Chapter 71: Surprise Destination

Adeline still was not completely sure how Julian managed to convince her to leave the country with him on such short notice. Even as she sat in the backseat of the car beside him on their way to the private airport, part of her still felt like this entire situation was something she would normally never agree to. She was not spontaneous. She did not wake up one morning and suddenly decide to disappear for a week without carefully planning every detail first. That simply was not the kind of person she was.

Meanwhile, Julian looked completely relaxed beside her.

He sat comfortably with one arm resting against the car door while casually scrolling through his phone like he was not currently dragging his newly married wife to an unknown country she still knew absolutely nothing about. The more relaxed he looked, the more annoyed Adeline became.

After several long minutes of silence, Adeline finally turned toward him with narrowed eyes. “You still haven’t told me where we’re going,” she pointed out for what felt like the hundredth time since morning.

Julian barely looked up from his phone. “And I still won’t,” he responded calmly.

Adeline scoffed softly before crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re enjoying this way too much,” she muttered.

Julian finally glanced at her before a small grin appeared on his face. “Maybe a little,” he admitted shamelessly.

Adeline stared at him in disbelief. “You’re unbelievable,” she complained. “Most people at least tell their partners what country they’re taking them to.”

Julian locked his phone before turning fully toward her. “If I tell you, then it ruins the surprise,” he explained patiently. “And before you complain again, no, I’m not taking you somewhere dangerous.”

“I didn’t think you were taking me somewhere dangerous,” Adeline responded dryly. “I just don’t like not knowing things.”

Julian chuckled quietly because honestly, that sounded exactly like her. He studied her quietly for a second before speaking again. “You know,” he began casually, “most people would just relax and enjoy the mystery.”

Adeline immediately frowned at him. “Most people are idiots,” she responded without hesitation. “I’m not.”

Julian burst into laughter at her answer, shaking his head afterward. “I really married a menace,” he muttered dramatically.

“You knew what you were getting into,” Adeline replied calmly.

“That’s the problem,” Julian responded with amusement. “I thought I knew. Then you somehow became even more difficult.”

Adeline rolled her eyes but could not fully stop the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. The car finally drove through the gates of the private airport a while later. Security quickly allowed them through after recognizing the vehicle, and within minutes the car came to a stop near the private jet waiting on the runway.

Adeline glanced toward the plane through the window before letting out a quiet sigh. She was not impressed by the jet itself since she owned one too, though she rarely used it unless absolutely necessary. What bothered her more was the fact that getting on that plane meant fully committing to this trip.

Julian stepped out of the car first before walking around to her side. He opened the door for her casually, and Adeline stared at him suspiciously before stepping out.

“You’ve been acting suspiciously gentlemanly lately,” Adeline commented while adjusting the sleeve of her coat.

Julian placed one hand over his chest dramatically. “I’m always a gentleman,” he responded.

Adeline immediately looked unconvinced. “You literally threatened to wear a wedding dress to our wedding.”

“And I would’ve looked fantastic doing it,” Julian replied confidently.

Adeline snorted softly before shaking her head. The wind brushed lightly against her hair as she looked around the airport. Everything was quiet except for the distant sounds of staff moving around nearby. The calmness of the place felt strangely comforting compared to the constant chaos that had surrounded their wedding week.

Julian reached for her suitcase before nodding toward the plane. “Ready?” he asked.

Adeline hesitated for only a second before finally nodding. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she responded quietly.

The two of them walked toward the plane side by side. A few staff members greeted them respectfully as they boarded, but neither of them paid much attention. Julian kept one hand lightly against Adeline’s lower back while guiding her up the steps, and she did not move away from him.

Once inside, Adeline immediately removed her coat before looking around briefly. The interior was clean, quiet, and comfortable without looking overly flashy. There was a seating area toward the front, a dining space further back, and another section that clearly led toward private rooms.

Julian watched her carefully while she took everything in. “Do you approve?” he asked teasingly.

Adeline gave him a flat look. “It’s a plane, Julian,” she responded calmly. “Not a palace.”

Julian laughed softly before sitting down on one of the long seats. “Thank God,” she replied dramatically. “For a second there, I was worried you’d think I was showing off.”

“You’re always showing off,” Adeline corrected while sitting across from him.

Julian looked offended immediately. “That hurts.”

“It’s true.”

The flight attendants soon approached to ask if they needed anything before takeoff. Julian requested coffee while Adeline asked for water instead. Once they were alone again, silence slowly settled between them.

Adeline leaned back slightly in her seat before glancing toward the window. She still felt a little nervous about leaving the country so suddenly, but at the same time, she could not deny that part of her was curious too.

Julian noticed the thoughtful expression on her face almost immediately. “You’re thinking too much again,” Julian said calmly.

Adeline sighed softly before looking back at him. “I always think too much,” Adeline admitted.

“I know,” Julian responded.

Adeline stayed quiet for a second before finally speaking again. “I still don’t understand why you’re being so secretive about the destination,” Adeline confessed. “You know I’m eventually going to find out anyway.”

Julian smiled slightly before leaning back in his seat. “That’s exactly why I’m enjoying the mystery while I still can,” Julian admitted.

Adeline shook her head slowly. “You genuinely enjoy stressing me out.”

“I genuinely enjoy seeing you surprised,” Julian corrected.

The plane finally began preparing for takeoff a few minutes later. Adeline instinctively stiffened slightly when the engines grew louder, and Julian immediately noticed.

“You still hate flying?” Julian asked softly.

Adeline looked mildly irritated that he remembered. “Yes,” she admitted reluctantly. “I still hate flying.”

Julian studied her quietly before unbuckling his seatbelt briefly. He moved from his seat to the one beside her instead before sitting down comfortably.

Adeline raised an eyebrow immediately. “What are you doing?” she asked suspiciously.

Julian shrugged casually before fastening his seatbelt again. “Making sure my wife doesn’t panic during takeoff,” he answered simply.

Adeline scoffed softly. “I do not panic.”

She looked away from him with visible annoyance while Julian chuckled quietly beside her. The plane slowly began moving along the runway shortly afterward. Adeline tried to focus on the view outside the window instead of the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach, but the faster the aircraft moved, the more tense she became without realizing it.

Then suddenly, she felt Julian’s hand slide into hers.

Adeline looked down briefly at their joined hands before glancing toward him. Julian did not say anything this time. He simply squeezed her hand lightly while staring ahead calmly.

For some reason, that small gesture helped more than she wanted to admit.

The plane eventually lifted into the air smoothly, and Adeline instinctively tightened her grip around his hand during the ascent. Julian stayed quiet through all of it, which honestly surprised her because he usually never missed an opportunity to tease her.

Once the plane stabilized properly, Adeline finally relaxed slightly against the seat.

Julian glanced toward her afterward with amusement clear in his eyes. “Congratulations,” Julian teased softly. “You survived another flight.”

Adeline immediately rolled her eyes. “No thanks to you,” she muttered.

Julian laughed quietly before finally letting go of her hand. The warmth of his fingers lingered against hers for a second longer than expected, and Adeline quickly looked away from him afterward.

Outside the window, clouds stretched endlessly across the sky. Everything looked peaceful and strangely distant from reality.

After a while, Julian turned slightly toward her again. “You know,” he began casually, “you still haven’t guessed any countries at all. You really should try.”

Adeline narrowed her eyes immediately. “That’s because you refuse to give me any clues,” she argued.

Julian smirked slightly before leaning back comfortably. “Fine,” Julian said thoughtfully. “I’ll give you one clue.”

Adeline immediately became interested despite herself. “Finally,” she muttered.

Julian watched her carefully for a second before speaking again. “The country we’re going to,” he began slowly, “is somewhere I’ve wanted to take you for years.”

Adeline blinked once, and for a moment, she genuinely did not know how to respond to that. And judging by the expression on Julian’s face afterward, he seemed to realize a second too late just how honest that statement had sounded.