Sunlight streamed through the bedroom curtains, and the sound of suitcases being opened filled the room. Emily was kneeling on the floor, clothes scattered around her, trying to decide what to pack for Italy.
"Matt, do you think I should take this black dress or the blue one the magazine gave me last month?" she asked, holding up two pieces of clothing as she glanced at Matthew, who was standing next to the bed folding some of his shirts.
He paused for a moment, considering the options.
"The blue one. It goes better with the natural light in Italy, and honestly, it looks amazing on you."
She smiled, satisfied with his answer, and threw the black dress back into her suitcase.
"That's a good choice. Thank you, my personal fashion consultant."
"Always at your service, my princess," he replied, winking at her.
After some time finishing packing, they were both ready. Matthew closed the last suitcase with a firm movement and sighed, looking at Emily.
"All set?"
She stood up, wiping her hands on her sweatpants.
"Yes, Captain. Onward!"
In the car, as Matthew drove towards the airport, the city was beginning to wake up. The streets were moderately busy, and the radio played light music in the background. Emily, sitting in the passenger seat, looked out the window, admiring the scenery.
"You know, Matt, after the wedding, for our honeymoon, I thought we could go somewhere quiet like here. Something private and away from the hustle and bustle."
Matthew glanced at her briefly as the traffic light ahead turned green. He moved the car forward and replied with a smile.
"Sure. Whatever the princess wants."
Emily hummed one of her own songs, a habit that Matthew found adorable. After a few minutes, she turned to him, with a mischievous smile.
"I want to know your honest opinion, Matt."
He inclined his head slightly, holding her hand with his free hand.
"My opinion? As far as I'm concerned, whatever you decide, I'll follow. You're the head of the house, dear wife."
She smiled triumphantly, squeezing his hand.
"I am indeed. So, onwards sailor, to the airport!"
Matthew laughed, accelerating the car a little more.
---
an elegant residence, with touches of classic decor and a formal atmosphere. The elderly man Emily had met at the amusement park was sitting in a leather armchair in his office, with documents spread out on the table. His butler, a tall man with impeccable posture, was beside him, waiting silently.
The elderly man picked up one of the documents, studying it for a few moments before sighing deeply.
"It's as I thought..."
The butler, always respectful, asked cautiously:
"Is that her, sir?"
The old man looked away to the window, where the sky was beginning to take on orange hues with the sunrise.
"Yes, it's her. I just don't understand how it happened!"
The butler hesitated before answering, choosing his words carefully.
"With all due respect, sir, but the young master is not exactly trustworthy to say what really happened that day."
The old man frowned, still looking at the window.
"I know. That's what always worried me."
After a brief silence, he added:
"But I don't think it was caused by him."
The silence fell over the office, heavy, as if the old man's words carried a long-kept secret.
---
At the airport, Emily was sitting in one of the chairs in the departure lounge, her cell phone in her hands. Her fingers slid across the screen as she updated her social networks and interacted with her fans. A relaxed expression took over her face, while the sound of typing mixed with the murmur of the people around her.
Matthew approached, returning from a brief conversation with the airport staff. He arched an eyebrow when he saw her so focused on her phone.
"What are you doing?"
She looked up at him, with a smile.
"Just interacting with the fans. Gabi asked me to be more active on social media, so I'm fulfilling my mission."
Matthew took his own phone from his pocket, unlocking the screen as he sat down next to her. He quickly saw notifications popping up about Emily's updates.
"Your fans are excited... Look, a guy named Gabriel018 mentioned that you're the wife of his life."
Emily raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Are you jealous, dear husband?"
He sighed dramatically, as if admitting defeat, and pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her.
"Who told my wife to be so good at what she does?"
She laughed, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Well, it's part of the job. But it's good to know that I have the most jealous husband in the world."
"I'm not jealous," he replied, feigning offense. "Just protective."
Emily just laughed again, continuing to play with her cell phone while Matthew enjoyed that moment of tranquility by her side.
The flight announcement sounded over the speakers, and they both stood up, grabbing their carry-on bags. Emily, with her spontaneous way, began to walk ahead, while Matthew followed her.
The private plane was impeccable, with a luxurious interior that made anyone feel like royalty. The white leather upholstery contrasted with the gold details and polished wood. Emily walked up the steps with a curious smile, but as she entered, she frowned slightly, noticing something different.
Matthew, right behind her, was holding his carry-on bag with a smile on his face.
" Matt, what plane is this?" she asked, looking around as she walked down the aisle. "If I'm not mistaken, I've been on two different Lancaster family planes before."
He sat down in the nearest seat with the calm of someone who was already accustomed to this kind of luxury, placing his suitcase next to it.
" Honey, my family is a shareholder in many airlines." He paused to intensify the suspense, before finishing with an amused smile. " We have 30% of Aurora Aircraft Company."
Emily stopped in the middle of the aisle, looking at him in disbelief.
" That... that's too much for a poor young lady like me!"
Matthew just laughed, adjusting himself comfortably in the seat. Emily put her hand on her forehead, feigning exaggerated drama as she sighed deeply.
" What family did I marry into?"
Matthew's laughter echoed through the plane, catching the attention of one of the flight attendants, who passed by discreetly. He raised his hand, waving to the plane's staff, and made an order.
"Two mango juices, please."
He then turned his attention to Emily, who was now sitting in the seat across from him, still processing the information.
"Get used to it, dear. This is part of your life now."
Emily stared at him, still a little stunned, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. Matthew, sensing the opportunity, arched an eyebrow and leaned forward slightly, with a mischievous smile.
"And who's poor here?" He paused to dramatize. "You have half of my belongings now that we're married."
Emily's eyes widened, not knowing whether to laugh or take the joke seriously. After a moment of silence, she just shook her head, sighed, and leaned back in her seat. "You really don't make it easy for me, do you, Matt?"
"I'm just being honest, dear wife."
The flight attendant returned with the juices, placing them delicately on the small table that separated the seats. Matthew took the glass and took a small sip, watching Emily with a satisfied look.
"By the way, why all the surprise? Weren't you the one who said "yes" to marry me?" he teased, with a smile that showed he knew he was winning this conversation.
Emily snorted, but couldn't help but smile. She picked up her glass of juice, took a long sip and replied jokingly:
"Yeah, but I think I underestimated the size of the package."
Matthew laughed, reaching out to touch her hand.
"Relax. If there's anyone who can handle all this, it's you."
She looked at him for a moment, her eyes shining with something between tenderness and provocation.
"Let's see, Mr. Lancaster. Let's see..."
As the plane took off smoothly, the mood between them was one of tranquility. Emily opened her cell phone to check some messages and her social networks. Every now and then, she showed Matthew some funny or affectionate comment from fans, and he laughed along with her.
"Look at this one," she said, pointing to a comment. "Emily, you're an icon! I want to marry you in the next life."
Matthew narrowed his eyes, feigning jealousy.
"Looks like I'll have to keep an eye on reincarnations now."
She laughed, holding her cell phone close to her chest.
"Relax, jealous husband. You've already secured your seat."
He smiled, satisfied, and reclined his chair back, getting more comfortable.
"That's good to know."
As the hours passed, the plane flew gently over the clouds, and the sound of the engine was a constant backdrop. Emily took advantage of the moment to take a nap while Matthew reviewed some work documents he had brought with him.
From time to time, he would look at her, admiring how her expression seemed so serene while she slept.
--
In a luxurious room, the old man was once again in his office. This time, the butler returned with more documents, placing them on the table carefully.
"Sir, this is the information we have managed to gather so far."
The old man adjusted his glasses, picking up the folder and opening it with precision. His eyes scanned the pages with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. After a few minutes of silence, he sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair.
"It's as I thought..."
The butler, who was waiting patiently at his side, asked cautiously:
"Any significant news, sir?"
"Not exactly news, but confirmation." He looked up thoughtfully. "There's something about this young lady that I can't ignore."
"Is it her, sir?" the butler insisted, his tone even more respectful.
The old man hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Yes, it is her. I just can't understand how it happened."
The butler remained silent, respecting his master's confusion. After a few seconds, he ventured an observation.
"With all due respect, sir, but perhaps what happened that day has been distorted."
The old man closed his eyes for a moment, as if weighing each word spoken. When he opened them again, there was a gleam of determination.
"I know. That's what's always worried me."
The butler, realizing that the matter was delicate, gave a slight nod and took a step back, awaiting further orders. The old man, in turn, closed the folder with a decisive movement and looked out the window of his office, where the horizon seemed to stretch out infinitely.