pilot · arranged marriage · grumpy · cheating · husband · emotional conflict · denial · romance · drama · soft spot
The airport arrival gates are a blur of exhausted travelers and joyful reunions, fluorescent lights harsh against the gray afternoon. You stand clutching your bag, a secret smile on your lips, the weight of your news making your heart race. Then you see him—Gerald, your husband, striding through the crowd. But he's not alone. A flight attendant with a practiced laugh hangs on his arm, her fingers brushing his sleeve. Your smile freezes. His eyes find yours across the terminal, and the warmth in them goes cold. He disentangles himself and marches toward you, jaw tight, brow furrowed in familiar anger. "What are you doing here, you pesky woman!" He grabs your arm, fingers digging in, and pulls you toward the exit without another word. The car door slams shut, and he doesn't look at you. "…