Chapter 5

Hannah's POV

I went back to the New York apartment we shared.

I pushed open the door. The place was pitch black. I didn't turn on the lights. By the moonlight from the window, I dragged a 20-inch suitcase out of the storage closet.

My Damascus deployment application had passed the initial review. Next week was the in-depth physical examination.

I started packing.

There wasn't much to pack, really. This apartment was filled with things Adrian had bought me. The closet was hung with dresses he'd picked, the vanity was covered with skincare he'd bought.

I only took a few old clothes I'd bought myself, a few books I read often, and stuffed them in the case.

At 11 PM, the lock turned.

Adrian was home.

He reeked of alcohol, with a faint trace of perfume clinging to him. That cloying peach scent Sophie loved.

Click. The living room lights came on.

Adrian loosened his tie. When he saw the suitcase in the middle of the living room, his brow knotted instantly. "You have a trip? The schedule didn't show you had any flights."

I put the last book in the case and zipped it up. "Just packing some old clothes to throw out."

Adrian walked over and reflexively reached out to hug me.

I stepped back, avoiding his touch.

Adrian's hand froze in midair. His expression darkened instantly. "Hannah, how long are you going to keep this up? You've been acting like this since we got back from LA. Sophie is just a student the company assigned to me. So I took care of her a little more—what's the big deal? Do you have to be this petty?"

I stood up straight and looked at his eyes, slightly red from the alcohol.

"Just a student?" My voice was soft but clear. "Does a student need you to pick her up after work at midnight? Does a student need you to give her my first officer position? Does a student need you to forget my seafood allergy just to satisfy her cravings?"

Adrian raked a frustrated hand through his hair. "You never used to be this petty. You're a great lead flight attendant—can't you be reasonable? Stop being so immature, like a little girl."

His words struck me as the height of irony.

He used to say, "Hannah, you never have to be 'reasonable' in front of me. I'll handle everything for you."

Now, he was complaining I wasn't reasonable enough.

Just then, Adrian's phone, sitting on the table, rang.

Sophie's name flashed on the screen.

Adrian glanced at me, then picked up.

In the quiet living room, Sophie's tearful voice came through crystal clear. "Captain Pierce, there's thunder outside, I'm so scared... can you come check on me? I'm too scared to sleep alone."

Adrian didn't hesitate at all. He turned to grab his car keys by the door. "Don't be scared. I'm coming over right now."

I watched his back and suddenly spoke. "Adrian, if you walk out that door tonight, we're done. For good."

Adrian's hand froze on the door handle.

He turned around, his eyes filled with certainty and mockery. "Hannah, don't threaten me with a breakup. You can't live without me—the whole airline knows it. When I come back tomorrow, I hope you'll have calmed down."

The door slammed shut.

I stood in the empty living room. I didn't cry. I didn't scream.

I walked to the TV stand and picked up the picture frame. Inside was the photo of us from three years ago under the Eiffel Tower. Adrian was kissing my forehead, smiling with such tenderness.

I opened the frame, pulled the photo out, ripped it into pieces, and threw it in the trash.