Falling at 30,000 feets

The walk to Jane's family house was quieter than usual. The autumn air carried the scent of wood smoke and fallen leaves, and golden sunlight filtered through the trees lining the quiet suburban street. Jayden's steps, normally steady and confident, dragged slightly against the pavement-each footfall heavier than the last. His hands-usually composed, folded neatly at his sides-were clenched into tight fists, faint tremors running through his fingers as he tried to keep his nerves in check.

Jane noticed immediately. She'd been watching him out of the corner of her eye, her own mind racing with memories of family gatherings past-always tense, always full of judgment. She slowed her pace, turning to look at him with a soft, reassuring smile.

"Hey," she said gently, reaching for his arm and giving it a light squeeze. "Don't be nervous, okay? My family already knows we're married-They just want to meet you."

Jayden forced a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. The corners of his mouth lifted just enough to be polite, but the rest of his face remained tight with tension.

"I am perfectly calm," he said, his voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He'd faced severe turbulence, mechanical failures, even emergency landings-but the thought of meeting Jane's family made his hands shake.

But his gaze dropped to the ground immediately after, his eyes fixed on a crack in the sidewalk as if it held the secrets to surviving what was to come.

Jane raised a brow, seeing right through his facade... then laughed lightly, looping her arm through his and linking their elbows together.

"Sure you are," she teased, giving him a gentle tug forward. "Come on. It'll be fine. My mom's making her famous chicken curry-you'll win them over with one bite."

When they arrived, the house was already alive with voices-loud, overlapping, full of the kind of energy only family gatherings can bring. The front door stood open, inviting in the warm afternoon air, and the smell of spices, garlic, and freshly baked bread spilled out onto the porch.

The dining table was full-six relatives already seated, plates set with colorful ceramic dishes, glasses of juice and water scattered across the polished wood. Conversations flowed mid-sentence-talk of neighbors, work, upcoming weddings filling the air.

The moment Jane stepped in, a few heads turned. Her mother-Maria, with dark hair streaked with gray pulled back in a bun-stood up immediately, wiping her hands on her apron as she rushed forward to embrace her daughter.

"Mija," she said, pressing a kiss to Jane's forehead. "You're late. We were just about to start."

"Mom," Jane greeted, returning the hug before giving a small nod to the rest of the table as she took her seat at the far end. "Everyone, this is Jayden."

Jayden sat beside her, posture straight as a plumb line, his back not touching the chair as he sat at attention. His eyes scanned the room carefully-taking in each face, each expression, filing away details like a pilot mapping out a flight plan.

Then-

"Jane."

Her aunt's voice cut through the room like a knife. Rosa-Jane's mother's older sister-leaned forward slightly, her painted nails tapping against her plate as her eyes fixed on Jayden like she was evaluating merchandise. She wore a bright purple dress that clashed with the warm tones of the room, and her jewelry jangled as she moved.

"So this is your new... boyfriend?"

A pause. The question hung in the air, loaded with implication. Everyone at the table knew Jane had married-but Rosa had always been the kind of woman who chose what she wanted to believe.

Jane didn't hesitate. She picked up her fork, setting it down carefully beside her plate before meeting her aunt's gaze directly.

"He's my husband," she said calmly, her voice clear and steady. "We're married."

Silence fell like a dropped glass. Forks paused mid-air, conversations died, and all eyes turned to Jayden-some curious, some judgmental, some outright hostile.

"Married?!" her aunt exclaimed, her voice rising an octave as she sat back in her chair. She turned sharply to Jane's mother, her eyes wide with what looked like genuine shock. "Did you get the bride price? The traditional gifts? Did he ask for your blessing properly?"

Jane's mother avoided her gaze, her fingers tightening slightly around her spoon as she stirred her curry without really moving it. "We talked about it," she said quietly.

"Did he buy a house? A car?" the aunt pressed on, her tone sharp and probing as she leaned forward again, her eyes never leaving Jayden. "What does he do for a living? How will he provide for my niece?"

No answer. Jane's mother just shook her head slightly,clearly uncomfortable.

The aunt clicked her tongue, a sharp, disapproving sound that made Jane's jaw tighten.

"Oh, sis," she said, shaking her head in mock pity as she reached across the table to pat her sister's hand. "Your daughter marrying like this... so reckless. No ceremony, no proper arrangements-what will people say?"

"As long as he treats her right," Jane's mother replied firmly, finally lifting her chin and meeting her sister's eyes with a strength that surprised everyone at the table. "That's all that matters."

Jane's jaw tightened further. She said nothing-but her silence was strained, her hands clenched in her lap as she fought the urge to defend herself and Jayden.

Then-

A soft laugh cut through the tension. Jenny Burrows -Rosa's daughter, leaned closer to Jane's mother, her voice low but loud enough to carry across the table. She wore a tight red dress and too much makeup, her smile sweet but her eyes cold.

"Aunt... didn't you know?" she said, smiling widely as she looked around the table to make sure everyone was listening. "He loiters around our airport every day. Unemployed. He's basically living off Jane-using her money to pay for food and rent."

She leaned back in her chair, amused by the gasps that rippled through the table.

Jane's mother shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her face flushing with embarrassment as she glanced at Jayden-who remained perfectly still, his expression unchanged.

The aunt seized the moment, sitting up straight as she turned her full attention to Jane's mother.

"Honestly, sis," she continued, her tone turning cruel as she shook her head slowly. "You got pregnant out of wedlock. The father? Unknown. And now this-your daughter's marriage to a man with no job, no prospects..."

She shook her head in mock pity.

"You are too careless. Aren't you afraid she'll end up exploited and abandoned... just like you?"

The room went still. The only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall and the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Something in Jane snapped-her calm facade cracking as anger flared in her eyes.

"My affairs are none of your concern," she said, her voice cold and sharp as she stood up from her chair. "Worry about your own daughter and leave my life-and my husband-out of it."

Her aunt turned instantly, her face hardening with anger.

"Oh, please," she scoffed, patting Jenny proudly on the shoulder. "Jenny is nothing like you. She has her head on straight."

Jenny smiled sweetly, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she looked at Jane with barely concealed disdain.

"She has a successful career... and an outstanding boyfriend," her aunt continued, her voice swelling with pride as she looked around the table for approval. "Not only is he a captain-he's also an airline stakeholder. Owns shares in Aurelia itself."

She leaned back in her chair, satisfied with the impressed murmurs that ran through the table.

"I'll just sit and enjoy my retirement knowing my daughter is taken care of."

Jane let out a small, amused breath, sitting back down as a knowing smile played on her lips.

"Oh really?" she said, her voice casual as she picked up her glass of water and took a slow sip. "That's interesting."

The aunt frowned slightly, sensing a trap but not knowing where it was set.

"Because I heard," Jane continued casually, setting her glass down with a soft clink, "that she and her boyfriend were grounded for misconduct."

Jenny's smile faltered. Her face flushed bright red, and she reached for her glass of wine with a trembling hand.

Her aunt stiffened, eyes snapping toward her daughter. "Jenny?"

Jenny recovered quickly, forcing a laugh as she waved her hand dismissively. "Mom, don't listen to her," she said, her voice tight with anger. "She's just jealous I found someone better than her unemployed husband."

Then she looked at Jane, smirking as she leaned forward slightly.

"Bitter, aren't you?"

Jane didn't react. She just picked up her fork and started eating her curry, her expression calm and unreadable.

But her aunt wasn't done. She turned back to Jane's mother, her voice full of false concern.

"Honestly," she continued, shaking her head sadly, "she should've asked Jenny's boyfriend to introduce her to someone decent instead of grabbing some random man off the street. Someone with money, with connections-someone who can actually take care of her."

Her gaze slid to Jayden, her eyes cold with judgment.

"She should just get divorced now. Before she ends up with nothing."

"What?!" Jane's mother exclaimed, stunned as she looked from her sister to her daughter. "Rosa, that's enough-"

"Did you even sign a prenup?" the aunt added, now addressing Jane directly as she ignored her sister's protest. "If he's using your money now, what's going to stop him from taking everything if you split up?"

"That's right," the grandmother chimed in, finally speaking up from her seat at the head of the table. She was small and frail, but her voice carried weight in the room. "Girls shouldn't marry just for looks. If he has no money and needs to eat off you, why marry him? It's not practical."

The words hung heavy in the air-cruel, judgmental, and impossible to ignore. For a moment-

Jayden stayed still. He sat perfectly straight, his hands resting on the table as he stared at his untouched plate of food. The polite, quiet man from earlier was gone-vanished under the weight of their words.

Then slowly...

He picked up his glass of water. His movements were deliberate, measured, each motion perfectly controlled. He took a slow sip, holding the cool liquid in his mouth for a moment before swallowing.

Set it down.

Hard.

The sound echoed across the table like a gunshot, making several people jump.

All eyes turned to him.

His expression had changed. His jaw was set, his shoulders squared, and his eyes-usually calm and gentle-now burned with restrained fury. The air around him seemed to shift, the warmth of the room suddenly feeling cold and sharp.

And when he finally spoke-

His voice was low.

Controlled.

But carried a weight that silenced the entire room.