Chapter 6: Flight to the Trap

The drive to the international airport set the tone for the entire journey. Chloe sat in the front passenger seat of Damian’s dented sedan, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Every time the worn-out suspension shuddered over a pothole, she let out a loud, theatrical scoff of disgust.

"This piece of junk is going to give me a migraine before we even reach the terminal," Chloe snapped, pulling out a designer compact mirror to check her heavy makeup. She glared sideways at Damian, who was driving silently, his hands relaxed on the steering wheel. "I can't believe my father is actually making me ride in something that looks like it belongs in a scrapyard. My Porsche's tires cost more than this entire vehicle."

Damian didn't offer a single word of defense. He maintained his perfectly crafted facade of a defeated, submissive man, keeping his eyes fixed on the road. "I apologize, Chloe," he said, his voice carrying a calculated layer of humility. "I am doing the best I can with what is left."

Chloe rolled her eyes dynamically, slipping her phone out to covertly send a text to Marcus: Missing you already babe. This loser is a complete joke. Can't wait to drain his compensation money and get back to you.

In the backseat, Aria sat in absolute silence, her small tattered bag resting protectively on her lap. She kept her head down, avoiding any movement that might draw Chloe's volatile temper. But through the rearview mirror, Damian’s sharp, analytical eyes were locked onto her. He watched the way her slender fingers lightly traced the edge of her bag, noting her quiet resilience. This girl didn't complain about the cramped seat or the lack of luxury; she simply existed like a serene island in the middle of Chloe’s toxic storm.

When they arrived at the airport, the contrast between the sisters became even more glaring. Chloe strutted through the terminal like a runway model, leaving Aria to struggle behind her, hauling three massive, heavy designer trunks filled with Chloe’s luxury wardrobe.

Because Damian was supposed to be "bankrupt," Leo had booked standard economy tickets on a commercial flight to Country C.

The moment Chloe saw the crowded boarding gate, she threw a massive tantrum right in the middle of the terminal. "Economy?! Are you out of your mind?!" she shrieked, her voice drawing stares from passing travelers. "I have never sat in the back of a plane in my entire life! The air down there is practically toxic!"

"I'm sorry, Chloe," Damian murmured, lowering his gaze to hide the dangerous, mocking glint in his eyes. "The family accounts are frozen. This was all we could afford on short notice."

"Unbelievable," Chloe hissed, storming down the jet bridge.

Throughout the grueling thirteen-hour flight, Chloe acted like a complete brat. She constantly demanded pillows, complained loudly about the airline food, and took every opportunity to kick the back of Damian's seat. To keep herself entertained, she frequently ordered Aria to stand in the cramped aisle just to hand her water bottles or massage her shoulders, treating her like a literal slave in front of the other passengers.

Aria obeyed every command without a single murmur of protest, her expression remaining entirely calm and stoic. Damian watched the entire display from his seat. Beneath his submissive mask, a dark, lethal anger was beginning to simmer. The Ghost Reaper had witnessed horrific acts in the underworld, but the casual, systematic cruelty this family inflicted on an innocent girl disgusted him to his core. Enjoy your power trip while it lasts, Chloe, Damian thought, his jaw tightening slightly. Because when I strip it away, you won't even have a pot to cry in.

Thirteen hours later, the plane finally touched down in the bustling capital of Country C.

Stepping out of the terminal, the chilly autumn air hit them instantly. Waiting at the curb was another cheap, rusted vehicle Leo had secretly arranged to match Damian's bankrupt profile.

Chloe slammed her designer handbag onto the hood of the car, looking around the middle-class neighborhood they were driving into. The sky-high glass luxury towers of the elite sectors were nowhere to be seen. Instead, the streets were lined with standard brick apartments, local grocery stores, and ordinary families walking on the sidewalks.

The car finally came to a halt in front of a small, unappealing three-story apartment building. The paint on the exterior walls was slightly peeling, and a flickering street lamp stood outside the entrance.

"We're here," Damian said, stepping out of the car and pulling Chloe’s heavy luggage from the trunk.

Chloe stepped onto the cracked pavement, her jaw dropping in absolute horror as she stared up at the building. "Here? You expect me to live here?!" she screamed, her voice echoing down the quiet street. "This looks like a dumpster! Where is the penthouse? Where is the gated security? Where are the servants?!"

"This is all that remains of my personal property, Chloe," Damian said, picking up two heavy bags and walking toward the narrow stairwell. "We'll have to make do."

Furious, Chloe stomped her designer heels against the ground, turning around to slap Aria hard across the arm. "Don't just stand there staring like an idiot! Grab the rest of the bags and get inside! If a single one of my silk dresses gets ruined in this filthy place, I’ll make you bleed!"

Aria winced slightly as the blow hit her bruised skin, but she didn't utter a sound. She quietly grabbed the remaining heavy trunks, her thin frame straining under the weight, and began trailing up the narrow stairs behind her screaming step-sister.

As Damian unlocked the door to the small, deliberately plain apartment, the trap was officially set. Chloe was already miserable, and her toxic behavior was pushing her closer and closer to the edge—unknowingly paving the way for Aria to step into her shoes.