Leave the trash behind. Far behind.


    Jessica listened to Anneliese''s nonstop reminders, her eyes quietly filling with tears.


    She didn''t want this goodbye to turn heavy. Even less did she want Anneliese to see how close she was to losing control.


    She pulled Anneliese into a tight hug. "Don''t worry. I''lle back. Just wait for me."


    She woulde back, she was certain of that. There were still ties here that mattered to her.


    But those ties had nothing to do with Zane.


    Silently, she made herself a promise.


    Jessica Sweeting, get it together.


    When you return, never let yourself be this miserable again.


    Just then, the boarding announcement sounded.


    Anneliese loosened her grip. Jonathan, who had been waiting a short distance away, walked over.


    He slipped an arm around Anneliese''s shoulders and looked at Jessica steadily. "If you ever need help, say the word."


    Jessica met his gaze. "Annie''s already suffered enough. If you ever hurt her in the slightest, I''ll lure her overseas and steal her away."


    "You won''t have that chance." Jonathan''s reply was calm, confident, and absolute. Jessicaughed, reached out, and pinched Anneliese''s cheek. "I''m going."


    Anneliese watched her disappear down the boarding corridor. In the end, she still couldn''t stop the tears from falling.


    Jonathan drew her into his arms. "Alright. One tear is enough. Any more, and I''ll start getting jealous."


    As he spoke, his thumb brushed away the moisture at the corner of her eye.


    The lingering ache of separation and worry was instantly disrupted by his unfiltered possessiveness, leaving her half exasperated, half amused.


    She poked his waist. "Let go. People will see."


    She hadn''t forgotten that this man was the CEO of AeroAir.


    In an airport like this, anyone passing by was either his employee, his subordinate, or a rival from apeting airline.


    Does he seriously not care about his image?


    Just earlier, while she''d been talking to Jessica, Jonathan had stood off to the side. She''d clearly seen two staff members approach him nervously to greet him.


    And now he is holding me this openly?


    Seeing she still had the energy to worry about such matters, Jonathan chuckled and finally released her, lowering his gaze to meet hers.


    "Mrs. Fullbuster," he said mildly, "am I somehow not presentable? Or when exactly did I give you the impression that we''re secretly married?"


    What is wrong with showing affection?


    He wasn''t wearing a captain''s uniform. He wasn''t on duty either. At this moment, his only identity was her husband.


    He could dote on his wife however he pleased, preferably in public. Free publicity never hurt.


    After all, AeroAir employees had been curious about the elusive CEO''s wife for ages.


    Anneliese twisted his side lightly.


    "Why do you always twist my


    meaning? You''re too presentable, okay? Were so obviously in love that people will get jealous. That''s exactly why we need to keep it


    low-key. Haven''t you heard? Couples who show off don''tst."


    More importantly, she''de today to see Jessica off.


    She hadn''t wanted Jonathan inside the terminal at all. He drew attention far too easily, He was practically a ng beacon. Unfortunately, she hadn''t managed to get rid of him.


    Just then, she spotted a flight crew moving briskly in their direction. The captain at the front wore the same uniform Jonathan did. It was clearly an AeroAir crew.


    Anneliese grabbed his hand and dragged him straight into the crowd. Jonathan let himself be pulled along obediently.


    If she hadn''t been coaxing him so sweetly, he would have picked her up and spun her around on the spot.


    Mr. Fullbuster has been waiting a long time for a chance to show off his wife, alright?


    After they slipped away, one of the flight attendants in the approaching crew rose onto her toes and gasped.


    "Wait! I think I just saw Mr. Fullbuster!"


    "Where? Where? I haven''t seen him since the new year. Bet he''s even more handsome now!"


    "It''s my first day back at work! If I run into the big boss, does that mean a promotion, or... never mind, definitely a promotion! But where is he?"


    The chatter instantly spread among the nearby attendants. Even the middle-aged


    captain at the front subconsciously lowered his head to straighten his uniform.


    The round-faced attendant who''d spoken first pointed toward the direction Anneliese had vanished.


    "He was just over there! Mr. Fullbuster was hugging a total stunner. Blink once, and they were gone."


    Everyone looked, but all they saw was a dense, bustling crowd.


    "No way. Mr. Fullbuster is basically immune to women. He''s cold, aloof, untouchable. A monk like that. C doesn''t fall into romance, especially not in a packed airport."


    P]TY


    "Yeah. You must''ve imagined it."