Chapter 18
“It’s not a nightmare. It’s a new beginning.”
Zachary corrected her with quiet certainty.
“From the moment that plane touches down, you’ll be someone else.”
The vehicle smoothly entered a heavily guarded area and pulled up beside a sleek silver Gulfstream jet.
The airstairs were already lowered, and several bodyguards in black suits stood silently by.
Zachary got out first and opened the door for her.
“Let’s go, Gabrielle.” A playful smile curled at his lips.
Gabrielle paused for a moment. Right… she was no longer Gabrielle.
Zachary made an inviting gesture.
Gabrielle took a deep breath and stepped onto the airstairs.
Inside, the jet’s interior was understated yet luxurious.
Plush carpets, comfortable leather sofas, a bar, and even a small lounge.
It could tell how rich Zachary was.
Zachary followed her onboard and gave instructions to the crew.
“We’re ready. Destination, Mossvale.”
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Chapter 18
The cabin door closed. The aircraft taxied and then lifted off, breaking through the clouds.
Outside the window, Balamora grew smaller and smaller, eventually becoming nothing more than faint lights in the distance.
Gabrielle leaned against the window, watching silently.
A mix of emotions churned inside her, relief, confusion, and a quiet sorrow she couldn’t put into words.
That city held the man she’d loved for twenty years, and the parents who had raised her.
Despite all the betrayal and manipulation, it had still been her life for the past two decades.
Zachary didn’t disturb her. He simply sat across from her, quietly working on his laptop.
Once the plane reached the stratosphere, he closed the laptop and looked at her.
“Gabrielle,” he called her name as if helping her ease into her new identity.
She turned her head to meet his gaze.
Under the soft cabin lights, Zachary’s profile looked strikingly defined. The usual playful air had faded, leaving something deeper.
“Let’s talk about the future,” he said.
Gabrielle blinked. The future? Wasn’t everything already spelle‘ out in the plan?
“When we land in Mossvale, I’ll arrange a place for you to stay, and
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Chapter 18
give you enough money to live comfortably.
“Your new identity is clean with perfect credentials.
“You can choose to continue your studies, or do anything you want.”
It was all part of the plan.
“But Gabrielle…”
His gaze sharpened, locking onto hers.
“I want to be part of your future.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She looked at him in disbelief.
Zachary stood up, walked to her, and leaned slightly closer.
The distance between them vanished. She could even catch a faint scent of his cologne.
“From the first time I saw you in college, I noticed you.”
His voice was deep and magnetic.
“Back then, your eyes only had Timothy in them. You were like someone chasing light, foolishly adorable.”
Her cheeks flushed. She looked away.
She had always known Zachary had pursued her in college, but she never took it seriously.
“When you rejected me, I thought I’d moved on.
“Until that day you called me… Your voice filled with despair, asking me to fake your death.
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12:54
Chapter 18
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“That’s when I realized that I never forgot you.”
His tone was calm, like stating a simple fact.
“Helping you plan all this, watching you walk step by step toward ‘death‘ and then rebirth…
“That whole process made one thing clear to me.‘
He paused, his gaze unwavering.
་་
“Gabrielle, I like you. Not just the name Gabrielle, but you.
“I want to be with you. This isn’t a passing whim. It’s real.”
The cabin was silent. Only the low hum of the engines could be heard.
Gabrielle’s heart pounded wildly. Her mind was in disarray.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.