Chapter 40 Runaway Flight
“Are you really sure you’re going to come with me without them knowing?”
Ylmaz’s voice carried a note of disbelief, low and tense beneath the steady hum of the airport. He stood beside Deborah near the check-in counter of the private terminal, his travel bag slung over one shoulder, his other hand gripping his passport tightly. His blue-gray eyes flickered with worry, scanning her face for even the smallest hint of hesitation.
Deborah adjusted the strap of her coat and looked up at him, her expression calm, almost too calm. “Yes,” she said simply. “I already told Dad about it, and he agreed.”
Ylmaz raised a brow, clearly not convinced. “He agreed?”
She nodded, her lips curving slightly into a small, knowing smile. “I told him to inform my brothers that he ordered me to travel abroad for a company errand, something about meeting an investor overseas. It’ll buy us at least a few days.”
He stared at her for a moment, half impressed, half horrified. “You really thought this through.”
“I had to,” she replied, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. “If I told them the truth, I’d never even make it past the gate.”
Ylmaz sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You mean Casper would never let you past the gate.”
Deborah gave a small, guilty laugh. “Exactly.”
They exchanged a glance, hers mischievous and determined, his uncertain but softening. The terminal buzzed quietly with the muted rhythm of distant announcements and rolling suitcases. It wasn’t the busy chaos of a public airport... this one was reserved for high-profile flights, discreet and polished. Even so, Ylmaz couldn’t shake off the unease that clung to him.
“You know they’re going to find out eventually,” he said, lowering his voice as they walked toward the boarding gate. “Caelum’s too sharp not to notice, and Knight, well, he’s probably tracking your phone already.”
Deborah smirked, pulling out her phone and turning it off in front of him. “Not anymore.”
Ylmaz blinked, then let out a disbelieving laugh. “You really are running away.”
“Just a little vacation,” she corrected, glancing up at him with a teasing glint in her eyes. “Don’t make it sound like a crime.”
“Considering you lied to half your family and dragged me into it?” He raised an amused brow. “It feels a little like a crime.”
She shrugged innocently. “Then you’re my accomplice.” Ylmaz couldn’t help but smile, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet you’re still here,” she said lightly, pulling her luggage behind her.
He chuckled under his breath, following her as they handed their passports to the attendant. Everything felt strangely surreal, the polished marble floors, the faint scent of jet fuel in the air, the quiet hum of engines outside the window. For Ylmaz, it wasn’t the first time flying first class, but something about this trip, about Deborah....made his pulse quicken.
Once their tickets were cleared, they made their way down the jet bridge. The view outside revealed a sleek white private aircraft gleaming under the early afternoon sun.
“First class, as promised,” Ylmaz murmured, placing a hand at the small of her back as they boarded.
Inside, the cabin was bathed in soft golden light. Cream leather seats lined the aisle, each one wide enough to recline into a bed. Subtle hints of oak and fresh linen filled the air. A steward greeted them with a polite smile, offering champagne and warm towels.
Deborah sank into her seat, releasing a slow breath as the engines began their low hum of preparation. “Wow… it’s quieter than I expected.”
Ylmaz smiled faintly, settling across from her. “That’s because this isn’t a commercial flight. Just you, me, and the sky.”
She laughed softly. “You make it sound romantic.”
He gave her a knowing look. “It’s not?”
She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway, turning toward the window. The runways stretched endlessly outside, glowing under the midday sun. A few moments later, the captain’s voice crackled softly over the intercom, announcing takeoff.
As the plane began to move, Deborah’s fingers gripped the armrest. Ylmaz noticed and leaned forward, his voice gentle. “You’re not scared of flying, are you?”
She shook her head quickly. “No. Just… haven’t done it like this in a while. It feels strange leaving everything behind so suddenly.”
Ylmaz’s expression softened. “Then don’t think of it as leaving. Think of it as taking a breath.”
Deborah looked at him, her gaze softening. “You always know how to say the right things.”
He smiled faintly. “Maybe because I’ve spent years waiting to say them to you.”
Her eyes widened slightly, but before she could respond, the plane surged upward, lifting off the ground. The pressure pushed them gently into their seats, and for a few moments, silence filled the cabin. Clouds drifted by the window like soft waves, painting the sky in hues of white and blue.
Deborah exhaled slowly, letting her shoulders relax. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.”
Ylmaz chuckled. “Neither can I. The great Deborah Valmere, breaking her brothers’ rules to fly across the world.”
She grinned, leaning back in her seat. “It’s not the first time I’ve disobeyed them. But it’s the first time it feels… freeing.”
“You don’t regret it?” he asked, his tone suddenly serious.
She turned her head toward him, her eyes reflecting the soft light of the sky. “No. For once, I’m doing something for myself. And maybe, just maybe...it’s okay to live a little without permission, they're too strict.”
Ylmaz smiled at that, quietly admiring her. There was something about Deborah when she spoke like that, fierce yet gentle, strong yet human.
“Still,” he said after a moment, “when Casper finds out, I’m dead.”
Deborah laughed. “You’ll survive. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Promise?” She met his gaze and nodded. “Promise.”
The steward returned, offering them dinner menus and pouring champagne into their glasses. The faint clink of crystal filled the air, and for a while, they spoke casually, about Italy, about the villa, about how the sea looked different from every coast.
When dinner arrived, Deborah glanced outside again. The sunset had begun to spread across the horizon, casting streaks of amber and rose gold through the clouds. It looked like a painting, too beautiful, too unreal.
She turned back to Ylmaz, who was quietly watching her instead of his meal. “What?” she asked, smiling shyly.
He shook his head. “Nothing. Just… glad you’re here.”
Deborah’s heart softened, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she took a sip of her drink and leaned her head slightly against the seat, eyes half-lidded as the hum of the engine lulled her.
As the sky deepened into twilight, Ylmaz glanced at her once more. She had fallen asleep, her face relaxed, her lips parted slightly. For the first time since they met again, she looked peaceful.
He leaned back, whispering to himself, “You really did come with me.”
Outside, the plane cut smoothly through the fading light, two souls suspended between duty and freedom, carried by a decision that neither of them could take back.
And somewhere, far behind them, the Valmere brothers would soon realize she was gone.