Before she knew it, the week had slipped by. Isadora''s phone shed a reminder:


    her surgery was scheduled for tomorrow.


    Coincidentally, Nte''s flightnded today.


    Isadora drove to the airport to pick her up.


    Airports always seemed saturated with the bittersweet mix of goodbyes and reunions, withughter and tears echoing through their halls.


    She arrived early, waiting just outside the arrival barriers.


    Suddenly, a woman identally bumped into her.


    "Oh, I''m so sorry!"


    “It''s alright,” Isadora replied, stepping aside to give the woman some space.


    They waited together for over ten minutes, and after a while, the woman struck up a conversation.


    "My daughter went to visit her grandparents back home. She''sing back today. This is the longest we''ve ever been apart."


    Isadora offered a polite, understanding smile.


    The woman nced at her and asked, "Are you married, miss?"


    Isadora shook her head.


    The woman sighed wistfully. "It''s better not to be. Once you''re married and have kids, you lose a lot of your freedom."


    Isadora heard her mention the loss of freedom, but when the woman spoke of her daughter, her eyes shone with overwhelming love.


    "Oh, there''s my little girl!"


    Isadora turned and watched as a couple-clearly the grandparents-emerged, each holding the hand of a little girl, maybe three years old.


    The child was adorable, dressed like a tiny princess in a blue gown, her hair pulled into two yful ponytails.


    "Sweetheart!"


    At the sound of her mother''s voice, the girl wriggled free from her grandparents and dashed over, bouncing with excitement.


    The woman rushed to meet her, scooped her up, and covered her in kisses. "Mommy missed you so much!"


    Watching this reunion, Isadora''s eyes softened. She quickly looked away, her emotions stirred by the scene.


    Soon, a wave of travelers began streaming through the gates, families and friends surging forward in eager anticipation.


    Someone jostled Isadora from behind as the crowd pressed in.


    Instinctively, she shielded her stomach with her hand, edging away from the


    throng toward a quieter spot.


    She sent Nte a message: *I''m waiting outside.*


    A few minutester, someone tapped her on the shoulder.


    "Isadora, what are you daydreaming about?"


    Nte stood there, sunsses dramatic and oversized, dressed head-to-toe in ck leather jacket, skirt, and knee-high boots. Effortlessly stylish, she managed to stand out without even trying.


    Her assistant trailed behind, wheeling a suitcase.


    Nte turned to her assistant. "Just drop my bag at my ce. I''ll be staying with Isadora tonight."


    "Let''s go," Isadora said. "The car''s out front."


    They pulled onto Capitolion''s main avenue, the city unfurling before them.


    Isadora drove with focused intent, eyes fixed on the road.


    Nte nced over from the passenger seat. "Did you get the time confirmed?"


    "Yeah."


    At a red light, Isadora braked, then reached back for a bottle of water and handed it over.


    Nte took a sip. "Which hospital is it?"


    "Horizon Private Hospital, in Capitolion."


    Nte raised her brows, feigning surprise. "That''s a great hospital. I know a couple of celebrities who''ve had surgery there."


    Isadora managed a small smile. "They say the doctors there are some of the best -shouldn''t be too painful."


    Nte tried to joke, but her smile faltered. "Isadora, you know... it''s not toote to change your mind."


    The light turned green. Isadora pressed the gas and pulled away.


    After a moment, her own voice sounded in the quiet car. "I''m not changing my mind."


    She wasn''t sure if she was speaking to Nte or herself.


    Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles had turned white, though she didn''t even notice.