn, calm but unyielding.

"Rest assured," he said, his voice calm but carrying weight that made even Rosa pause. "I can provide for Jane. We have everything we need."

A beat of silence stretched across the table-then Rosa let out a sharp scoff, leaning back in her chair as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Pfft. Love swindlers are everywhere these days," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "They say all the right things until they've drained you dry."

Her eyes slid toward Jane, her expression hard with judgment.

"You should heed my advice, mija. I've been around longer than you have-I know how these things go."

Jane inhaled slowly, her nostrils flaring slightly as she forced her temper down before responding. She lifted her head, her spine straightening as she met her aunt's gaze directly-no longer willing to back down.

"I trust Jayden," she said firmly, her voice clear and unwavering. "He's not that type. He's honest, and he cares about me-more than anyone else in this room seems to."

Jenny smirked, her lips curling with quiet mockery as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger. She'd been waiting for this moment all night.

Jane didn't look at her. She kept her eyes fixed on her aunt, refusing to give Jenny the satisfaction of a reaction.

"Please refrain from speculating about him," she added, her tone sharper now, cutting through the room like glass. "He's my husband, and I won't have people talking about him like he's some kind of criminal."

A brief silence followed until her grandmother cleared her throat, the sound loud and deliberate in the quiet room. She tapped her fork against her plate-once, twice-before speaking.

"Jane is right," she said, waving a hand dismissively as she looked around the table. "We're here for dinner, not arguments. Let them bring the food. All this talking is making me hungry."

But Rosa wasn't done. She leaned forward again, her eyes glinting with determination as she fixed her gaze on Jayden.

"Oh no," she said, straightening in her seat, her voice dripping with calculation. "We shouldn't eat homemade food tonight. That's too casual for such an important occasion."

Her eyes locked onto Jayden, and Jane could see exactly what she was doing-trying to force him into a corner, to make him look foolish in front of everyone.

"Since it's his first time dining with us," she continued, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "he should order something... luxurious. Something befitting Jane's status as a captain."

The smile widened slightly.

"I bet he hasn't even seen half the things on a proper menu. Not with the kind of life he's been leading."

The jab landed cleanly. Jane's fingers curled against the tablecloth, her nails digging into her palm hard enough to leave marks. She could feel her temper rising again-hot and sharp in her chest.

Before she could speak-

Her mother stepped in, reaching across the table to place a hand on Jane's arm. "Didn't Jenny arrange everything for tonight?" she said quickly, her tone gentle but deliberate, clearly trying to change the subject and shield Jayden from further attacks. "Let her handle the ordering. She knows the place better than anyone here."

A quiet attempt to de-escalate, to give Jayden an out.

The grandmother let out a soft, knowing "tch," shaking her head slightly as she picked up her glass of water. She could see through the attempt, but she said nothing-choosing to let it pass.

Jenny, however, looked pleased. She sat up straight, puffing out her chest slightly as she picked up her phone. Her mother watched her with pride, practically glowing as she patted her daughter's shoulder.

"Of course," Jenny said smoothly, flipping through the pages with practiced ease. "I know exactly what's good here."

Then-

"Hey, Jane," Jenny said casually, glancing up from the menu with a sweet smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Need help finding your husband a job? I know how busy you are with your flights."

The words hung in the air, heavy and loaded with mockery.

Jane turned to look at her-silent, unblinking, her face a mask of calm despite the anger boiling just below the surface.

Jenny leaned back slightly, enjoying the attention as she twirled her hair again.

"Reuben mentioned," she continued, her voice light and airy as if she'd just offered genuine help, "that the West terminal could use a security guard. It's not much, but it's steady work. I could even pull some strings to get him hired without going through the usual process."

She laughed lightly, a tinkling sound that made Jane's jaw clench.

Rosa nodded approvingly, beaming at her daughter. "That's right, Jane. Listen to Jenny. We're family-we should support each other, even when some people make... questionable choices."

Mockery dressed as kindness. The worst kind of cruelty.

Jane's chair scraped against the floor as she started to rise-ready to end this dinner, to take Jayden and leave, to never speak to her aunt or cousin again.

But Jayden's hand closed gently around hers.

Firm.

Steady.

His fingers wrapped around hers, warm and reassuring, grounding her in the moment.

She paused, looking down at their joined hands-then up at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

Jayden didn't look at her. His gaze remained fixed on Jenny, his expression calm but sharp, like a pilot assessing a storm ahead.

Then-

"I heard," he said slowly, his tone even and measured, "that at Aurelia Airline, even security positions require rigorous screening. Background checks, psychological evaluations, verification of prior experience."

The table quieted. Even Jenny stopped smiling, her fingers tightening around the menu as she stared at him.

"No fixed arrangements," he added, his voice carrying just enough to reach every corner of the room. "Not for any position. The company has standards to maintain-especially when it comes to who they trust with passenger safety."

Jenny's smile faltered-just slightly. Her face flushed a faint pink, and she looked away from his gaze, focusing on the menu as if it held the answers to getting her out of this conversation.

Her fingers tightened around the menu until her knuckles turned white.

Jayden continued, calm and composed as if he were simply discussing flight schedules:

"So I'm curious... how exactly were you planning to 'pull strings'? Bypass the screening process? Override the hiring committee's decisions?"

A subtle shift in the air. The warmth of the room felt suddenly cooler, more tense.

For the first time that night-

Jenny looked... uncomfortable. She shifted in her seat, clearing her throat as she tried to find her voice.