Chapter 2

Hannah's POV

Thirty thousand feet up, on a flight from New York to Los Angeles.

The plane suddenly hit severe turbulence. The violent weightless sensation sent the entire cabin into a brief panic. Overhead bins clunked dully, uncollected paper cups tumbled through the air, splattering brown coffee everywhere.

I was in the rear cabin checking seatbelts when the unexpected jolt threw me completely off balance. I crashed hard onto the aisle floor. My knee slammed against the sharp metal edge of the service cart, and excruciating pain shot through my entire body.

I gritted my teeth, cold sweat sliding down my temples.

Before, whenever there was even the slightest turbulence, the cockpit's intercom would ring back to the rear cabin immediately.

Adrian's deep, steady voice would come through the static: "Hannah, are you hurt? Find a seat and buckle up. Don't be scared."

He would even break protocol to request altitude changes from the tower, just to spare me a bit of turbulence. Everyone in the airline knew that Lead Flight Attendant Hannah Bennett was the treasure Captain Pierce had protected for seven years.

But now, the intercom was dead silent.

I gripped the service cart and forced myself to stand, pushing through the searing pain in my knee. I summoned my professional smile to reassure the panicked passengers. "Everyone, please stay calm and fasten your seatbelts. It's just normal turbulence..."

Just then, the cabin PA crackled to life.

It wasn't Adrian's reassuring voice that came through, but a young, sweet—even slightly excited—female voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your First Officer Sophie. The plane is experiencing some turbulence, but please don't worry. Captain Pierce is teaching me how to handle it right now, and we'll land safely."

I froze.

My nails dug deep into my palms, and every breath sent pain shooting through my chest.

So while the turbulence had been at its worst, he'd been in the cockpit patiently teaching Sophie how to fly through it. He was giving the favoritism and privilege that had once been mine alone—without reservation—to a new female pilot who'd been with the airline less than three months.

Two hours later, the plane touched down smoothly at Los Angeles International Airport.

In the crew corridor, Adrian walked at the front, his captain's uniform crisp, his posture impeccable. Sophie trailed right beside him like a happy little bird, chattering away about the close call.

I dragged my heavy flight case at the very back. My right knee was swollen, and every step felt like walking on knife blades. Limping, I fell far behind.

Adrian stopped and turned to look at me, his brow furrowed tight, impatience clear in his voice. "Hannah, hurry up. The whole crew's bus is waiting for you."

I stopped, looking at him from several feet away. That face I'd loved for seven years was now filled with coldness.

"I hurt my leg," I said quietly. No self-pity. Just stating a fact.

Adrian's expression didn't flicker. His voice was ice cold. "As lead flight attendant, you don't know to secure yourself first during turbulence? Where's your professionalism? Don't use excuses like that to drag your feet."

Sophie tugged at Adrian's sleeve from the side, cutting in with that sweet, syrupy voice. "Captain Pierce, don't be harsh on her. I'm sure she didn't mean to. Back in the cockpit, if you hadn't held my hand to guide me through the controls, I would've been terrified."

Held her hand.

I lowered my eyes, hiding the sting in them.

I took a deep breath, gripped my case, and quickened my pace.

I walked right past them, heading straight for the crew bus. As I passed, I didn't spare Adrian a single glance.