Falling at 30,000 feets

brating as it surged through the morning mist. Lifting gracefully into the su

s navigating the controls with practiced ease.She flipped the switch to engage the second engine, watching the gauges come to life with a quiet satisfaction that never quite faded, even after hundreds of fli

at Aurelia believe love should have no limits-so let love soar with us at 30,000 feet. Aurelia Airlines wishes you all a joyful Va

. Some passengers gazed contentedly at the sky while others adjusted gifts and card

ithout

e the blink of an eye. A sudden shake rattled the fuselage, sending plastic c

cked cries that cut through

compartments rattled loudly, their latches straining against the force, and panic spread like wildfire through the cabin. Flight attendants rush

We are experiencing t

uments as her hands moved with lightning speed. The young captain who had just wished ever

ck despite the chaos unfolding behind the cockpit door. "Thro

had initially doubted the young trainee's abilities-moved quickly, his hands

," Marcus reported, his eyes scanning the radar screen. "Exit th

ft before stabilizing as she guided it through the violent currents, her body moving with the plane as if they were one and the same. She'd trained for this-hundreds of hours

ed and swayed. Jane's eyes never wavered, moving from gauge to gauge to window and b

h

ased. The pla

to reveal endless

ngines humming smoothly as i

wave of relief washing through the cabin as passenger

miration as he wiped sweat from his brow. "You handled that

composure returned fully. She ran a hand through her hair, pushing loose strands back f

t made passengers feel like family-tapped the earpiece in his left ear while pushing a stainless steel supply cart down the aisle.

the gentle authority of someone who'd seen it all. "Oxygen masks are secure, first aid kits are fully st

ear and steady despite the recent ordeal. "And keep an extra eye on seat

Captain. Al

ing to pat a young boy's shoulder reassuringly before sto

lence was unfolding-one born of pride, greed,

iet cabin. The woman on the left-Mrs. Eleanor Blackwood-wore a tailored navy pantsuit with pearls around her neck, her silver hair styled in an immaculate c

fingernails. "Twenty-nine years old, Harvard MBA, and as I'm sure you know-he's the largest shareholder

clearly unimpressed despite the expensive diamond earrings that dangled from her ears. She wore a fuchsia silk dress

a master's degree in luxury brand management. But if your son is under six foot three, don't even bother wasting my time. And the dow

g the weather: "After marriage, she'll focus on building her social media brand and enjoy afternoon tea wi

u can see in his photo." She hesitated, her hand moving to her wrist where a carved jade bracelet rested-green as spring grass, smooth as glass. "But two million-I can't transfer that immediately. The funds

oria snatched it from her hand, holding it

thout a second thought. "My daughter comes with two kids-twins from her previous mar

stared at where her bracelet had just been. She lunged forw

my family heirloom! Y

sharply as they pulled at the handbag, drawin

eanor's body hit the seat with a thud

crossed her face. Her lipstick-perfect lips went pale, then blue aroun

eaving her looking ghostly a

m just a few feet away, and he

roll to a stop against the wall as he rushed

okay? Talk to me

lling air through a straw. Bill could see the sheen of sweat on her forehead, t

ickly as he retrieved a small red case from the locked compartment. He returned quickly, opening

d the oxygen mask over her face. He administered one tablet under her tongue, his movemen

e, the color slowly returning to her face. She pulled off the oxygen mask

barely above a whisper. "How did you know...

boarding-there was a passenger with a medical condition requiring attention. She reviewed every passenger's medical information be

softening with something that look

ding in about forty minutes, and we've already

ning to his duties, stopping to give Victoria a look that made

e landed smoothly at JFK International Airport and medical teams took

captain. His expensive watch-a Patek Philippe that had been his grandfather's-glinted under the overhead lights, subtle proof of his status that he usually t

e friend since flight school, and the only person

controlled but tense as he watched medical

attack triggered by the stress and the turbulence. Captain Harley consulted doctors beforehand and ensu

om the curb. He'd known his mother was taking this flight, had even tried to get her t

e spoke, "just stay here. Spend time with her. The board already approved your leave

-standard procedure after any incident involving a family member traveling on your airline, even if he hadn't been the one piloti

eenth floor, the windows overlooking the city skyline. The afternoon s

sn't resti

er phone from under her pillow and tapped quickly at the

Har

r dark hair was pulled back, but there was a warmth in her brown eyes that made Eleanor smile. Below the photo were her cred

as she scrolled through more photos-Jane with her crew, Jane standing b

the screen to zoom in on Jane's face. "Imagine making her my daughter-in-law... she'd

dreamily, already planning

d at the door-

low and shut her eyes, letting out a so

peonies, but he'd been around his mother long enough to miss nothing. He noticed the sl

lips as he set the bag and f

coughing weakly into her h

thirty, and still no girlfrie

cally, reaching for the g

r with an expression that was equal parts affection and amusement. He picked up an apple f

just a hint of teasing. "Your heart's strong as an ox, and they cleared you to go home

aching for his hand

lete... full of regret... I might just have

cough, followed by

mirked s

e of apple slices toward her. "Which luc

ed illness vanishing as she sat up straight in

aid excitedly, leaning forward as if shar

blade hovering just above the apple as he looked

.Wh