"This woman is driving me insane," Chris muttered, loosening his tie as his mother's words replayed in his head.
"Sir," Elliot said gently, "I think it's best to take things easy. You love and respect your mum as much as you love and respect Ella. I believe she'll come around once she sees what you see in Bella."
Chris exhaled. "What's Frederick's daughter's name again?"
"Thelma. Why?"
"Set an appointment with her," Chris said flatly. "If she can conduct herself professionally, we'll proceed with the contract. If not, she's out."
"Yes, sir."
George, his driver, slowed the car. "We're here, sir."
Chris stepped out, greeted by rows of workers bowing politely. He walked through the factory floor, sharp eyes scanning, giving concise instructions on what he wanted adjusted. Everything was routine until Elliot rushed up, panic written all over his face.
"Sir, there's an emergency."
Chris's posture stiffened. "What happened?"
"A section of aircraft G698EA exploded during testing. No casualties, but" He handed over an iPad with the report.
Chris's jaw clenched as he skimmed it. "Delivery deadline?"
"First week of January."
"I want a full technical breakdown what failed, how, and who's responsible on my desk within the hour."
"Yes, sir."
They returned to the car. Chris leaned back, but his moment of composure shattered at the words spilling from the radio.
"...breaking news Hampson Airways Flight D356 has gone missing. Authorities have confirmed loss of signal and dispatched rescue teams..."
Chris's entire body went cold.
"Call the airport. Now."
Elliot's fingers flew over his phone. "We just heard about Flight D356. What's the situation?" he demanded into the receiver.
The representative's voice was taut. "Signal lost. No contact. Rescue teams are already in motion."
Chris cut in sharply. "Get me the crew list."
"One second... Attendants on board include Liam, Alexia, Lilian, Stella, Rose, Nadia, Christabella"
"Stop." Chris's voice cracked. His tie was half-off now. "George, full speed. To the airport."
George hit the accelerator.
Elliot looked worriedly at him. "Sir..."
"Call the pilots. We're moving as soon as we arrive."
Within minutes, they were at the helipad. Chris stormed toward the waiting helicopter, but one of the pilots stepped in front of him.
"Sir, we can't fly yet the weather is unstable. It's too risky."
Chris's glare could've cut steel. "Do you need me to fly this damn chopper myself?"
"Rescue teams are already en route," Elliot tried to reason.
Chris raked his hands through his hair, pacing like a caged lion. "What the hell happened? Hampson Airways has never recorded a crash. Not once. And now now Bella's out there"
Before his rage could boil further, Elliot's phone buzzed. He answered instantly.
"Yes? ... Understood." He turned to Chris. "The aircraft has been located. They're making an emergency landing."
Chris shoved past the pilot. "Then let's move. Now."
The emergency landing was brutal. Passengers stumbled out shaken, attendants battered and bruised. Bella had a cut on her temple and her wrist wrapped in a quick bandage, but she'd kept working guiding frightened passengers, calming children, forcing herself to stay steady.
When it was over, she slipped into the bathroom to wash the blood from her face. Cold water hit her skin, but her reflection still looked pale, shaken.
She stepped out and collided with a wall of muscle.
"Sorry," she muttered.
"Watch it," the man growled. His voice was low, sharp, dangerous.
Bella froze. He was tall, broad, with tattoos crawling up his neck and piercings glinting under the harsh light. The menace in his eyes made her blood run cold.
Before she could move, he leaned close, breath hot against her ear.
"I'll be the end of you."
Bella's knees almost buckled. She blinked and he was gone, disappearing down the hall like a shadow.
Her hands shook until Alexia burst into the bathroom.
"Ella! There you are!" Alexia grabbed her shoulders. "We've been searching everywhere. Why weren't you answering your phone? We were all so worried."
Bella swallowed hard, forcing calm into her voice. "I left my bag with Lilian."
"Well, come on. Mr. Hampson is waiting for you at the lobby."
Bella's eyes widened. "Chris... is here?"
Alexia nodded.
Bella's pulse kicked up. Relief... fear... confusion. And the echo of that stranger's voice still whispering in her ear.
Chris returned to the office, his mind racing as he chaired an emergency meeting. The discovery that the hangar's CCTV had been tampered with gnawed at him. Someone had deliberately erased evidence, and it made his skin crawl. Hampson Airways had never suffered this kind of sabotage before.
Meanwhile, Bella was back in the air. Though the passengers remained calm and her colleagues laughed off the earlier scare, she couldn't shake the cold whisper in her ear: I'll be the end of you. She finally told her friends, who teased her lightly and tried to ease her nerves, but unease lingered beneath her smile.
By the time the plane landed in London, Chris had sent his driver to fetch her. She leaned against the car window, exhaustion tugging at her, and called Bianca to share the news about Vera's sudden wedding. Bianca squealed down the phone, already planning colors and decorations, promising to help in any way she could.
At home, Bella walked into a house buzzing with conversation. Vera, Joe, Raquel, and the twins looked like they had been waiting just for her.
"Hi guys," Bella greeted.
"Finally," Vera said warmly. "We wanted your opinion before making a final choice on the house."
Kayden opened the laptop, showing three polished listings. Bella's eyes immediately landed on a seven-bedroom duplex, sleek and fully furnished.
"This one," she said without hesitation.
"Figures," Kayden muttered. "How much is it?"
"Why? You planning to pay?" Bella teased.
They laughed, but Joe explained that all three houses were close to everyone's schools and workplaces, including the airport. Bella raised a brow. "Why would anyone sell a house like this?"
"Haunted?" Jayden offered dramatically. Kayden shuddered, and everyone burst into laughter.
"Anyway, let's lock this in so we can move on to the wedding plans. Christmas is around the corner," Bella said.
That was when Joe cleared his throat. "Speaking of family... my parents are flying in this weekend."
The room fell silent.
"Mwolago?" Raquel gasped.
The twins gawked. "Wait you actually have parents?"
Bella blinked. "Why didn't we know about this?"
Joe rubbed his temple, smiling faintly. "Because I'm the black sheep of the family. I left home years ago and never looked back."
Raquel chimed in, almost proudly, "He's the only one who chose law. Everyone else runs Anderson Holdings."
The name dropped like a stone in water.
"Anderson Holdings?" Vera's eyes widened. "You mean that Anderson Holdings?"
Bella looked between them in shock. "Wait you're the son who walked away?"
Vera nodded slowly, still stunned. "I've worked with them before... I never connected the dots."
Kayden folded his arms dramatically. "Honestly, Dad, didn't think you had the guts."
"Good thing you did," Jayden said, grinning. "Otherwise you wouldn't have met Mum."
The teasing dissolved into laughter, easing the tension. But Bella sat quietly, connecting threads in her mind. Joe wasn't just any man marrying her mother he was tied to one of the most powerful families in the country.
By the end of the night, they all agreed on Bella's pick for the new house. Joe phoned the real estate agent to schedule an appointment the next day.