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"You're joking, right? Planes don't just vanish!"
The assistant showed him a news article.
"Madam booked this flight. I checked airline footage—I saw her board."
"Mr. Carter, don't panic. No news is good news. Maybe it's a glitch. It could land soon."
James's hands fell, strength drained.
Tears streamed down his face as he shook his head.
"Don't comfort me. A missing plane either crashed or was hijacked. Either way, Claire's gone."
"It's my fault. If I hadn't hurt her, she wouldn't have left. I caused this..."
The assistant, confused, said,Mr. Carter, you love her. How could you hurt her?"
James stayed silent, a bitter, self - mocking smile on his lips.Only Ellen and his doctor friend knew what he'd done to me.
To outsiders, we were the perfect couple.
Memories of our happy times flooded his mind, leaving only regret.
"Keep tracking the flight. Notify me instantly with updates."
"I want her alive—or her body. There could be a miracle..."
His last words were barely a whisper, as if he didn't believe in miracles.
Worried James might harm himself, the assistant drove him back to the Carter estate.
Entering the living room, the floor was spotless, reeking of disinfectant.
Sensing something wrong, he roared at the maid.
"Where are my children?"
The maid, clueless, froze.
Ellen jogged in, hearing the noise.
"James, you're back? The maid tossed that filth in the trash. Your parents were shaken—you should talk to Claire."
"My health's weak—a scare and some medicines, I manage. But your parents are older—they can't handle this."
She coughed delicately, playing frail.
Before, James would've fussed over her.
Now, he glared, eyes red.
"Ellen, have you no conscience? Filth? Those were my children, killed for you!"
Ellen feigned hurt, but anger flashed in her eyes. Just then, his parents entered from the study.
His mother scowled.
"James, are you bullying Ellen again? Look, you've made her cry."
"Your father and I decided—since Claire filed for divorce, sign it."
"We won't stop you from being with Ellen."
"She told us this afternoon her illness is cured. She can carry on the Carter line."
"We'll announce your engagement soon."
James's face grew colder.
He stared at Ellen.
"Your illness is cured?"
"Didn't you urgently need more medicine recently?"
