I’d planned to take them to a jeweler after visiting Mom.

But suddenly, those bracelets seemed to represent something completely different.

I opened the box, placed them side by side, and added a handwritten note.

Then I approached a flight attendant.

“Would you mind delivering this to the passengers in seats 2A and 2B? It’s a personal gift.”

After checking that it contained ordinary personal belongings, she agreed.

I returned to my seat.

Moments later, the attendant handed Ryan the box.

He smiled.

Megan eagerly opened it.

Then everything changed.

Her expression collapsed.

She looked at the bracelets, read the note, and hurried toward the restroom.

Ryan stared at the contents, his face turning crimson.

He immediately began searching the cabin.

But I lowered my head.

He hadn’t found me.

Not yet.

Twenty minutes into the flight, Ryan finally appeared beside my seat.

“Kylie?”

I looked up calmly.

“Hello, Ryan.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Flying to Chicago.”

“Why?”

“Mom’s in the hospital.”

His expression changed.

“Is she okay?”

“She’s stable.”

He reached for my hand.

I pulled away.

“Don’t.”

Ryan glanced nervously toward the other passengers.

“We need to talk.”

“About the jewelry box?”

He swallowed.

“Kylie, things aren’t what they seem.”

I almost laughed.

“I watched you kiss Megan.”

His shoulders dropped.

“It’s complicated.”

“Eighteen years of marriage, three children, and that’s your explanation?”

“Please lower your voice.”

I hadn’t raised it.

“Go back to your seat, Ryan. My mother needs me right now.”

He remained there briefly before walking away.

I turned toward the window, struggling to understand how two people I’d trusted completely could betray me together.

Once the plane reached cruising altitude, I connected to the onboard Wi-Fi.

A message appeared.

It was from Dawson.

Megan’s husband.

Kylie, strange question. Are you traveling with Megan?

I frowned.

No. Why?

His reply came almost immediately.

She told me you two were spending the weekend in Chicago together.

I closed my eyes.

Megan had used me as her excuse.

Then another message arrived.

She also said you were having marriage problems and needed some time away.

My hands started shaking.

Ryan had invented a business trip.

Megan had invented a girls’ weekend.

And both had built their stories around me.

I typed carefully.

Dawson, Megan isn’t traveling with me. She’s on my flight with Ryan. I saw them kissing.

Several minutes passed.

Then he replied.

Are you absolutely sure?

I wish I weren’t.

He tried calling, but I explained that I couldn’t speak during the flight.

His next message hurt even more.

Megan told me she spent last month helping you through problems with Ryan.

I remembered those visits.