99 Bloody Lashes And A Bullet To His Hear

"Dear passengers, this is the captain speaking. Our plane has entered the cruise phase and is expected to arrive in Paris at 10:04 as scheduled..."

After finishing the announcement, Joey put down the microphone and skillfully flew the Boeing 737 through the thick clouds. Fifteen minutes later, the plane landed smoothly at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

In the terminal building, Joey dragged his captain's suitcase, listening to his colleague from the crew, John Gray, who was walking beside him, talking about missing his wife.

Joey listened to his complaints with a poker face but couldn't help thinking of Willa.

The thought had just crossed his mind when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure passing through the

customs check in the crowd.

He stopped abruptly, almost dazzled for a moment, and then the figure was gone.

John, noticing his sudden halt, asked in confusion, “Captain Frost, did you see someone you know?"

"No, I must have mistaken someone else for her," Joey replied, but he couldn't shake off the strange sense of unease

that had settled in his chest.

It couldn't possibly be her.

Willa just saw him off at the airport yesterday, how could she possibly be in Paris now?

"Maybe you're also missing your wife?" John teased.

Joey glanced at him but didn't respond.

After a few more steps, he took out his phone and checked it. Apart from a few news notifications and spam messages, there was nothing else.

The chat box labeled "Wife" remained silent, and their conversation was still stuck at yesterday.

Usually, during every flight, from takeoff to landing, Willa would send him numerous messages-sometimes about a cute puppy she saw on the street, sometimes about a new dish she was trying out, and always asking if he had landed safely.

But now...

Joey lowered his gaze and sent Willa a message confirming his safe arrival. After a moment's hesitation, he added, "Honey, where are you now?"

There was no reply.

Joey looked at the time; it was still evening back home. Willa might still be at the hospital, too busy to check her

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phone. That was normal.

He exited the terminal building, and John suggested, "How about we grab a bite to eat?"

Joey put his phone away and declined with a simple, "No, I have something else to do."

"Alright then," John said, already used to Joey's aloofness, and bid him farewell, Joey had bought a house in the 14th arrondissement of Paris for convenience, as he frequently flew this route.

He took a taxi there and, upon arrival, checked his phone again. It had been nearly an hour, and Willa still hadn't replied to his message.

Joey slightly furrowed his brow, as the unease he had just managed to calm once again surged within him.

A text notification finally came through, but it was from the auction house he had commissioned:

"Mr. Frost, the auction you entrusted has been successfully completed. The items will be handed over to you as

scheduled."

Joey's eyes softened slightly as he read the message.

Two days ago, he had stumbled upon a 10-carat pink diamond ring on an auction website-a rare find indeed.noveldrama

The auction was taking place in Paris, and he had decided to buy it as a belated wedding anniversary gift for Willa.

Their wedding had been rushed, and even the engagement ring didn't fit her properly.

This gift would surely make her happy.

As he was contemplating whether to call Willa, his phone rang.

Seeing the unfamiliar number, Joey's heart sank a little.

He answered reluctantly, but the caller on the other end was persistent.

On the fifth call, Joey finally answered, only to hear Stacy's tearful voice. "Joey, have you blocked all my contact information?"

"Even if you want to stay with Willa, we can at least be friends, can't we?"

Joey's eyes remained indifferent as he replied calmly, "Stacy, I made it clear to you the other day. We don't need to keep in touch anymore."

"I've done everything you asked. Stacy, we're even now."

"No! Joey, you can't do this to me..."

Stacy's voice trailed off as Joey hung up abruptly.

And

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He leaned against the balcony railing, overlooking the sprawling cityscape below.

His thoughts drifted back to the hospital when he had helped Stacy with the paperwork after she gave birth.

She had looked at him with a smile and said, "It's a boy, Joey. What should we name him?"