Chapter 394

“Sir, we’re running out of time,” the flight attendant said.

I sighed. Even private jets had rules; I couldn’t make a call without disrupting the schedule.

“Forget it,” I muttered, leaning back.

“One minute,” Jace said.

He spoke to the flight attendant, then, shockingly, handed me his phone. Wait, what? He was letting me make the call? I stared, confused. He had every reason to refuse, as my ex and…well, because he was Jace Johnston.

He offered no explanation, turning to the window, as if we weren’t in an unusual situation.

I hesitated, then handed the phone back. “Just take off.”

Jace looked surprised, as did the flight attendant. After a moment, Jace sighed, his voice cool and distant. “Take off.”

The flight attendant relayed the command. The plane began to move.

Jace’s phone rang. We both glanced at it. Hayden. He’d likely just showered, noticed I was gone, and contacted Jace.

Too late. The plane was in motion. Without thinking, I grabbed the phone, saw Hayden’s name, and ended the call. Then I switched it to airplane mode. Sorry, Hayden.

As we climbed, the flight attendant offered a blanket and drinks.

“I’m good, thanks,” I said softly.

I felt Jace’s gaze, but ignored him, staring out the window. The night was dark, vast.

We didn’t speak during the flight. I didn’t ask about Matthew’s collapse. Not yet.

Upon landing, we rushed to the hospital. Wayne and Lindey waited outside the emergency room. Lindey burst into tears upon seeing me.

Lindey was always so upbeat; her distress highlighted Matthew’s critical condition.

“Rea, if something happens to Matthew, what am I going to do?” she sobbed, clinging to me.

I understood her terror. It mirrored the fear I felt after my parents’ accident—the crushing fear of loss and the uncertainty of life without them.

“He’s going to be okay,” I whispered, trying to sound confident. “Matthew’s strong. He’ll pull through.”

But her crying continued, twisting my heart. She often joked about being tired of him, but true love runs deep. In the face of death, trivialities disappear.

I held her, while Jace and Wayne spoke quietly.

Once Lindey calmed, I asked, “What happened? Why did his condition worsen so suddenly?” His cancer was terminal, but this seemed abrupt.

Lindey shook her head, her voice shaky. “I don’t know. He was fine. Tonight, after dinner, he said his chest felt tight. I even gave him a massage, but it didn’t help. I told the driver to take him to the hospital. But Matthew said it was late, the doctors wouldn’t be there, and we could wait. Then, he started coughing up blood. I called Wayne, but before I could even reach him, it… it got worse. He kept coughing, so much blood…”

I remembered Wayne saying Matthew must avoid stress. “Did something upset him?” I asked gently.