“Fine! Call Jason Miller here right now—I want to confront him face-to-face!”

“I’m his fiancée!”

Chloe Adams immediately dialed his number and put it on speaker.

“Jason, darling, there’s some woman here trying to steal my helicopter. She’s even claiming to be your fiancée.”

Jason’s icy voice came through the phone, sharp and cruel:

“Don’t bother with her. She’s just an ugly nobody!”

“The engagement was arranged by the families—I never cared about it. I didn’t expect her to flaunt it like this.”

“My heart belongs only to you, Chloe, my love. Hurry and take the helicopter to Bermuda Island. I’ve been waiting so long I’m starving…”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly enough for everyone nearby to hear.

They all turned to me with looks of pity and scorn.

I clenched my fists silently.

Never mind that the Miller family had been the ones reaching up when our families arranged this marriage.

Right now, I was on an official rescue mission: my task was to deliver evacuation ladders to a cruise ship stranded at sea.

The storm over the Atlantic Ocean was too severe—only my piloting skills could cut through the winds and safely deploy the ladders.

And on that very ship were Jason’s own mother, Margaret Miller, and his younger sister, Lily Miller.

By blocking me from taking this helicopter, he was effectively abandoning his own family’s last chance at survival.

Lives were at stake. I couldn’t play along with their ridiculous love games.

I spoke to him with urgency:

“Jason, I’m here on orders from the U.S. National Rescue Team.”

“The cruise ship in the Atlantic is already starting to sink.”

“If I don’t get in there soon, everyone on board will perish.”

Jason gave a cold laugh.

“What, the rescue team can’t manage without you?”

“You’ve been retired for years. You’re not even officially on their roster anymore—why keep pretending you’re some kind of hero?”

“Did you ever think maybe nobody even asked for your help? That you’re just trying to make yourself the star of the show?”

His mockery cut sharp, all because he had no idea I was once an ace pilot. To him, I was just a washed-up two-year enlistee who clung to military glory.

I tried desperately to explain,

“The storm has reached Category 5 strength. Only my flight skills can handle it!”

“Jason, I’m doing this to save lives, not to oppose you!”

“If you don’t want me as your fiancée, fine—our engagement can be canceled.”

“But give me back my helicopter. Right now, I only care about rescuing people!”

Hearing how little I cared about him, Jason’s anger flared even hotter.

“Stop bluffing. The national rescue team is full of elite pilots, far better than you!”

“You’re nothing but a useless fraud—you’d only get in their way!”

“And even if our engagement ends, it’s because I rejected you. You don’t deserve me, understand?”

I was left speechless by his arrogance.

“Jason, your own family is on that ship. While they’re facing death, you still have the nerve to bicker with me?”

Jason smirked lazily.

“Even if my family is on that cruise, you’re the last person qualified to save them. And don’t try to guilt-trip me with your self-righteous nonsense.”

“There are more professional teams out there—I trust them a thousand times over.”

But the truth was, no one was more capable than me.

I was the only pilot who could pierce through that storm.

And now, I was grounded.

Every minute wasted meant more lives lost.

Including Jason’s own family.

Through clenched teeth, I told him, “Without me, they are doomed.”

Jason burst into laughter.

“Emily Carter, you’re not just delusional—you’re insane.”

Jason stopped speaking to me altogether, pouring all his attention into flirting with his childhood sweetheart.

“Chloe, don’t waste your breath on that lunatic. Hurry to the island—I’ve been waiting forever.”

Chloe Adams pouted sweetly over the phone.

“Alright, I’ll finish things here and come right over.”

“If it weren’t for this annoying woman, we’d already be splashing in the waves together.”

Once the call ended, I knew there was no way I’d be flying this helicopter today.

I turned to leave, planning to grab a cab to headquarters and use another aircraft for the mission.

But Chloe ordered her people to seize me, pinning me against the rough pavement.

Gravel tore into my face, leaving bloody scrapes.

From the helicopter steps, Chloe looked down at me with disdain.

“So, you really are Jason’s fiancée?”

“You’re not even that pretty.”

“Trying to steal my helicopter today—was it just out of jealousy over how much Jason loves me?”

“This talk about the rescue team—it’s all just a lie, isn’t it?”

Through gritted teeth, I snapped back,

“I’m not lying. This helicopter was assigned to me by the U.S. National Rescue Team. I’m an auxiliary pilot under their command.”

“And I don’t envy you. If I’d known Jason already had someone he liked, I never would have agreed to the engagement! I don’t want a man like him.”

My words spoiled Chloe’s little fantasy of “outshining the fiancée, winning the heart of the rich young master.”

Her face twisted with irritation.

She stepped down and drove the sharp heel of her stiletto into my hand.

The spike pierced through my palm, blood gushing instantly.

It felt like my hand had been nailed into the ground. I trembled and convulsed in agony.

“When I say you’re jealous, you are jealous! When I say you stole my helicopter, then you stole my helicopter!”

“Dare to argue again, and I’ll crush your other hand too!”

The pain was unbearable. And the thought of losing the ability to fly forever terrified me.

I caved, gasping,

“I won’t argue… please, get off my hand…”

Chloe pressed harder.

“And why did you steal my helicopter? Out of jealousy, wasn’t it?”

Her heel still pinned me down.

I took a deep breath and forced out the words she wanted to hear.

“Yes… I was jealous that Jason likes you. I wanted to steal your helicopter so you two couldn’t go on your date…”

The moment I said it, Chloe threw back her head in laughter, smug and cruel.

“I knew it! Jason is handsome and wealthy—of course you’re desperate to marry him.”

“But too bad for you, he’s already proposed to me. And I’m carrying his child.”

“Even if his family objects, the only woman Jason wants to marry is me.”

Grinding my teeth, I muttered, “Yes, yes… may I go now, Miss Adams?”

But she wasn’t done humiliating me.

“Tie her to the wing!” she barked.

“If you love Jason so much, then join us on our date.”

I was strapped beneath the aircraft.

To amuse herself, Chloe ordered the flight instructor to pull sharp climbs and spins midair.

My arms couldn’t withstand the strain—both shoulders dislocated.

My body slammed into the fuselage again and again, ribs fracturing, organs bruised and bleeding.

Only when the fuel was nearly gone did the helicopter finally descend roughly onto Bermuda Island.

I was hurled onto the sand, coughing up blood.

Jason stood there on the beach, smiling to welcome Chloe—completely ignoring me.

“Baby, you finally made it,” Jason called out warmly to his childhood sweetheart.

Chloe Adams threw herself into his arms. “Ugh, if it weren’t for your fiancée, my mood wouldn’t have been ruined today.”

Jason shot me a glance and sneered.

“I’ve already spoken with your family about the engagement. They know Chloe’s carrying my child and are considering canceling it.”

“Emily Carter, let me make this clear: my heart belongs only to Chloe. Even if my family disapproves, I will never marry you.”

I coughed up blood, my mind spinning.

The helicopter was out of fuel. One of my hands was already useless.

Did this mean I truly couldn’t complete the rescue mission?

Would so many innocent lives just be lost like this?

Just then, the military radio on the helicopter crackled with urgent calls:

“Calling U.S. National Rescue Team Aircraft 001—Captain Emily Carter!”

“Captain Emily Carter, do you read me?!”

“The storm over the Atlantic Ocean is too strong. Other rescue pilots can’t penetrate the storm zone. We need your assistance immediately—please respond!”

“If you’ve encountered difficulties, notify us at once. We can send another aircraft to pick you up!”

Even though the helicopter had no fuel and one of my hands was ruined, if the team sent another aircraft, with a co-pilot’s help I might still manage to fly.

If I could just get to them… there was still hope for those stranded at sea.

I staggered to my feet, struggling toward the cabin.

But Chloe snatched up her stiletto heel and smashed the communicator to pieces.

“Answer what? Done playing pretend yet?!”

Jason lit a cigarette, smirking as he piled on.

“She only served two years in the Air Force, but acts like she’s some decorated veteran.”

“She probably doesn’t even know how to fly—she was likely just ground crew, sweeping hangars.”

“She bought a private helicopter with her family’s money, then pretends she’s a national rescue ace. What a joke.”

“What rich girl would ever volunteer for such grueling work anyway?”

I watched helplessly as my one chance to save those lives was destroyed.

The strength drained from me, and I collapsed to my knees.

Chloe drove her heel into my other hand.

Blood spattered the ground.

Now both hands were useless. Even if the rescue team arrived, I could never pilot again.

This disaster at sea was destined to claim countless lives.

Three years in the National Rescue Team, and this would be my first failed mission.

I closed my eyes, letting the pain drag me into darkness.

Jason held Chloe proudly, ready to take her out for French cuisine.

Then his phone rang. It was his assistant, panic lacing his voice.

“Mr. Miller, something’s happened—the cruise ship carrying Mrs. Miller and Miss Lily has been struck by disaster!”

Jason yawned lazily.

“I already know. With so many rescue teams, this minor issue should be resolved soon.”

“I’ll be home late tonight. Have the chefs prepare a feast. My mother and sister will be shaken when they return, so tell Linda Johnson to comfort them.”

“Also, arrange for a doctor. My mother’s heart isn’t strong; she’ll need a checkup after the fright.”

The assistant nearly shouted, voice breaking with urgency.

“No, sir—you don’t understand! They haven’t been rescued yet!”

“The storm is too violent—the rescue teams can’t penetrate the zone!”

“The waves are growing higher by the minute. If this continues, in just a few moments… Mrs. Miller and Miss Lily will be…”