11
I boarded the plane without looking back, unconcerned with Ethan and Mason’s reaction. As the plane ascended, a sense of unprecedented lightness
washed over me.
Back at the Riverview Mansion in LA, the atmosphere was thick with tension.
Three hours had passed since Ethan and Mason, along with Qiana, arrived, yet there was no sign of me.
Only their luggage was present; mine was nowhere to be found.
Ethan’s anxiety mounted.
Something unexpected was happening.
Mason sat on the sofa, his face grim.
Qiana knew the truth, but remained silent.
Breaking the silence, she said,
“Lanie probably isn’t ready yet. Should we get the movers started? We’re having dinner tonight; she wouldn’t forget.”
Ethan nodded, but a nagging unease remained.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
He was inexplicably anxious.
Mason stared at his phone, mirroring Ethan’s display–a cascade of unanswered calls. He couldn’t sit still.
He grabbed his jacket, threw it on, and stormed out.
“Something’s wrong with Lanie. I’m going to check on her,” he said.
Ethan couldn’t sit still either.
He quickly directed the workers and apologized to Qiana.
“Sorry, I need to go check on her. Stay here, I’ll be back soon.
“Ethan! Mason!”
Qiana called after them, but they didn’t turn back.
Our previous home was empty.
They searched LA in their cars, but found no trace of me.
They both ended up back at our old house.
Ethan’s heart pounded.
He called his assistant, Lee, to track my whereabouts.
Lee quickly called back.
“Mr. Ethan, Ms. Lanie’s flight to Miami left this afternoon. She should have arrived by now.”
Ethan and Mason froze, stunned.
“What… how? That’s impossible…”
Mason refused to believe it.
“Why would Lanie suddenly go back to Miami? She said she’d stay in LA with us. Lee, did you make a mistake?”
Ethan was equally disbelieving.
His voice hardened.“Lee, check again. Confirm it.”
There was a pause over the phone.
Lee confirmed several times before hesitantly speaking.
“Mr. Ethan, Mr. Mason… I… I’m sorry, it’s correct.”
He sent the flight information to Ethan.
H
X
5.1%
< 17
The flight details were irrefutable.
Ethan felt like he was hallucinating.
He looked at Mason.
They shared a look of disbelief.
*Clunk!
The phone slipped from Ethan’s hand, hitting the floor.
Their minds raced.
They couldn’t believe I’d actually left!
Just hours ago, we were discussing the move to the new house.
They replayed my strange behavior before they left.
Mason snapped his fingers.
My last words on the phone before they left flashed into his mind, crystal clear.
My
“Everything’s ready. I’m leaving now. I’ll be there tonight.”
