He Promised Me Every Flight, Gave Her Every One Chapter 11

He Promised Me Every Flight, Gave Her Every One Chapter 11

When the investigation ended, Grant was grounded for three months.

Global Airlines didn’t disclose the disciplinary details.

It only announced stricter professional-boundary policies for flight crews.

For a man who prided himself on his flying record and spotless résumé, the punishment hurt more than a public slap.

Emily called to curse me out. “You ruined Grant! He’s been exceptional his whole life. How could you do this to him?”

I listened, then asked one question, “Did he care when he hid my documents?”

Emily went silent.

A few seconds later, she started crying again. “Ellie, I know I didn’t treat you well before. I admit it. Please come back. Grant hasn’t eaten or slept in days. He barely looks like himself anymore.”

Something shattered in the background.

Grant’s voice sounded distant and furious. “Who told you to call her?”

The phone was snatched away.

His breathing was heavy. “Eleanor, don’t listen to my mother.”

I was sitting outside a court mediation room.

Julian handed me the documents.

The mediator would call us in soon.

Grant heard the rustle of paper and grew anxious. “Where are you?”

“At the courthouse.”

Silence fell on his end.

A moment later, a chair crashed to the floor. “You’re really suing me?”

“Yes.”

His voice dropped as if he were holding something back. “I won’t agree to the settlement.”

“I don’t need your permission to call off the wedding. The court can settle the financial claims without it.”

Before the call ended, I heard him order the driver to bring the car around.

Half an hour later, Grant rushed into the mediation room.

He’d clearly come in a hurry.

His hair was messy, and one button on his shirt was fastened wrong.

The man who once aligned his cuff links perfectly now looked completely disheveled.

The mediator glanced between us.

“Let’s keep this calm. Ms. Miller is seeking reimbursement for personal expenses and wedding-related losses.”

“Mr. Sterling, what is your position?”

Grant stared at me. “I’ll pay.”

Emily immediately protested from beside him. “Grant! She chose to spend that money!”

He didn’t look at her. “I’ll pay.”

Grant pulled a check from his folder and pushed it toward me.

The amount exceeded Julian’s settlement calculation.

“Is that enough?”

I didn’t touch it.

Julian answered for me, “Mr. Sterling, the settlement will follow formal procedure. We won’t accept a personal check outside that process.”

Grant shot him a cold look. “I’m talking to her.”

Julian remained calm. “She authorized me to speak for her.”

The words drained the color from Grant’s face.

He looked at me and suddenly lowered his voice.

“Ellie, I’ll transfer the penthouse to you. You loved those floor-to-ceiling windows. You can move back in. I’ll leave if that’s what you want.”

I’d decorated every inch around those windows.

The plants, rug, and dining table had all been my choices.

But the penthouse had never been a home.

“I don’t want it.”

Grant’s eyes were bloodshot. “Then what do you want?”

The mediation room went quiet.

I pushed the signed confirmation document toward him.

“Sign it.”

Grant stared down at the Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release.

His fingers hovered above the signature line but didn’t move.

Emily clung to his arm, sobbing. “You can’t sign it! What will people think of the Sterlings?”

Blake had also arrived.

He stood by the door and spoke quietly, “Grant, don’t be stupid. Eleanor’s just playing hard to get. Lydia’s still in the hospital.”

At Lydia’s name, Grant’s head snapped up. “Shut up.”

Blake froze.

Grant’s voice was quiet but frightening. “Don’t mention her around me again.”

Emily stared at him in disbelief. “Grant, how can you say that about Lydia? Her father saved your father’s life!”

Pain flashed through his eyes. “We’ve repaid that debt enough.”

Soft footsteps sounded at the door.

Lydia stood there in a hospital robe, her face pale. “Grant, what did you just say?”

Emily looked as if she’d found a lifeline. “Lydia, please talk some sense into him.”

Tears quickly filled Lydia’s eyes. “Are you abandoning me because of Ms. Miller?”

In the past, Grant always went to her whenever she cried.

This time, he stayed seated.

Lydia stepped closer. “You promised me those seven days.”

“You said you’d spend one last trip with me before the wedding, then settle down and focus on your marriage.”

“How can you blame me now?”

Everyone in the room turned toward Grant.

The last trace of color vanished from his face.

At last, I knew where those seven days had come from.

Lydia hadn’t forced him to stay.

He had promised her himself.

Grant looked at me.

His face nearly crumpled with panic. “Eleanor, it wasn’t what you think.”

I capped my pen. “Sign it.”

His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Lydia grabbed his sleeve, sobbing. “Grant, you said I’d always be the most special person to you.”

He jerked his arm away.

The cuff tore open.

A button fell onto the table with a sharp click.

The mediator spoke firmly, “Mr. Sterling, please control yourself.”

Grant stared at the signature line.

His fingers shook violently.

When the pen finally touched the page, the ink bled across the paper.