Layover 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

Ella smiled politely as Daniel's best friend lifted his glass."To the happiest couple in the room," he cheered.Everyone raised their glasses."To Ella and Daniel!"Glasses clinked together.Ella smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Planning a wedding had been exhausting, and tonight was supposed to be a break from all the endless phone calls, dress fittings, and family opinions.She reached for Daniel's hand beneath the table.He squeezed it gently before returning his attention to the conversation."You know," one of the ladies laughed, "after the wedding, Daniel won't be allowed to hang out with us anymore.""Oh, please," Daniel chuckled. "Ella isn't that controlling."She rolled her eyes playfully."I'll pretend I didn't hear that."The table erupted into laughter.For a moment, everything felt perfect.Maybe this was what happiness looked like.A simple dinner.Close friends.The man she had chosen to spend forever with.Her thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of h

The acceptance letter sat open on Ella's laptop long after the sun had disappeared.She had read the email at least ten times, yet the words still felt unreal."Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you admission..."Months ago, receiving that email would have been the happiest day of her life. She would have run into Daniel's arms, waving her laptop in excitement while they talked about how they would make a long-distance marriage work.Now, there was no "they."There was only her.Ella closed the laptop and leaned back in her chair.The apartment was painfully quiet.A place that had once felt like home now echoed with memories she wished she could erase.Her eyes wandered to the dining table.Stacks of wedding invitations lay neatly arranged beside a notebook filled with seating plans, flower ideas, and honeymoon destinations.She walked over and picked up the invitation on top.Daniel & EllaTogether Forever.A bitter smile tugged at her lips."Forever," she whispered."What a

The cool evening air wrapped around Ella the moment she stepped out of the hotel.The rain had stopped.The streets glistened beneath rows of golden streetlights, reflecting the city's quiet beauty. Cars moved lazily through the wet roads while people laughed as they hurried into nearby cafés and restaurants.Ella zipped up her light jacket and glanced across the street.The bar she'd seen from her hotel window looked even more inviting.Soft jazz music drifted through the slightly open doors, blending with the low murmur of conversations inside.She hesitated.Maybe this wasn't a good idea.She wasn't the kind of woman who walked into bars alone.Not before tonight.Then again...She wasn't the same woman she had been three weeks ago.Taking a deep breath, she crossed the street.The warmth inside the bar instantly welcomed her.It wasn't loud like the clubs back home.No flashing lights.No deafening music.Instead, soft amber lights hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over p

The ChoiceVictor's words lingered between them."I don't want to be your escape.""I want to be your choice."For a long moment, neither of them moved.The city continued around them.Cars rolled past.The hotel doors slid open and closed as guests came and went.Yet somehow, the world felt impossibly quiet.Ella searched his face.Most men would've assumed they knew what her invitation meant.Most would've accepted without hesitation.Victor hadn't.Instead...He'd given her another chance to change her mind.That simple act made her trust him even more.She smiled softly."What if..."Her voice was barely above a whisper."...I'm choosing you?"Victor looked at her carefully.Not searching for desire.Searching for certainty."You've known me for four hours.""I know.""And tomorrow morning, you'll probably never see me again."She nodded."I know that too.""So why?"Ella let out a slow breath."Because tonight..."She looked into his eyes."...you never once tried to fix me."Vic

The plane landed with a gentle thud against the runway.Ella looked out of the window as the city slowly came into view beneath the gray morning sky.This was it.The place she would call home for the next two years.As passengers began gathering their luggage, she remained seated for a moment, her fingers tightly gripping the armrest.It still didn't feel real.Just a month ago, she had been planning a wedding.Now she was halfway across the world, carrying two suitcases and a heart that was still learning how to beat without disappointment.The seatbelt sign chimed."Ladies and gentlemen, welcome..."The announcement faded into the background as Ella stood, lifted her carry-on from the overhead compartment, and joined the line of passengers making their way off the plane.The cool breeze greeted her the moment the airport doors slid open.She smiled despite herself.It smelled different.Everything felt different.New language.New accents.New faces.For the first time in weeks, th