- I’d planned to take them to a jeweler after visiting Mom.
- But suddenly, those bracelets seemed to represent something completely different.
- I opened the box, placed them side by side, and added a handwritten note.
- Then I approached a flight attendant.
- “Would you mind delivering this to the passengers in seats 2A and 2B? It’s a personal gift.”
- After checking that it contained ordinary personal belongings, she agreed.
- I returned to my seat.
- Moments later, the attendant handed Ryan the box.
- He smiled.
- Megan eagerly opened it.
- Then everything changed.
- Her expression collapsed.
- She looked at the bracelets, read the note, and hurried toward the restroom.
- Ryan stared at the contents, his face turning crimson.
- He immediately began searching the cabin.
- But I lowered my head.
- He hadn’t found me.
- Not yet.
- Twenty minutes into the flight, Ryan finally appeared beside my seat.
- “Kylie?”
- I looked up calmly.
- “Hello, Ryan.”
- “What are you doing here?”
- “Flying to Chicago.”
- “Why?”
- “Mom’s in the hospital.”
- His expression changed.
- “Is she okay?”
- “She’s stable.”
- He reached for my hand.
- I pulled away.
- “Don’t.”
- Ryan glanced nervously toward the other passengers.
- “We need to talk.”
- “About the jewelry box?”
- He swallowed.
- “Kylie, things aren’t what they seem.”
- I almost laughed.
- “I watched you kiss Megan.”
- His shoulders dropped.
- “It’s complicated.”
- “Eighteen years of marriage, three children, and that’s your explanation?”
- “Please lower your voice.”
- I hadn’t raised it.
- “Go back to your seat, Ryan. My mother needs me right now.”
- He remained there briefly before walking away.
- I turned toward the window, struggling to understand how two people I’d trusted completely could betray me together.
- Once the plane reached cruising altitude, I connected to the onboard Wi-Fi.
- A message appeared.
- It was from Dawson.
- Megan’s husband.
- Kylie, strange question. Are you traveling with Megan?
- I frowned.
- No. Why?
- His reply came almost immediately.
- She told me you two were spending the weekend in Chicago together.
- I closed my eyes.
- Megan had used me as her excuse.
- Then another message arrived.
- She also said you were having marriage problems and needed some time away.
- My hands started shaking.
- Ryan had invented a business trip.
- Megan had invented a girls’ weekend.
- And both had built their stories around me.
- I typed carefully.
- Dawson, Megan isn’t traveling with me. She’s on my flight with Ryan. I saw them kissing.
- Several minutes passed.
- Then he replied.
- Are you absolutely sure?
- I wish I weren’t.
- He tried calling, but I explained that I couldn’t speak during the flight.
- His next message hurt even more.
- Megan told me she spent last month helping you through problems with Ryan.
- I remembered those visits.
