Chapter 1 - The Flight They Never Took
Julian carried Elena across the airport tarmac as if nothing in the world could make him stop.
Her bruised shoulders were hidden beneath the thin white lace cover-up. Her blonde hair was tangled against his blue shirt. One hand rested weakly against his chest while the other trembled around the fabric.
Behind them, the airport erupted into chaos.
Arthur was shouting.
Beatrice was pointing.
Chloe was fighting against two airport police officers while security personnel pushed the family away from the aircraft stairs.
Julian never looked back.
“We’re leaving.”
Elena opened her eyes.
They were pale and exhausted.
“Julian… what about your family?”
His arms tightened around her.
“My family made their choice.”
Arthur's voice cut across the tarmac.
“Julian! You can’t do this to us!”
Julian stopped for half a second.
His jaw tightened.
Then he looked forward again.
“It’s already done.”
Chloe screamed his name as police dragged her backward.
“Julian, wait!”
He kept walking.
Then his phone vibrated.
Once.
Twice.
Julian glanced down.
A notification appeared.
DNA TEST RESULT: 0% MATCH.
He stopped.
For the first time that morning, the cold expression disappeared from his face.
Elena noticed.
“What is it?”
Julian stared at the screen.
His breathing slowed.
May you like
“This was never my family…”
👉 But the message on Julian’s phone was only the first piece of evidence that something much darker had been hidden from him.
