Chapter 4

Melissa's POV

In the end, I lost the baby.

After handling Mom's funeral affairs, I dragged my battered body back home. Taking out my suitcase, I began to slowly pack everything I owned.

I didn't want to stay even a second longer in this city with its unpredictable weather and people.

Despite having been married for six years, it wasn't until I was truly about to leave that I realized all my belongings could fit in just one suitcase.

A plane-shaped luggage tag was still attached to the suitcase.

It had been a gift from Samuel back when I piloted my very first flight. He had personally hung it on my suitcase, then pulled me into a tight hug, his eyes filled with love.

"I hope that my little pilot will forever be graced with sunny skies and safe travels."

However, time had worn the tag away until the paint had come off, and I never got to see a sunny sky again.

After staring at it for a good long while, I ultimately ripped it off and tossed it in the trash.

Behind me came the sound of the front door opening—Samuel had returned.

He took off his jacket and shot me a distracted look. "Mom's okay, right?"

I paused in the middle of packing. "Yeah. She won't ever feel pain again."

Samuel didn't bother asking any more questions. As his gaze landed on my suitcase, he frowned. "Why are you packing?"

Zipping it shut, I replied calmly, "I'm piloting a flight out of the country tomorrow."

For several seconds, Samuel simply stared at me, as though he had finally realized that I was being oddly quiet.

Subsequently, he approached me and reached out to embrace me, only for me to duck out of the way. His arms were left hanging in midair.

After a moment of awkwardness, he let out an exasperated sigh. "Are you still angry over the weather incident yesterday? I promise you that I'll stop going along with Hails' nonsense from now on. Yesterday's rainstorm was the last time."

Then, he softened his tone and continued, "As for Hails' baby, if you want, you can raise it as your own. Don't worry about your status. You'll forever be my Mrs. Zayner. Nobody will ever take that away from you."

I was surprised for a few seconds before a bubble of laughter abruptly burst from my lips.

I had only just lost my baby, yet here he was, attempting to give me another woman's baby to make up for what he had done to me.

My laughter had Samuel assuming that I had come around. He pinched my cheek indulgently, saying, "I'll take that as you agreeing to bury the hatchet. Anyway, I'll drive you to the airport tomorrow."

"No need. I can just—"

Before I could finish, Samuel's phone rang.

When he answered, Hailey's voice immediately came through the speakers, her voice thick with tears. "Sam, I'm not feeling too good…"

Samuel straightened subconsciously before he threw me a somewhat hesitant glance.

I didn't even bother raising my head as I said indifferently, "Go on. Don't keep her waiting."

"Mel, you're finally being more considerate of me. Wait for me tomorrow morning, okay? I'll come pick you up."

With that said, he hurried out of the house, the door slamming shut behind him.

I hadn't even gotten the chance to finish speaking, and the words were left stuck in my throat.

…

The next day, Samuel's car stopped at the entrance on time.

However, the side passenger's door opened, and Hailey stepped out, all smiles.

"Mel, Sam was worried about leaving me home alone, so he insisted on bringing me along to send you to the airport. You don't mind, right?"

Samuel hastily tried to explain, stammering out, "Mel, I—"

"I don't mind." I cut him off. Then, I pulled open the rear passenger door and climbed into the car.

The entire journey to the airport, Samuel kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror. It was as though he were waiting for me to burst into tears and interrogate him again.

Nonetheless, even as the car arrived at the airport terminal and stopped, I never gave him any response. I didn't say anything even when Hailey tipped her head back to gaze at the sky and commented, "The sun is so bright today. If only it would rain."

All I did was busy myself with my luggage, my only response being an indifferent, "You can do whatever you please."

When Samuel noticed how I had even agreed to that without a hint of hesitation, his expression darkened. His hand darted out to seize my wrist.

"Melissa Sander, are you throwing yet another fit?"

I turned to look at him calmly. At this point, I couldn't even be bothered to say anything in explanation.

My silence thoroughly infuriated Samuel, and he pulled out his phone right there while I was watching. "Tell everyone to get ready to make it rain."

After hanging up, he stared at me challengingly, as though waiting for me to back down like I had in the past.

However, I merely pulled myself free of his grasp before turning to stride into the terminal.

Hailey tugged on his arm anxiously. "Sam, hurry up and go after her!"

Staring at my back, he retorted firmly, "Why should I? Once the rain comes and she can't fly, she'll naturally come crawling back."

Yet, what he didn't know was that my flight would take off before the rainstorm came.

20 minutes later, the cabin door slowly shut behind me. The plane accelerated down the runway, lifted off, and finally flew through the last layer of dark clouds hanging over Gradenburg.