Chapter 18


    She shot onto her feet and shrilled, “Arielle, what‘s the meaning of this? Can‘t you suck it up


    this once instead of vying against me for the first–ss seat? Need I remind you the reason we‘re


    on this flight? It‘s because we‘re going to my awards ceremony! Mine!”


    Arielle spat coldly, “Rx. I‘m not here for your precious first–ss seat.”


    Shandie knitted her brows before interrogating loudly, “Then why are you here?”


    Right then, Henrick had overheard themotion and joined in with a thunderous voice.


    “What do you think you‘re doing, Arielle? And here I thought you were a sweet and obedient


    girl. Was that all just a fa?ade?”


    Arielle was about to respond, but the man beat her to it. He interjected with a sharp gaze,


    “I‘m afraid you‘re all mistaken. Ms. Moore is not here for the first–ss cabin. Rather, I‘m


    escorting her to that private jet, the one next to this aircraft.”


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    “What!” Shandie bellowed as her eyes shot over to the window in disbelief.


    What she saw next clouded her thoughts with resentment. It was a luxurious private jet


    with an extremely sleek and polished exterior. Across the jet‘s body was an elegantly written


    word with fine penmanship–Nightshire.


    That‘s the Nightshire family‘s private jet! Shandie whipped around to stare daggers at Arielle, jealousy


    flitting across her dark eyes. Even Cindy, who had been silently observing, balled her fists after seeing


    the Nightshires‘ jet.


    Henrick soon snapped back to his senses and quickly asked the man, “Sir. I‘m Sannie‘s


    father, and our family is traveling together on this flight. If it‘s alright, can the rest of us go as


    well?”


    The man maintained a neutral expression as he pointed out, “Apologies, Mr. Nightshire has


    only extended his invitation to Ms. Moore alone. Not to mention, the three of you got a cabin


    upgrade but chose to abandon Ms. Moore in economy–ss by herself. Is that how a family


    should be with one another?”


    Regret festered in Henrick like a tumor.


    Damn it! I should have upgraded Arielle‘s seat to first–ss too. If I had done that, then


    maybe I would be lounging in Vinson‘s private jet at this very moment...


    The man couldn‘t care less about what Henrick thought. He swiftly turned on his heel and


    bowed respectfully to Arielle. “This way, Ms. Moore.”


    Arielle nodded, then cast an icy stare at Henrick. “I‘ll meet you guys at the airport.”


    With that, Arielle held her head high like royalty and disregarded Shandiepletely. She followed


    closely behind the man as they exited the airne.


    Shandie‘s and Cindy‘s faces twisted with jealousy at the luxurious private jet that parked


    beside them.


    Shortly after, Arielle boarded the jet. The first thing she saw was Vinson, whose head was


    lowered to focus on reading a contract.


    The assistant spoke up, “Mr. Nightshire. I‘ve brought Ms. Moore over.”


    Vinson hummed a simple Mm–hmm in reply without even looking up.


    Arielle felt uneasy. Not knowing how to respond or what to do, she tensed with her feet nted on the


    ground.


    Thankfully, the assistant came to her rescue. He advised, “Mr. Nightshire is currently busy. You may


    make yourselffortable in the cabin that‘s inside.”


    “Okay.” Arielle nodded. She then cautiously walked past Vinson and entered the cabin. Once inside,


    Arielle‘s jaw dropped in shock. She eximed, “Rain?” The blonde man lifted his gaze and gawked,


    equally as surprised. “San? I never thought I‘d


    see you here. Have you returned to this country?”


    “Mm–hmm, I just got back some time ago.”


    Rain cheerily patted at the seat beside his, beckoning her over. “Come sit with me.”


    Arielle obliged. Once she sat down, questions about her current life came out of Rain‘s


    mouth with burgeoning excitement. He also invited, “I‘m heading to Norham for the academy‘s award


    ceremony. If there‘s nothing on your schedule, would you like to attend as well since you are one of our


    academy‘s founders?”


    Rain was the principal of the Crown Coffee Academy and a world–renowned coffee


    sommelier.


    Back then, Arielle and Rain were the ones who came up with as well as established the


    Crown Coffee Academy.


    They wanted to create a ce where coffee enthusiasts could expand their knowledge on


    coffee–making.


    What they never expected was for the academy to develop into a well–known spot for socialites.


    Hence, Rain created a restriction whereby only ten students may receive the expert level barista


    certificate. This way, only the elite, talented, and worthy coffee connoisseurs could


    receive these certificates.


    Arielle‘s lips curled into a devious smile when she heard that Rain was on his way to


    Shandie‘s award ceremony. She stated, “What a coincidence. I‘m heading there myself...”


    Rain beamed at once. “That‘s wonderful! The students will be ecstatic to meet the academy‘s


    founders. They‘ll be over the moon!”


    “No.” Arielle shook her head and requested, “I was hoping that you‘ll keep my identity


    confidential.”


    Rain‘s vibrant smile fell glum in an instant. He then inquired, “Why?”


    “I have some personal reasons.” “Alright then, I‘ll be more than pleased as long as you attend the


    event.” Arielle shed a faint smile but didn‘t say anymore.


    Two hours of flightter, the jet gradually made its descent into Norham airport.


    Vinson had already left by the time Arielle disembarked from the jet.


    Unbothered, she exchanged goodbyes with Rain and went to look for the other three


    Southalls.


    That‘s strange. Didn‘t we agree to meet up after getting off our flights? So why aren‘t


    Henrick and the others here at the arrival hall as promised?


    Airelle held her ground in silence. She knew that Henrick wouldn‘t abandon her because


    she was still of value to him. So she waited.


    Right then and there, a bodyguard dressed in a coal–ck suit strode towards Arielle‘s


    direction. Beside him was a man that she would recognize anywhere—Vinson.


    Despite standing next to a tall bodyguard, Vinson still towered with his superior stature.


    Some passersby curiously paid attention to Vinson. Their faces either turned a bashful


    shade of red or gawked as they vividly babbled about Vinson‘s appearance.


    “That guy‘s incredibly handsome! Do you think he‘s a celebrity?”


    “No way. If he is, then he should have blown up all over the inte by now. Even those


    influencers can‘tpare to his good looks.”


    Compared to the eagerly buzzing crowd, Arielle‘s skewed frown was an underwhelming


    reaction.


    She nced briefly at him before focusing on her phone and dialing Henrick‘s number.


    The call went through, yet Henrick had instantly rejected. Arielle knew that this must have


    been Shandie‘s doing.


    Although Cindy is a wicked woman, she wouldn‘t be so stupid to use such sloppy tactics


    against me.


    It seems like Shandie is trying to get on my nerves by keeping me in the dark about their


    whereabouts. Game on, then. I‘ll patiently wait here for them.


    Noticing a lounge nearby, Arielle headed over for some refreshments.


    What she hadn‘t realized was that she walked right into the lion‘s den; just as she entered, the lounge


    door flung shut behind her.


    Arielle instinctively turned around but was shoved to the wall by a towering man. His


    powerfully built body pressed against hers, trapping her.