99 Houses for His Love One for My Freedom novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5

At first, I thought I was seeing things. But as our taxi inched forward on the congested highway, I looked

again-

And sure enough, Ethan’s car had come to a dead stop across the divider.

He swung open the door and started walking straight toward us.

I watched in silence as he slapped his palm against the side of my window, mouth moving rapidly—but I

couldn’t hear a thing.

The glass sealed him out.

Fitting, really.

The driver glanced over, puzzled.

“Ma’am, want me to roll it down? Might be safer than having him screaming in traffic like that.”

I shook my head. “No. Just ignore him.”

Ethan kept pounding on the window, his face flushed and wild.

But I never looked at him.

Not once.

Not until the commotion drew highway patrol over, and they pulled him aside like some crazed lunatic

causing a scene.

Only then–when the distraction of horns and flashing lights made me invisible again–did I dare turn my

head and watch as they escorted him away.

Even through the streaks of rain on the glass, I could see the panic in his face.

The desperation.

So… Ethan Whitmore could look frantic after all.

And I just sat there–silent, unmoved–watching him get dragged away. Because by then, I already knew. He

was never going to catch up to me. Not anymore,

The jam cleared up not long after. The driver took the next exit, and we reached the airport right on time.

That’s when the second surprise hit me.

I walked up to the counter to check in, only to have the airline agent glance at her screen, then back at me.

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“I’m sorry, ma’am, but your flight’s been canceled due to weather. You can either rebook or request a

refund.”

I blinked. “Weather?”

I turned toward the window.

The sky was clear. The moon hung like a silver coin above the terminal. Not a cloud in sight.

“So what is it now?” I said flatly. “Planes only take off in thunderstorms?”

She smiled politely, her customer–service mask firmly in place.

“Apologies, ma’am. We’re just following protocol. I wish I could help.”

I didn’t push. She wasn’t the problem.

“Fine. Rebook me, then.”

She tapped away at the keyboard. “Looks like all flights to Silverpine are fully booked until morning. There’s

one at 7 a.m. I can get you on that.”

It was already past midnight. Going back out would be a hassle.

So I asked about overnight accommodations.

They arranged a private VIP lounge suite for me.

Everything was… unusually smooth. Too smooth.

The lounge was pristine. Comfortable. Complimentary drinks on ice.

The staff practically bent over backwards to make me comfortable.

And that’s when I felt it.

That subtle shift in the air.

Something wasn’t right.

When I asked about it, they offered the usual rehearsed answer.

“It’s just a gesture, ma’am. A small apology for the inconvenience.”

I paused. Something about it felt… off.

But what could I do? I smiled, nodded, and let it go.

It wasn’t until much later–when Ethan appeared at the lounge door, breathless, still damp from the rain,

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like he’d run straight off the highway–that it all clicked.

The canceled flight. The full bookings. The VIP suite.

None of it had been random. It was all Ethan.

Chapter 5