Chapter 3

I found her words incredibly ironic.

So she actually remembered my right hand was ruined in a car crash.

But did she forget why? If she hadn't started a screaming match while I was driving and grabbed the steering wheel, our car would have never crashed into that truck.

I had instinctively shielded her with my body, which caused the nerve damage in my right hand, forcing me to give up my dream.

But she didn't know that after our divorce, I immediately went abroad for advanced physical therapy.

After years of intense rehab, my right hand had fully recovered.

But she didn't need to know that.

I pulled out my pilot license and flashed it in front of her. "See for yourself if I'm lying."

"Chloe, we've been divorced for six years. I forgot about you a long time ago. I have absolutely no reason to crawl back to you."

Chloe snatched the license from my hand. Without even looking at it, she tore it to shreds.

"You really went all out, didn't you? Did you pay someone to make a fake license just to impress me?"

"But Ethan, open your eyes and look. I am with Julian now. We are a happy family. Stop stalking me!"

She threw the torn pieces right into my face, her eyes filled with disgust.

I stared at her, genuinely shocked. "Are you out of your mind? Destroying a pilot's credentials is a federal offense!"

Julian laughed as if I had just said something hilarious.

"A fake piece of paper? Who cares if she tore it? I can pay you for it."

He pulled two hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and slapped them against my chest. "Here. This should be enough to buy you a whole box of fake licenses."

I didn't want to have anything to do with them, but I wasn't going to let them humiliate me in public.

I clenched my fists, about to speak, when a loud commotion erupted from the crowd behind us.

"Move! Let her through! The heiress of the Sterling Group is here!"

"You mean Isabella Sterling? The one who owns luxury estates all over the country and has a fleet of private jets? Why is she here?"

Amidst the whispers, the chief flight attendant rushed over with a group of security guards.

"Ms. Sterling’s daughter was on this flight. Has anyone seen a six-year-old girl in a pink dress?"

The crowd immediately began looking around.

This was the granddaughter of the richest family in the country. If anyone found her, the reward money would probably secure their life forever.

I scanned the lobby frantically, my heart clenching with anxiety.

Julian noticed my expression and scoffed loudly.

"Look at you. Still claiming you don't care about money? The second you hear a billionaire's daughter is missing, you're desperate to find her. You really are a greedy leech, aren't you?"

I ignored his insults. My eyes locked onto a small figure hiding behind a row of seats not far away. I sprinted over.

"What did I tell you about running off? Are you trying to get yourself kidnapped?"

A little girl in a pink princess dress pouted angrily. When she saw me, she took a step back, refusing to let me touch her.

I sighed, kneeling down, and softened my voice.

"Okay, my little princess, I'm sorry. Come here. I'll take you to Mommy."

But before I could touch her, Julian shoved my hand away. He stepped in front of the girl. "Ethan, you're disgusting. You want the reward so badly that you're trying to kidnap a child?"

Chloe chimed in, nodding.

"Get lost, Ethan. When Ms. Sterling gets here, I'm going to tell her you were trying to hurt her daughter. The Sterlings will ruin you!"

Julian began shouting for security to drag me away.

I stood up slowly. Looking at my daughter, who was now being held by Julian, I said in a flat, stern voice: "Maya Vance. If you don't behave right now, you can forget about your piano lessons and stay home for the entire summer break."

The moment the words left my mouth, Maya wriggled out of Julian’s grip and ran straight into my arms, hugging my leg tightly.

"I'm sorry, Daddy. I won't run away again."