Chapter18
As soon as Eveline stepped off the plane, she spotted two familiar figures waiting at the exit.
She was slightly surprised, but before she could react, Martin had already rushed forward and pulled her
into a tight embrace.
“Eveline.”
It seemed like he had a lot to say. But after a long pause, all she heard was a trembling whisper:
“I’m sorry. I’m just… so glad you’re safe.”
The words were disjointed, out of place. Eveline was just about to ask what was going on when she felt a dampness on her neck.
Was Martin… crying?
She finally began to guess why he had come, and a mix of helplessness and amusement filled her heart.
Mimicking his movements, she wrapped her arms gently around his waist.
Martin froze, his entire body stiff. He clearly hadn’t expected the gesture. For a moment, he didn’t even
dare to breathe.
Eveline couldn’t help but smile. She was just about to explain herself when Martin was suddenly yanked
away–by Adrian, who had just come rushing over.
Looking at the tension between the two men, Eveline silently shut her mouth and led them both outside to
where an off–road vehicle was waiting.
Originally, she had come to clear her head and reconsider her relationship with Martin. But even before she had bought her ticket, she had already come to a conclusion.
Adrian’s decision to fake his death and flee the wedding was his alone. Martin’s involvement didn’t really
change the outcome.
But without Martin…
That wedding day would have been a total disaster.
So, she had no reason to resent him.
Besides, she had been self–reliant for so long. Maybe, just maybe, she needed someone she could lean on.
And Martin… happened to be exactly that person.
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With him by her side, even her deepest fears–like returning to the desert–suddenly didn’t seem so
unbearable.
So when she heard that pieces of the crashed plane had finally been recovered and audio data might be
restored, she bought her ticket and gave Martin a heads–up, just to keep him from worrying.
She hadn’t expected him to arrive even earlier than she did.
And clearly… with the wrong idea.
Sitting in the front passenger seat of the off–road vehicle, Eveline studied Martin in the rearview mirror.
He had none of his usual calm composure. His head was lowered the entire ride, lost in thought.
Silly man.
Eveline smiled to herself. Her heart felt warm and sore at the same time.
The car stopped at a small town near the desert.
Once Adrian had been politely dismissed, Eveline found Martin sitting alone by a fire pit.
She walked over, and he looked up, his lips pressed into a tight line–ready to accept whatever decision
she had made.
But she just sat beside him. After a long silence, she reached out and placed her hand over his.
“Martin… thank you,” she said softly.
“Is that all it is?”
The words slipped out before Martin could stop them. He froze for a second, then shook his head and
muttered,
“Sorry. That was out of line…”
“Not just thank you,” Eveline interrupted, leaning closer. She brushed her ring finger–the one still wearing a wedding band–against his palm, sending sparks straight through him.
What… what did she mean by that?
Martin’s mind went blank. But before he could process it, she pressed a feather–light kiss to his cheek.
In the next moment, he could no longer hold back. He turned and kissed her lips.
She flinched slightly, but didn’t pull away. She let him hold her, let him kiss her.
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Eventually, he released her.
She didn’t speak. Just buried her face in his shoulder and refused to lift her head.
After a while, he finally heard her voice–soft, almost like she was talking to herself.
“Martin… when did you start preparing for all of this?”
Martin hesitated. After a long pause, he finally answered.
“…When you turned eighteen.”
He had questioned himself countless times. Wondered why he had fallen for a girl he’d watched grow up
He feared his love was like a seed buried in concrete–waiting years to sprout, only to wither in the first
drought.
So, he chose to hide those feelings. He chose to respect her freedom.
Even if that meant staying by her side forever… as nothing more than “Uncle.”
Until Adrian let her go–only then did he dare to reach out and hold her.
Eveline froze. She hadn’t expected an answer like that.
She didn’t say anything more. Just hugged him tighter.
They stayed like that… until the moon dipped behind the clouds.
As if the night would last forever.
The next day.
Eveline was preparing to head deeper into the desert. She had arranged for a local guide to take her to a
nearby village, where they’d launch a search mission that night.
Adrian, meanwhile, showed no signs of leaving.
After some hesitation, Eveline finally turned to him.
But before she could speak, Adrian shook his head, his tone firm and resolute.
“I’m not going.”
Chapter18
