Chapter 139: The Flight and Landing in Florida

Damian As we approached the airport, the tension in the car was palpable. Simon glanced at me in the mirror, his eyes full of concern. “Sir, are you okay?” I nodded, but my mind was far from settled. “I’m fine, Simon. Just... make sure you stand by when I get back.” “Yes, sir,” he replied, though his tone indicated he wasn’t convinced. He pulled up to the curb, and I stepped out. As I walked into the terminal, the chaos of the airport swirled around me—people rushing to catch flights, families reuniting, business travelers barking orders into their phones. But all I could think about was Marie—how things had spiraled out of control and the mess I needed to clean up. My shoulders were tense; my hands shoved deep into my coat pockets as I made my way to the ticket booth. The woman behind the counter flashed me a rehearsed smile, her eyes barely lifting from the computer screen. "Good afternoon," I said, my voice coming out a little rougher than I intended. I cleared my throat and