Chapter 1

I was the most unsociable person at Horizon Airlines.

Because I rarely joined after-work hangouts, everyone assumed I was difficult to get along with.

Summer, the new flight attendant, was my polar opposite.

Bubbly, charming, and outgoing, she won over the entire company the moment she arrived.

Yet my husband—with whom I was secretly married—always scoffed whenever her name came up.

Every single time, Austin would roll his eyes and complain about how utterly annoying she was.

I even tried talking him down a few times, telling him they were colleagues and he should be a little more patient.

Until Summer sent an invite in the company group chat for her birthday party.

I had just finished an intense, emergency flight dispatch shift. My head was pounding, and I was dizzy with exhaustion.

Out of nowhere, my phone blew up with dozens of angry DMs.

All from Summer.

"No wonder everyone says you're an antisocial freak. You actually dare to decline my invite?"

"My husband is the biggest shareholder in this entire airline. Believe me when I say I can get you fired with a snap of his fingers."

"If you come to my party tomorrow and work as a waitress, I might just forgive you."

Then, she dropped a photo of herself and her husband straight into the main company SnapChat group.

I froze.

The groom smiling proudly in that wedding photo was my husband, Austin.

The very man who only became a chief captain because of my money was cheating on me—and throwing a lavish birthday bash for his side piece?

I typed a direct reply right into the group chat:

"Sweetie, I'll be there on time tomorrow. And I've got a huge surprise ready just for you!"

When I got home, the house was completely empty.

Clearly, Austin was still busy playing party planner for his little mistress.

When I first met him, he was just a broke college kid who had to skip meals to get by.

My family funded his tuition, paid for his flight hours, built him up step by step into a captain, and branded him as our "star pilot."

I took another close look at the venue address on the invite. The luxury hotel was owned by one of my family's business partners.

A cold smirk tugged at my lips. I dialed our family butler, Uncle Arthur.

"Freeze every single asset under Austin's name immediately. Cut off all his credit cards. Also, prepare a special delivery for me—send it straight to that birthday party tomorrow."

The next morning, just as I was heading out the door, Austin texted me.

"You've been working so many shifts lately, babe. You must be exhausted. As soon as I land from this flight, I have a special present for you!"

Acting like the doting, considerate husband. Same old act.

I texted back:

"Sounds great. I have a surprise for you too."

Later that evening, I put on an evening gown and arrived at the venue.

The second I walked in, I saw Summer dressed in a glittering designer dress, preening smugly among our airline colleagues.

"My husband is the biggest board member here. I promise he'll make sure everyone gets promotions and raises!"

Someone caught sight of me and immediately sneered.

"Well, look who finally showed up! Dispatcher Brooke, weren't you too busy? How did you find the time?"

A sycophantic flight attendant next to her chimed in at once.

"Word is, she came specifically to wait tables for Summer's party."

I didn't bother wasting my breath on those pathetic clowns.

Summer, however, zeroed in on my couture gown. Envy flared in her eyes.

"Wearing knockoffs? Honestly, cheap fakes are all you're worth."

She grabbed a stained, grease-smeared flight attendant uniform and slammed it against my chest.

"This is what actually suits you. Hey, somebody strip that fake dress off her right now!"

Terrified of offending her supposed connections, a few coworkers actually lunged forward and grabbed at my clothes.

I fought them off furiously, but my shoulder strap tore loose, exposing a large patch of bare skin.

Gasps rippled through the room. Several pairs of sleazy, disgusting eyes instantly glued themselves to me.

Summer crossed her arms, looking down at me with pure triumph.

"Old hag, nobody wants to look at your body anyway. Why don't you just change right here in front of everybody?"

I shoved her back hard, clutched my neckline shut, and whipped around, dragging her straight toward the person-sized crate near the entrance.

A faint, foul stench was already wafting from inside it.

Slowly, deliberately, I tore it open.

Inside sat a beaten-up, rusted, filthy second-hand scooter.

And stacked neatly on top was a thick pile of formal complaint letters and safety violation reports—every single one detailing Austin and Summer's misconduct.