1990, at the selection site for test pilots in an aviation academy.

"Astrella Brooks?"

"Present!"

"Are you willing to voluntarily participate in the supersonic test flight mission? The mission duration is indefinite, the location classified and once you commit, contact with the outside world will be prohibited except under special circumstances. Please confirm!"

"I confirm!" Astrella declared, her voice unwavering. "I am willing to join the test flight mission to protect the skies of our motherland!"

"Test flight missions are inherently perilous. Are you prepared to sacrifice your life if the mission demands it?"

Astrella’s faint smile carried quiet determination. "I’ve long since accepted the risks of life and death. Without the sacrifices of test pilots, the advancement of aviation would never take flight."

Test pilots were known as "the profession closest to death in peacetime."

One tiny misstep could mean a fatal end.

Hearing her response, the chief examiner gave a curt nod, handing her a sealed document. "Open this only after you return home," he instructed. "If, after reading the contents, your resolve remains steadfast, call the number inside. Our team will arrange to pick you up at the designated time and place."

He hesitated before adding, "According to our records, Comrade Brooks, you have a young son and—"

Before he could finish, Astrella cut him off with unwavering resolve. "I won’t hesitate! Yes, I have a child, but I am not officially married to his father. We’ve been separated for some time now. My family situation will not interfere with my decision."

After speaking, she gave a deep, respectful bow. Straightening her back, she strode out of the interview room with a resolve that left no room for doubt.

Her marriage had long turned into a stagnant pool, a lifeless bond without a solidifying certificate. They had been living apart for years and yet, at just twenty-six, in the prime of her youth, no one truly understood her.

When their marriage was supposed to be formalized, she had dutifully reported the paperwork to her unit. But Raiden received a phone call and, without a word, left in a hurry.

She waited in vain, lingering at the entrance of the civil affairs bureau from dawn until dusk. Even when the doors closed, Raiden never appeared.

When she returned home, she was startled to find relatives and friends gathered to celebrate their supposed "wedding."

Raiden Lancaster, however, remained silent, offering no explanation.

Astrella hadn’t cared much at the time. Her decision to marry him hadn’t been born out of love but out of a sense of duty to care for the only son of her late mentor.

She had been so young back then, sharing a turbulent wind tunnel experiment with her mentor aboard the same plane.

At that time, they braved relentless aftershocks, pushing through countless obstacles to complete the mission.

There were moments when Astrella felt death’s icy grip brushing against her. Still, her mentor’s unmatched experience and calm wisdom always pulled them back from the abyss.

When the plane finally landed, she erupted in jubilant cheers. But as she turned to share the moment with him, she froze. Her mentor had stopped breathing.

His eyes remained locked on the horizon, refusing to close as though he were still chasing the dream that carried them both.

Fighting back her grief, Astrella discovered a will clutched in his arms.

It was short, just a few lines, but every word was steeped in the aching sorrow of a father’s love.

“After more than twenty years as a test pilot, I’ve flown missions when my wife passed away and missions when my child graduated. I’ve fulfilled my duty to the skies and the land but failed the ones I hold dear.”

“If I may, I ask the organization to help cover my son’s tuition for the next semester. His name is Raiden and he is a PhD candidate in finance at Arindale University.”

Her thoughts wandered to Raiden.

Back then, she had been captivated by how melodic his name sounded.

The first time she laid eyes on him, Raiden stood at the lecture podium. A vibrant young professor radiating confidence and charisma, his words flowed like a river, mesmerizing everyone in the room.

In that instant, she decided she would give him the family he deserved.

What followed seemed like a dream woven to perfection. They married, had a child and built a life together.

Until the sixth year of their marriage, when Norella Everest returns like a ghost from the past.

She had been Raiden’s childhood friend. Once upon a time, they had made plans to go abroad together, but fate had other intentions. When Raiden’s mother fell gravely ill, he stayed behind while Norella, with tears streaming down her face, boarded the plane alone.

Six years later, she returned to the country and moved into the house next door.

From the moment Norella came back, Raiden seemed drawn to her orbit. He applied for school projects that partnered him with her and their meetings became a frequent occurrence. Even their son, full of excitement, often dashed out to play with her.

“This is a frisbee! Aunt Norella gave it to me. It’s so much cooler than the dragonfly toy Mom gave me!”

Raiden said nothing to the child’s remark, his lips curving into a faint smile as he ruffled his son’s hair. But his gaze shifted to the table, scanning the untouched dishes and his expression hardened.

“You didn’t cook?”

On the table sat a modest spread, tomato scrambled eggs, braised ribs and crystal shrimp. She had carried them back from the school cafeteria, untouched, waiting for her family to return.

“I went out today…”

Before she could finish, Reaghan tugged at his father’s hand, throwing a meaningful glance toward the door.

Raiden picked up on the cue effortlessly. “Reaghan doesn’t like these dishes,” he remarked, his tone casual.

“Exactly! Dad knows me best! Let’s go grab KFC!”

Watching the effortless coordination between father and son, Astrella chose not to expose them. Her sharp gaze had already caught the faint silhouette of Norella lingering just outside the door. Lowering her eyes, she let a bitter smile tug at her lips.

Their hearts had drifted far from home.

As she stood there, the sound of their laughter echoed in the hallway as the three walked away together. She turned to face the table brimming with untouched food, her chest heavy with a quiet sigh.

This was meant to be a family reunion dinner.

But life rarely unfolds as one hopes. Perhaps their fragile ties as a family had finally unraveled.

After finishing her meal in silence, she pulled out the envelope.

The envelope was sealed with a wax stamp, a symbol of finality. Inside, there were a few papers: a will, a life-and-death agreement and a titanium tag etched with a string of numbers.

With steady hands, she signed her name before dialing the number scrawled on the paper.

After hanging up, she took a slow, deliberate look around the house. A pang of reluctance gripped her chest.

This house had been her home for six years.

What had begun as a marriage of gratitude had, over time, blossomed into something deeper, something real. The bond she had built here made the thought of leaving sting more than she had ever anticipated.

But she pushed the feeling aside. It was best to part on good terms, especially now that her decision was made.

In the stillness of the night, she awoke parched and went to pour a glass of water. As she passed the living room, she noticed the bathroom light was still on and instinctively turned it off.

The sudden, sharp scream of a woman shattered the silence, leaving her frozen in place.

Moments later, the sharp click of the living room light echoed through the silence. Raiden stepped in, his eyes narrowing as they landed on her.

“What are you doing out here?”

Perhaps realizing the harshness of his tone, he softened it, though not by much. “The child is already asleep. What if you woke him?”

Before she could respond, the bathroom door creaked open.

Out stepped Norella, clad in a white bathrobe, her hair still damp, her face flushed from the warmth of the shower.

Without a second thought, Raiden grabbed a coat from the sofa and draped it over her shoulders.

“Norella’s power went out. I brought her over. You don’t mind, do you?”

Astrella felt the weight of his words, cold and dismissive. He wasn’t asking for permission; he was claiming his ground and asserting himself as the one in control.

He didn’t need her approval. He never had.

Their son, Reaghan, emerged from his room and the Ultraman toy was clutched tightly in his chubby fingers. His small hands rubbed at his eyes with an air of impatience.

“Dad, Aunt Norella, what are you doing here? I’m still waiting for you to tell me a story.”

Without even sparing a glance at Astrella, he turned and shuffled back toward his room.

Through the narrow crack in the door, his voice floated back, whiny and demanding. “Hurry up!”

“Aunt Norella, hurry up! I’m waiting for you!” Reaghan called eagerly, his voice filled with impatience.

Raiden cleared his throat, his voice cracking slightly, a flicker of panic flashing across his eyes.

“Norella’s just telling a story to the child, so…”

He trailed off as though scrambling for the right words.

Astrella remained composed, lifting her glass of water with a calm grace. “Alright, you all go ahead. Don’t keep the child waiting.” She turned and walked to her room, her steps steady, as if none of it truly affected her.

As she pushed the door, she realized it wouldn’t budge. Glancing down, her gaze met the firm grip of a large hand holding the handle.

Caught off guard, she found herself locked in a stare with Raiden’s deep brown eyes. There was a fleeting flash of surprise and unease there, but it quickly vanished.

“Astrella, don’t misunderstand,” he said quietly, his voice low.

Taking a deliberate step back, Astrella shook her head with calm detachment.

“Misunderstand what?”

The question made Raiden’s lips twitch, a visible struggle passing over his face. He remained silent, unable to offer a reply.

Beside them, Norella looked uncomfortable, shifting on her feet. “I’m sorry for disturbing you both. I’ll leave now.”

But before she could turn, both Astrella and Raiden spoke in unison, “You can’t leave!”

Raiden seemed even more surprised as he studied Astrella, his gaze probing and skeptical.

“You don’t have power at home. I can’t feel at ease,” he said, stepping past Astrella and taking Norella’s hand in his.

“Go keep the child company. I’ll sleep on the couch,” he added gently, his tone warm.

The ease between them was undeniable, striking in its familiarity.

Norella glanced up at Raiden, her fingers fiddling with the jacket draped over her shoulders. She pulled it slightly aside to reveal a sliver of pale skin.

“But… I’m just an outsider. I should be the one sleeping on the couch…”

Outsider? Wearing her husband’s jacket and telling stories to their child, how could she call herself an outsider? Norella’s words were a thinly veiled attempt to provoke.

Astrella felt a sharp pang of bitterness in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside. What did it matter now? Her marriage to Raiden had always been out of gratitude and with her departure on the horizon, there was no room for such thoughts.

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she brushed past Raiden and opened the door. She stepped inside, locking it behind her.

What she didn’t know was that as the door clicked shut, Raiden’s breath quickened, his body tensing with something unspoken.

That night, sleep claimed her easily, peacefully and undisturbed.

The next morning, she awoke, pulled the earplugs from her ears and slipped into her workout clothes. She needed to keep her body in top shape if she was going to pass the test to become a pilot.

Aside from the six months she’d spent on maternity leave, she’d never let her fitness slide, often using the university track for her early morning runs.

At Arindale University, morning runs were a rite of passage for students and many of them recognized her immediately.

"Good morning, Miss Brooks!"

"Morning, Miss Brooks!"

Though she wasn’t a teacher, the students still greeted her with the same respect, mainly due to her connection with Raiden.

After covering a thousand meters, she wiped the sweat from her brow and made her way to the university cafeteria.

"Miss Brooks, grabbing breakfast for Mr. Lancaster again? The usual three?"

Raiden had a fondness for pancakes with maple syrup, while Reaghan preferred blueberry muffins and scrambled eggs. That had become their "usual three."

The tomato soup, a comforting blend of ripe tomatoes, fresh basil and a touch of cream, was simmered to perfection and served with a side of crusty bread.

On a winter morning, a steaming bowl of it was both soothing and filling.

Once she finished her breakfast, she glanced at the clock. It wasn’t even 8 a.m. yet. She decided to change and head to the library.

Living on campus made everything easier—reading, eating and everything in between. She appreciated the convenience Raiden’s arrangements had brought her.

But when she returned home, she found Raiden and Reaghan, one tall and one small, blocking the doorway.

From behind, she heard Raiden’s cold voice.

"Where did you go?"

"The cafeteria," Astrella replied with calm composure. She slipped off her shoes and coat, still feeling the chill from the outside air.