Chapter 5 - The Flight to Boston
The private jet provided by Granton Systems’ emergency charter service sliced through the gray clouds at thirty thousand feet, heading east toward Massachusetts.
In the cabin, the atmosphere was quiet, calm, and wrapped in soft leather and warm light.
Lily sat by the window, wearing her cozy blue sweater, her face pressed against the glass as she watched the sun break through the clouds above the storm layer. In her lap sat a brand-new set of colored pencils and a thick drawing book that Amelia had bought at the airport terminal.
Daniel sat across from her, his hands clasped tightly between his knees. He was wearing clean clothes—a soft gray sweater and dark trousers that Amelia’s assistant had delivered to his house earlier that morning. For the first time in three years, his hands were not trembling.
Amelia sat across the aisle, working on her laptop, drafting a full corporate defense strategy for the upcoming shareholders' meeting.
"Ms. Grant?" Lily’s quiet voice broke the silence of the cabin.
Amelia looked up from her screen, smiling warm and soft. "Yes, Lily?"
Lily held up her drawing book. She had drawn a picture of a giant airplane with yellow wings, flying over a bright blue ocean. In the windows of the plane were three little figures: a big man with brown hair, a tiny girl holding a bear, and a woman with long dark hair wearing a suit.
"That's us," Lily said proudly, pointing her small finger at the figures. "Daddy, me, and you."
Amelia felt a strange, beautiful warmth blossom in her chest—a feeling she hadn't experienced in years spent inside cold boardrooms and high-stakes corporate negotiations. "It’s beautiful, Lily. You're a wonderful artist."
"Daddy says you're an angel," Lily added casually, turning back to color a cloud pink. "He said angels don't always have wings. Sometimes they have airplanes."
Daniel flushed a deep, embarrassed red, looking away toward the aisle. "Lily..." he murmured softly.
Amelia looked over at Daniel. His eyes met hers, filled with a depth of gratitude so profound, so unvarnished, that it transcended words entirely.
"She's right, you know," Daniel whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how I'm ever going to repay you for this, Amelia. Even if I work for you for the rest of my life..."
"You don't owe me a single hour of extra code, Daniel," Amelia said gently. "Just focus on holding her hand tomorrow."
May you like
The plane began its gentle descent toward Logan International Airport. Through the clouds, the historic city of Boston appeared—a mosaic of brick, glass, and ocean water glittering under the afternoon sun.
Daniel looked out the window, his breath hitching slightly as the realization washed over him: they were here. The impossible nightmare that had threatened to crush his world was finally meeting an answer.
