"Uh..." Jayden began, his voice lower than usual as he shuffled his feet slightly, avoiding her gaze. The pillow he held was clutched so tightly its corners were wrinkled. "Can I come in and sleep with you?"

The question hung in the air, simple but heavy with unspoken meaning. The warm glow from the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across his face, making his expression harder to read.

Jane swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. She'd been half-asleep a moment ago, but now she was wide awake-every nerve ending in her body tingling with awareness.

For a moment, she said nothing. Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her robe-she'd pulled it on over her pajamas when she heard his knock-as her thoughts spiraled.

This is normal... we're married... this was bound to happen sooner or later... this was always the next step...

She inhaled quietly, her chest rising and falling slowly as she forced herself to relax.

"...Sure," she said at last, her voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She adjusted her robe instinctively, pulling it closed a little tighter as she sat a little straighter against the headboard.

Jayden stepped into the room, closing the door softly behind him. The floorboards creaked gently under his weight-familiar sounds from the months they'd spent living in this house, but now they felt charged with new tension.

Each step he took toward the bed made Jane's heart pound harder against her ribs. Oh, get a grip, Jane, she scolded herself internally. It's not a big deal. People do this every day.

Jayden reached the bedside and carefully placed his pillow down next to hers, adjusting it with unnecessary precision-smoothing the case, tapping it into place-clearly trying to buy time. From the corner of his eye, he stole a quick glance at her, then immediately focused back on the bedding.

Then, slowly, he slipped under the blanket-keeping a respectful distance between them, his body angled slightly away as he lay down on his back. The space between them was easily wide enough for another person to fit comfortably.

Safe.

Too safe.

Jane followed, lying down stiffly on her back, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She kept her hands clasped in her lap, her body rigid as a board.

They both stared at the ceiling.

Silent.

Neither moving.

Neither daring to close the gap. The only sound in the room was the soft hum of the air conditioning and their quiet, measured breathing.

Seconds stretched into minutes.

Then-

Jane turned slightly toward him, her shoulder brushing against the sheets as she shifted.

"Well..." she began, her voice hesitant and barely above a whisper. "You go first."

Jayden turned his head, meeting her eyes for a brief second-his dark gaze warm but uncertain-then quickly looked away, clearly just as unsure of what to do next as she was.

Jane immediately turned back to the ceiling, swallowing nervously as she stared at the same water stain she'd been meaning to have fixed for weeks.

Another pause. Long enough that Jane began to wonder if he'd fallen asleep.

Then-

Jayden shifted. He propped himself slightly on his elbow and leaned toward her, his movement slow and deliberate.

Jane's breath caught in her throat. Her hands clenched into fists under the blanket as she watched him draw closer, his face illuminated by the faint light from the hallway under the door.

His face drew closer.

Slowly.

Carefully.

He lowered his head-

Jane's eyes widened, and instinctively-her hand shot up, pressing her palm gently but firmly over his mouth.

"Wait-" she said quickly, her voice a little too loud in the quiet room as she avoided his gaze.

Jayden blinked in confusion, pulling back slightly as he looked at her hand covering his lips.

"...What?" he asked, his voice muffled slightly before she lowered her hand.

Jane's voice faltered, her cheeks flushing faintly pink even in the dim light. She fidgeted with the edge of the blanket, her eyes fixed on the pillow between them.

"Did you... buy that...?" she trailed off, her words stumbling over each other.

"Buy what?" Jayden asked, his brows knitting together in genuine confusion as he propped himself up fully, looking at her with concern.

Jane's face burned brighter now, and she finally managed to force the words out in a rush.

"I-I mean..." she stammered, still not looking at him. "... you know. My career is just starting-I'm building up my flight hours,... I'm not ready for kids yet..."

The words tumbled out awkwardly, leaving her feeling exposed and foolish.

A beat of silence followed. Jayden sat still for a moment, processing her words-then his expression softened, understanding dawning in his eyes. A quiet, gentle smile formed on his lips.

"Jane," he called gently, reaching out as if to touch her arm then pulling his hand back again.

"...Hmm?" she responded, finally glancing at him-her eyes wide and embarrassed.

"If you're not in a hurry," he said calmly, his voice warm and reassuring, "I can wait. For as long as you need."

She blinked, her confusion clear on her face. "What do you mean?"

Jayden didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned closer again-slowly, so she had time to pull away if she wanted to.

Jane froze. Her eyes fluttered shut, bracing herself-her heart hammering against her ribs.

But instead of her lips-

She felt something light. Warm. Gentle.

A kiss. On her forehead. Soft and brief, like a butterfly landing on her skin.

Her eyes opened slowly, her breath catching as she looked up at him. His face was close enough that she could see the faint lines around his eyes, the warmth in his dark gaze.

"Until you're ready," he said quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I won't touch you. I'll wait. We can take this as slow as you need."

Then he smiled-soft and affectionate-and without another word, he shifted back to his side of the bed, pulling the blanket up to his chest as he lay down on his back again. That careful, respectful distance remained between them.

Jane lay there, stunned. Her heart was still racing-but for a completely different reason now. Warmth spread through her chest, unexpected and unfamiliar, making her feel light and a little breathless.

Then-

Her brows furrowed slightly as realization hit her full force.

Damn it...

She pulled the blanket over her face in embarrassment, burrowing into the sheets until only her hair was visible.

I misunderstood everything...

"So when he said 'sleep together'... he really meant just sleep..." she muttered into the fabric, her voice muffled and mortified. She buried herself deeper under the covers, wishing the bed would swallow her whole.

Just then-

A soft beep broke the silence, cutting through the quiet of the room.

Jayden reached for his phone on the nightstand, his movements quiet so as not to disturb her. The screen lit up faintly in the dark, casting a cool blue glow across his face.

A message notification from an unknown number.

His eyes scanned it briefly-then paused. The faint smile that had lingered on his lips faded-just slightly-replaced by an expression that was hard to read in the dim light.

On the screen, a single line read:

"Mandy will be back tomorrow."

Jayden's fingers stilled around the phone, his thumb hovering over the screen as he stared at the words.

The lobby buzzed with quiet chatter as the morning crowd flowed through-pilots checking flight boards, air hostesses comparing schedules, ground crew members hurrying past with rolling carts. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting warm squares of light across the polished marble floors. Maria and Lila, two air hostesses in crisp navy uniforms, leaned close against a pillar near the coffee stand, their voices barely above a whisper as they exchanged gossip.

"Hey," Maria tapped Lila's shoulder softly, her eyes bright with excitement as she glanced around to make sure no one was listening too closely. "Did you hear? Our boss's fiancée is back."

Lila froze mid-sip of her coffee, her eyes wide with surprise as she nearly choked on the hot liquid. "Really?" she asked, her voice rising just a notch before she quickly lowered it, looking around nervously.

"Yes!" Maria confirmed, her smile growing as she leaned in closer, speaking in a breathy whisper. "She came back yesterday on a private jet-one of those sleek white ones with the Aurelia logo on the tail. Landed at the executive terminal so no one would see, but someone spotted her getting into a black sedan."

Lila's jaw dropped, her coffee cup hovering halfway to her lips. "Wow! And his mom picked her up personally?

"Yes!" Maria gushed, fanning herself with her hand as if overcome by romance. "I heard they were childhood sweethearts-grew up in the same neighborhood, both families in aviation. Same background, same dreams-she even studied aerospace engineering just like he did."

"They are perfect together," Lila added dreamily, her eyes going distant as she imagined the scene. "A match made in the skies. He's the chief pilot, she's a brilliant engineer... it's like something out of a movie."

Just then, Jane walked into the lobby, composed as ever. She wore her uniform with its signature crispness, her hair pulled back in a neat bun, her flight bag slung over one shoulder. The soft buzz of gossip dipped slightly as she passed-most people knew better than to speak too loudly around her, knowing she valued professionalism above all else. Maria hesitated for a moment, then called out, a touch nervously, "Ms. Harley... excuse me!"

Jane paused, surprised, as she turned toward them. She glanced at Maria, then at Lila, giving a small, polite nod. "Yes, Maria? Is everything okay?"

Maria stepped forward slightly, her hands clasped in front of her as she offered Jane a conspiratorial smile. "I just wanted to let you know-this time, Mr. Blackwood arranged a golden flight route for you."

Jane's eyebrows lifted in genuine surprise.. "Really? That's unexpected. Thank you for telling me."

Maria leaned in a little closer, lowering her voice even more as she glanced around again. "His fiancée, they say, is pretty tough. Heard she's already making changes in the engineering department-"

Jane was about to reply, curious despite herself, but her phone buzzed in her pocket-three short vibrations that meant it was Jayden. She pulled it out to see a text message: "Working overtime today. Don't wait up for me-food is in the fridge, already heated up. It's your favorite." She typed back quickly, "Okay, sounds good. Don't work too late," then slipped the phone into her pocket. She smiled at Maria, nodded to Lila, and continued down the lobby toward the crew building.

As she turned a corner near the security checkpoint, Bob-one of her most reliable crew members approached her, a thick file clutched tightly in his hand. He looked a little flustered, his tie slightly askew. "Ms. Harley! Thank goodness I caught you."

Jane shook her head, curious as she stopped walking. "No, I don't-Is everything alright with the aircraft?"

"Nothing wrong with the planes, thank goodness," Bob explained, offering her the file with both hands. "These urgent documents need Mr. Blackwood's signature-they're for the new safety protocols we're rolling out next month. HR says they have to be signed by end of day today,"

He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "The address is at the back "

Jane smiled, appreciative of his dedication. "Sure, I'll help you with that," she said, taking the file from him.

Bob bowed slightly in gratitude, relief washing over his face. "Thank you so much, Ms. Harley. You're a lifesaver-if these don't get signed, we'll have to delay the training sessions for all new crew members."

Jane patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it." She tucked the file under her arm, her mind already shifting to the next task at hand-

At the Blackwood Estate, the atmosphere was deceptively calm. The grand foyer gleamed with polished marble floors and crystal chandeliers that caught the morning light, casting rainbows across the walls lined with framed aviation memorabilia. In the sunlit sitting room, plush cream sofas and armchairs were arranged around a dark wood coffee table, where a silver tea set sat gleaming.

Mandy sat gracefully on one of the cushions, her posture elegant and practiced-back straight, shoulders relaxed, legs crossed neatly at the ankle. She wore a tailored cream dress that flowed to her knees, her dark hair styled in loose waves that framed her face perfectly. Across from her, Eleanor-Jayden's mother-carefully set down a cup of freshly brewed coffee on a delicate saucer before taking a seat beside her, a polite but slightly strained smile resting on her lips.

"You don't have to be so polite, Madam," Mandy said warmly, reaching out to take Eleanor's hands in hers. Her grip was tight-almost possessive-as she squeezed gently. "We're almost family now."

Eleanor's smile faltered-just slightly-as she tried to pull her hands away subtly. "Mandy..." she began cautiously, her voice soft but measured. "I mentioned to your mother the last time we spoke that... the marriage arrangement between our families has been cancelled."

For a brief moment, Mandy said nothing. Her expression remained perfectly composed, but her fingers tightened around Eleanor's hands until her knuckles turned white.

Then-

Her hand "accidentally" tilted, knocking against the coffee cup beside her. The ceramic slipped from its saucer, hot black coffee spilling across the polished wood table in a dark, spreading stain.

"Oh my God!" Mandy exclaimed quickly, rising halfway from her seat, her eyes wide with feigned alarm. "I'm so sorry-I'm so clumsy today! I'll clean it up right away-"

Eleanor reached out immediately, gently holding her hands to stop her. "No, no-don't worry about it," she said softly, guiding her to sit back down. "The staff will take care of it. Mandy... I heard from your mother that you went abroad for treatment. How is your condition now? Is it any better?"

Mandy's expression dimmed slightly, a shadow passing across her face. She released Eleanor's hands, folding her own in her lap. "It's still the same," she replied, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "The doctors say there's only so much they can do-some things just take time."

Then, as if remembering something pleasant, her face brightened again, and she looked up at Eleanor with a warm smile. "But Jayden took very good care of me while I was overseas," she added lightly, her voice taking on a dreamy quality. "He called every week, sent me care packages... so you don't need to worry about me."

Eleanor's brows knitted together-confusion flickering across her face as she searched Mandy's eyes. "I... wasn't aware you and Jayden were that close. He never mentioned keeping in touch while you were away."

Mandy's smile stiffened, the corners of her lips twitching slightly. For a split second-just long enough for Eleanor to notice-her eyes shifted away, darting toward the window as if nervous.

Before she could respond-

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway broke the moment. Gravel crunched under tires, followed by the soft thud of a door closing.

Mandy's face lit up instantly, her earlier discomfort vanishing completely. "Is Jayden back?" she asked, already rising to her feet, excitement clear in her voice as she smoothed down her dress.

Eleanor forced a small smile-but the moment Mandy turned away, that smile vanished completely, replaced with visible tension. She pressed her fingers to her temples, letting out a quiet sigh.

Mandy walked briskly toward the door, her steps light and eager. Just as she reached it-her hand on the polished brass handle-

The door opened from the outside.

Jayden stepped in, his jacket slung over one shoulder, his tie slightly loosened from a long morning of meetings. He paused when he saw Mandy, his expression remaining neutral.

"Oh, Jayden!" Mandy said, her tone turning soft and slightly pouty as she stepped closer to him. "Why did you come back without telling me? You didn't even inform me you were coming"

Jayden barely spared her a glance as he hung his jacket on the coat rack by the door. One hand slipped into his pocket, his expression calm-detached, almost cold.

"Miss Moore," he said coolly, finally turning to look at her. His dark eyes held no warmth, only a clear sense of distance. "We are not familiar enough for me to keep you informed of my movements."

The words landed heavily in the quiet foyer. Mandy's smile wavered, but she pressed on, as if she hadn't heard him.

"My mom asked me to check with you," she continued, her voice bright again despite the slight edge to it. "When would be a good day for our wedding? She's already looking at venues-there's a beautiful church just outside the city that's perfect for a spring ceremony."

Behind her, Eleanor turned away, walking toward the sitting room as she twisted her fingers together nervously. She didn't want to be part of this conversation-not again.

"I am already married," Jayden said flatly, his gaze sharp and unwavering as he met Mandy's eyes directly. "I told your parents this months ago, and I've made it clear to you as well. Continuing this conversation will only cause unnecessary trouble for both families."

Mandy's smile vanished.

Completely.

Her face hardened, her jaw tightening as she stared at him. Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. Then, slowly, she turned to face Eleanor, who had paused by the doorway, watching anxiously.

Her expression-no longer sweet or playful. Now edged with frustration and something that looked almost like anger.

"Madam..." she began, her voice low and steady.

Eleanor quickly stood up, forcing a smile as she stepped toward her, cutting her off. "Mandy," she said gently, taking Mandy's hands again-this time with a firmer grip. "You are a wonderful young woman, and your family means so much to us. You will definitely meet someone better-someone who can give you the life you deserve."

She even reached up, lightly tapping Mandy's nose in a playful gesture-trying to ease the tension, to smooth over the awkwardness.

Mandy let out a quiet sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"My mom is still waiting for me," she added, withdrawing her hands and stepping back toward the door. "I should go."

She turned, her movements stiff as she walked toward the entrance. Jayden stood still, watching her go, his expression unreadable.

Then-

Through the tall glass window beside the entrance-

He saw her.

Jane.

Walking up the long, luxurious path toward the estate, the morning sun illuminating her dark hair. She carried a thick file in one hand, her head held high as she made her way up the stone steps, completely unaware of what awaited her inside. She'd clearly come straight from work-still in her pilot uniform, her cap tucked into her pocket.

Jayden's eyes widened.

For the first time-

Real panic flickered across his face.

No-

As Mandy moved to pass him, reaching for the door handle-

He reached out suddenly and grabbed her arm, his grip firm enough to stop her but not to hurt her.

"Wait."

His voice was firm-unusual for him, carrying a note of urgency he rarely showed.

Mandy froze, startled, turning back to look at him with wide eyes.

Jayden's gaze remained fixed on the approaching figure outside, his jaw tight with worry.

"No..." he said under his breath, his fingers tightening slightly on her arm.

Then, more clearly-

"You can't leave yet."