“Delilah, Helbert, this is Nathan,” Vanessa introduced, her smile radiant. “And this is Aunt Bianca, Nathan’s mother, and Dennis, his best friend.”
Nathaniel extended his hand toward Delilah and Helbert, his voice steady. “Congratulations on your engagement. We’re looking forward to celebrating your wedding.”
This moment was monumental for the Holts, as the Martinez family held significant influence in Velmon City. A union between the Holts and the Martinezes was not just a personal milestone; it represented a powerful alliance. Though not as affluent as Nathaniel, the Martinez family wielded considerable sway in the community.
“Thank you, Nathan, for joining us,” Delilah replied, her smile genuine. She turned to Vanessa, curiosity glinting in her eyes. “So, how are you and Nathan getting along? Any exciting news?”
“Oh, Delilah, let’s not go there,” Vanessa chuckled, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. “Nathan and I are just friends. He’s helping me with my career, and I’m assisting him with Aunt Bianca.”
Vanessa laughed lightly before turning to Nathaniel. “I’m sorry, Nathan. It’s just what the media keeps saying about us.”
“But given how close Nathaniel and Vanessa have become, I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up together,” Timothy chimed in, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
Bianca, always the supportive mother, added, “Vanessa is someone I truly admire, and whoever Nathan likes will surely be someone my son will love.” Her eyes sparkled with hope as she turned to Nathaniel. “Right, son?”
Nathaniel offered a weak smile, his thoughts swirling. They had traversed this territory before. Yes his mother hoped for a romance? between him and Vanessa, and yes, the Holts had been instrumental in their lives, but some things could not be rushed or forced.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Vanessa interjected, “Aunt, please. Nathaniel needs time to heal. Right now, his priority is ensuring you receive the best medical care.”
Bianca shook her head, placing a hand over her heart. “I would heal much faster knowing my son is with a wonderful woman.”
“Come on, Nathan,” Timothy urged, leaning in with enthusiasm. “You’re a free man now.”
Timothy had always shown a preference for Vanessa, while only Peter and Dennis seemed to consider Nathaniel’s feelings. Nathaniel mentally noted the need for a private conversation with Dennis later.
Dismissing Timothy’s comments, Nathaniel turned to his mother, his tone firm yet gentle. “Mother, there’s a right time for everything.”
Awkward smiles flickered across the Holts’ faces, but thankfully, Peter came to the rescue. “Nathan, can we discuss the research center you’re investing in? My family is interested in contributing.”
“But this is an engagement party,” Bianca interjected, her frown deepening.
“It will just take a moment, Mother,” Nathaniel reassured her. He turned back to the celebrants, his voice warm. “Congratulations once again.”
“Perfect timing! My uncle and my parents are done talking. I can ask my uncle to sit with you all,” Vanessa said suddenly, her excitement infectious.
Nathaniel found a seat at a nearby table, his friends joining him. Bianca continued to mingle with the Holts, particularly with Vanessa, who was clearly in her element. Before long, Vanessa’s uncle approached, and the discussion shifted to the plans for the research center. Dr. Allen Holt was set to be one of the lead consultants, a significant development that filled Nathaniel with hope.
The center aimed to explore alternative treatments for Bianca’s condition, a cause close to Nathaniel’s heart. His ultimate goal was not just to help his mother but to extend that help to others battling the same neurological disorder.
As the conversation deepened, Nathaniel lost all sense of time. He and Dr. Allen Holt exchanged ideas, laughter mingling with the clinking of dinner plates, and soon Bianca joined them at the table.
Hearing about the prospects filled
Bianca with a wave of joy. “I’ve come to terms with the possibility that I may not have much longer,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “But knowing there are possibilities for extending my life is a blessing. I truly wish to see
Nathaniel remarry and start a family.”
Her words struck a chord deep within Nathaniel, tightening his chest. He grappled with the unsettling thought that he might never feel that kind of love again, never build a family with someone.
Yet he kept his feelings to himself, unwilling to burden his mother with his doubts.
Suddenly, his phone rang, cutting through the moment.
It was Dennis.
Nathaniel glanced to his right, realizing with a jolt that his best friend was no longer seated at the table. Answering the call, he could hear the urgency in Dennis’s voice. “Nathan, there’s a situation. ?m outside. We need to talk.”
“Excuse me,” Nathaniel said, his heart racing as he stepped away to find Dennis.
Outside the venue, Dennis’s expression was grave. “Nathan, something has happened.”
The next words sent a chill creeping down Nathaniel’s spine.
“Eastwind Air 1061 didn’t land in Oakridge City. Nathan… the flight is missing.”
“BREAKING NEWS: EASTWIND AIR 1061 MISSING.”
At precisely 7:10 p.m. this evening, the unsettling announcement echoed through the airwaves, confirming that Eastwind Air had lost all communication with Flight 1061, which was making its way from Velmon City to Oakridge.
The aircraft, carrying a total of 177 souls-passengers and crew alike-vanished from radar just moments after it soared over the expansive Crescent Ridge Sea.
Search and rescue operations have been swiftly mobilized, yet no details have emerged regarding the mysterious circumstances surrounding the flight’s disappearance. Authorities implore families to maintain their composure as the investigation unfolds.
As the clock ticked on, no new information about the plane’s fate had surfaced.
Nathaniel felt a sharp intake of breath as the headline replayed for what seemed like the umpteenth time. The calm demeanor he usually wore had evaporated, leaving him visibly shaken. His jaw clenched tightly, and the strain around his eyes revealed the internal battle he was waging against the encroaching panic.
FLIGHT 1061 MISSING, and Serena? She was on that very flight.
His heart raced violently against his ribs, pounding like a war drum. Clenching his hands into tight fists on his knees, he leaned closer to the screen of his phone, as if mere proximity could alter the grim reality of the report.
“Dennis… step on it,” Nathaniel urged, his voice a strained whisper.
Without hesitation, Dennis accelerated down the road, weaving in and out of lanes with a sense of urgency. “I’m pushing it as hard as I can, man. Just hold on tight.”
But Nathaniel found it impossible to hold on.
With each passing second, it felt as though Serena was slipping further away, lost to an unknown fate.
Pressing a hand to his forehead, he fought to steady his breathing, but the fear inside him was a relentless tide, rising higher and higher.
“Please… no,” Nathaniel murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “This can’t be real.”
Upon arriving at the airport, Nathaniel nearly leaped from the car, his feet pounding against the pavement as he raced toward the airline’s ticketing counter.
The scene was chaotic; reporters and frantic family members swarmed the area. An airline employee stood on a platform, using a megaphone to try and calm the distressed families of those aboard Eastwind Air 1061.
“Please, we are doing everything within our power to locate the missing aircraft and provide you with answers.”
“How could this happen? How could a flight simply vanish?”
“Oh, my God!”
“My son! My son!”
The atmosphere was thick with anxiety and despair, families crying out in panic.
A woman fainted nearby, while an elderly man shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice cracking with fear and frustration.
It was already past ten in the evening. Eastwind Air 1061 should have landed in Oakridge over two hours ago, and the weight of dread settled heavily on Nathaniel’s chest.
Pushing through the throng of people, he finally reached the airline employee. “I am Nathaniel Thorne. My wife was on that flight. Tell me what I can do to expedite the search. I will provide any resources you need anything. Just please, for the love of God, move faster!”
“Sir, I assure you, we are doing everything we can-“
“That’s not enough!” Nathaniel snapped, his palm slamming down on the counter with a force that made the employee flinch. The fury etched across his features sharpened every line of his face. “How could you lose contact with your aircraft in the first place?”
“Mr. Thorne, please, this way.” A manager, recognizing his distress, stepped in to guide him away from the chaos. Nathaniel and Dennis were ushered into the VIP lounge, where they were promised a comprehensive update while they awaited further news.
Because of Nathaniel’s insistence, the airline agreed to mobilize additional search and rescue teams to scour the Crescent Ridge Sea, the last known location of Eastwind Air 1061.
By two in the morning, Nathaniel’s commissioned teams were dispatched into the dark waters.
The government had also sent in the navy to assist in the investigation.
At seven in the morning, the search team began meticulously scanning the waters with specialized underwater equipment.
Nathaniel and Dennis remained at the airport, their anxiety palpable. As ten a.m. rolled around, there was still no sign of hope. Then, an airline emplovee approached, holding a list of passengers who had checked in for the flight.
Nathaniel’s heart sank as he scanned the names. There were images from surveillance cameras confirming that Serena had indeed made it through the boarding gate.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.