In The Pilot's Arms, Beyond The Clouds

he river for hours, its tinted windows catchi

brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear as

esitation with a lazy smirk before letting out

spark. Tomorrow... it would be her b

r rose in her eyes, a tiny spark

aulina's stopping by tomorrow. She's still not feeling well, so I'l

nd bowed her head. "Of course, Mr. Smith," she murmured, the

heart had chased for so lo

h, earning accomplishments people whispered about in awe,

e, her role as the disposable

he finally murmured, "So... when are you

er chin between his fingers, tilting her face up with practiced ease. His gaze drifted ove

inexperienced girl shaped to suit his every p

top biotech firm, would be swallowed by her work the moment

till held her only

oice shook, but every word carried a painful resolve. "You may have been my first, but you won't be my las

lipped a bank card from his wallet and held it out as if se

chin with a mocking lift of his brow. "And

e ice, locking Ire

she shoved the door open and stumbled

night air, old wounds

Dixon, had sunk the family into crushing gambling debts. Her eld

Dixon, brought in any income-

into Caiden's hands during a business dinn

e having sex, and every inch of her shook w

hown her a softness

en with Caiden breathing Paulina's name against her neck a

just the shadow she cast. She happened to resemble Paulina, and she

lina but gifted enough to finish he

d around her future. He made her give up on her medical care

private nutritionist, and kept he

till held onto that tiny wish that Paulina would s

fold in front of her, that fragi

.

her head down in the kitchen, working

ngers, and a sharp gasp escaped her before she could bite it ba

d before he headed toward t

stirred in her chest-maybe he plan

lina entered the living room,

nd confident composure filled the space in

eering away from Irene without

rene so much as a

out a shaky laugh, tears clinging to her lashes a

ed dishes with a soft, glowing smile. "Caiden, you really

Irene's chest, sharp en

been Caiden's favorites. Only now did she

by Paulina's shadow, woven through every moment. They had been boun

had she bee

she beamed at Paulina with rare warmth. "Paulina, you're back for good this time, aren't

"Marlee, I've been gone for years. How would I know if Caiden hasn't already f

se, and her gaze slid toward I

he's sitting at this table doesn't mean our family wou

ulina's hand. "A woman like you-a brilliant PhD with real a

mured tenderly, "Paulina, from the very beginning right up to this moment, you're the

lips, taking a timid sip with

d been summoned tonight. This wasn

ween them-proof that Irene meant nothing to h

liced straight th

umbled a flimsy excuse, and rushed

ent. With tears blurring her vision, she unlocked a number she had buried long ago and typed with trem