The morning sun cast golden streaks across the tarmac as Evelyn Carter adjusted her uniform, her fingers brushing over the silver wings pinned to her lapel. Another day, another flight. The familiar hum of Horizon Airlines’ engines vibrated through the terminal, a rhythm she knew by heart. She had just finished briefing the cabin crew when her phone buzzed. A message from Zoe Bennett lit up the screen: "Emergency meet-up. The usual place. Now." Evelyn frowned. Zoe never used that tone unless something was wrong. She turned to Olivia, her colleague, who was organizing the passenger manifests. "Cover for me? Something urgent came up." Olivia raised a brow but nodded. "Don’t be late for boarding." Evelyn slipped out of the crew lounge, weaving through the bustling airport. The "usual place" was a tucked-away café near Terminal B, where the Wi-Fi was fast and the baristas never asked questions. Zoe was already there, fingers flying over her laptop. Ethan Black sat beside her, his expression grim. "What’s going on?" Evelyn slid into the booth. Zoe didn’t look up. "We’ve got a problem. Someone just hacked into Kingsley Enterprises’ security system. And they left a signature—CyberSentry." Evelyn’s breath hitched. That was her alias. Ethan leaned forward. "The breach was traced to an IP address registered under your name, Evelyn." Her pulse spiked. "That’s impossible. I haven’t touched anything in months." Zoe finally met her gaze. "Then someone’s framing you. And if they’re targeting Kingsley Enterprises, this isn’t just about you—it’s about him." Daniel Kingsley. The name sent a jolt through her. The last time she’d seen him, it had ended in a storm of accusations and a shattered trust. Evelyn exhaled sharply. "We need to find out who’s behind this before it’s too late." Zoe smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Time to go back to the shadows, then." Evelyn’s phone buzzed again. A notification from Horizon’s scheduling system—her next flight had been reassigned. To Captain Daniel Kingsley. Her stomach twisted. This wasn’t a coincidence. It was a setup. "Sorry, the number you dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later..." The automated voice cut off with a sharp beep, leaving Evelyn Carter clutching her phone with trembling fingers. The gash on her left arm had finally stopped bleeding, but the acrid scent of antiseptic still clung to her skin, making her stomach churn. Just minutes ago, the plane had been caught in violent turbulence, tossing passengers like rag dolls. The cabin had been filled with screams, prayers, and the terrifying creak of metal straining against the storm. Now, as the aircraft sat safely on the tarmac, relieved passengers around her were laughing, crying, and calling their loved ones—reassuring them they were alive. But Evelyn couldn’t reach her husband. Her chest tightened. The control tower had immediately notified the crew’s families during the emergency. Everyone’s family had been contacted. Except hers. "Evelyn!" Olivia, her colleague, pushed through the crowd, her boyfriend’s hand clasped tightly in hers. "Where’s Daniel? He should’ve been here by now. Did he even get the message?" Evelyn swallowed hard, her grip on the phone turning painful. Where was he? Her First Love Evelyn's palms grew clammy as she watched the scene unfold before her. A sharp pang of jealousy twisted in her chest. With a strained smile, she replied, "He must be tied up with something urgent." "Urgent?" Olivia scoffed, her lips pursed in irritation. "More urgent than this? We could’ve died up there!" She was about to say more when her boyfriend gently pulled her back. Olivia bit back her words, forcing a polite murmur before insisting on taking Evelyn to get her injury treated. Evelyn let herself be led away, a heavy sadness settling over her. "Look, it’s Captain Kingsley!" The sudden exclamation snapped Evelyn out of her thoughts. Her gaze lifted instinctively, landing on a group of Horizon Airlines executives approaching—among them, Daniel. Even in the same uniform as the others, Daniel stood apart. Tall, broad-shouldered, his sharp features striking under the light. But it was his cold, detached demeanor that drew murmurs from the crowd around them. The air around him crackled with unspoken authority, and Evelyn couldn’t help the way her pulse stuttered. Why did he always have to look like that? Olivia’s grip on her arm tightened slightly, pulling her attention back. "Come on," she muttered. "Let’s get you fixed up." Evelyn nodded, but her eyes flickered one last time toward Daniel. And for the briefest second—she could’ve sworn his gaze met hers. Then it was gone. Three years had passed since Evelyn Carter and Daniel Kingsley tied the knot. Yet, he insisted on keeping their marriage a secret. No one would have guessed that a seemingly ordinary flight attendant like her was actually the wife of the formidable CEO of Kingsley Enterprises. Throughout their marriage, Evelyn had turned down countless suitors. Meanwhile, Daniel remained the most eligible bachelor in the eyes of the world. "Wow, he’s absolutely gorgeous!" "Who’s that stunning woman beside him? She’s so elegant!" "That’s Sophia Hart, the new senior engineer. Rumor has it she and Captain Kingsley go way back. He’s been glued to her side all morning—didn’t even pick up his phone once." "They look perfect together. Did you see how softly he smiles at her? Ugh, I’m so jealous!" Amid the whispers, Evelyn’s gaze flickered toward the woman standing beside Daniel. Her breath hitched. That face—she recognized it instantly. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. So this was why he’d been too busy to answer her calls. He was too occupied entertaining his ex. Not long ago, Sophia had announced her return—and her new position at Horizon Airlines. The message burned through Evelyn's phone like acid. Sophia Hart was joining Horizon Airlines. It was a deliberate provocation, especially after their last encounter. That day, Sophia had looked Evelyn straight in the eye and said, "I always take back what's mine. Whether you believe me or not." Evelyn's fingers tightened around her phone. She had spent her entire childhood in Sophia's shadow—always second best, always the afterthought. Those words had haunted her ever since, creeping into her dreams like a relentless nightmare. When she first heard rumors of Sophia's return, she had confronted Daniel immediately. "It's her or me," she had demanded. But he had brushed her off with that infuriating calm of his, as if her fears were nothing but childish paranoia. Now, here was the proof. Sophia had won. Again. Old wounds, long scarred over, split open anew. Memories she had buried deep came rushing back—each one a razor-sharp reminder of every time Sophia had stolen what should have been hers. And this time, Evelyn refused to lose.