Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Madison did not reply, but Ethan had not expected her to. After all, checking flight arrangements was a trivial matter for him.
Madison’s return flight from Nianzhou was scheduled for tomorrow. Today’s detour necessitated an oral report, which delayed her return. By the time she settled into her hotel that evening, exhaustion had set in, and she fell asleep without even dining.
Meanwhile, the video of her saving passengers aboard the aircraft had gone viral online.
s were all abuzz:
a beautiful lady captain!!!”
menter #2: “Which airline? Flight number? I must take that
Commenter #3: “She looks so young and yet so composed. Mukino Airlines’ high standards are no joke!”
Commenter #4: “This captain seems familiar…”
As the internet buzzed with the news, Madison remained blissfully unaware, lost in her dreams.
However, someone else had seen it for her.
Lucas, stumbling upon the video, recognized Madison’s face immediately.
She was wearing the Mukino Airlines uniform, its four bars on her shoulder and sleeve shining unmistakably.
Madison was actually a pilot?!
His hands trembled as he gripped his phone, disbelief and regret swirling in his eyes.
How had he not known Madison was a pilot?
Why hadn’t she ever mentioned it to him???
Had he known she was a pilot, he never would have divorced her!
Lucas immediately began an online search for Madison’s name… but found nothing. Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.
Evth a friend’s help to comb through Mukino Airlines’ records,
resume came up blank.
one suddenly rang.
answered: “Hello?”
ucas, we’ve discussed your proposed collaboration at our board eeting, and the shareholders have unanimously decided against working with you, I’m afraid,” the caller said crisply, hanging up before Lucas could ask why.
Many of Huanmei’s employees had been whispering about salary raises. Lucas, having boasted unattainably, was now facing humiliation.
Desperate for a partnership with other airlines to expand his business, he found himself stymied because his mother had retaken control of the company. Though he could no longer make major
decisions, he could still reach out for partnerships. Yet, after a week of attempts with several larger airlines, he faced rejection after rejection, each with their own tale of hardship.
Lucas was fuming.
Sophia breezed in, chatting on her phone, unaware that Lucas was home. After hanging up, she kicked off her heels and shades, her eyes skimming over the cluttered living room: “Why don’t you clean up a bit?”
Lucas, absorbed in thoughts of Madison’s newly revealed career, ignored her.
He had harbored a glimmer of hope that Amelia’s story was a lie meant to provoke him.
But the video confirmed the truth, and Lucas felt the sting of loss.
a, throwing down her purse, flopped onto the sofa with regal “There’s a new handbag I want. Buy it for me. Two colors, not pensive-just three million for both.”
s’s irritability flared: “Can’t you buy it yourself? Must you start millions every time you open your mouth? Do you see me as a nk?”
Sophia, caught off guard by his outburst, stood with rising
indignation: “What? Playing poor now? Didn’t you promise you could afford me? You run an airline. Can’t afford it? Sell a plane!”
“You…” Lucas clenched his jaw, “Do you have no concept of managing a household?”
“Why should I?” Sophia shot back, “You said you had the money for
me.”
Lucas, done with the conversation, turned to leave.
Sophia, in a fit of rage, threw her water cup at him: “Lucas!”
He dodged, shouting: “The company is under my mom’s control now! Where am I supposed to find your money? And part of it is frozen, soon to be given to Madison. Can’t you stop causing trouble?”
“What?” Sophia was stunned, “Why give it to Madison?!”
Lucas, impatient, retorted, “Does it concern you?”
With that, he stormed upstairs.
Sophia glowered at the closed door, her eyes brimming with icy
contempt.
She regretted her choices.
She had been blind to marry such a failure like Lucas!
And the mere mention of Madison fueled her resentment.
Whould that woman climb the ranks to wealth and power?
as Sophia lacking?!
had just returned to Yenjing, but Jessica mentioned they were at the airport.
“President Grant, there’s a cocktail party for the nationwide hit reality show we planned to invest in, William reported.
With Madison away, Ethan felt no rush to go home.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Upon arriving at the event, Ethan was immediately drawn into discussions with the director and other flatterers.
Excusing himself to the restroom, the director eagerly escorted him down the steps.
After washing his hands in the restroom, Ethan paused to dry them. As he turned, a figure brushed against his arm and then collapsed at
his feet.
Looking down impassively, Ethan saw Sophia struggling to rise.
“Sorry… Could you help me up, please?” she asked, her voice feigning vulnerability.
She looked up at him with what she hoped was an irresistible blend of charm and desperation.
Most men might have obliged a beautiful actress without hesitation.
Unfortunately…
Ethan knew her.
He smiled, extending a hand wrapped in a discarded paper towel.
Gratefully, Sophia used his assistance to stand, her coyness palpable: “Thank you, President Grant. I’ve dirtied your trousers. Perhaps we could find a place, and I could buy you a new pair?”
Even in heels, Sophia had to look up at Ethan, who casually tossed the soiled towel into the bin.
Sophia stumbled backward against the cold wall, her heart racing with a mix of fright and excitement.
Securing favor with President Grant could set her above the rest in the entertainment circle.
As she felt the wall at her back, she lifted her eyes shyly: “President Grant, you…”
Ethan chuckled softly, “Trying to seduce me, are you?”
Sophia, taken aback, gulped nervously, “You misunderstand, I…”
Before she could finish, Ethan laughed outright: “Save those little tricks for someone else.”
In an instant, Sophia’s face flushed with embarrassment and
humiliation.
Ethan now appraised her as one might assess a cheap object, his expression reflecting disdain as he uttered two crushing words-
“Too poor.”
Too poor!
It was as if he had slapped Sophia across the face, shattering her pride into a thousand pieces.