Chapter 285 Airport Reunion
The plane touched down at Girard City International Airport, its tires gently kissing the tarmac. As the aircraft came to a halt, Athena’s heart swelled with a mixture of anticipation and warmth. She hadn’t been back in Girard City for so long, but the moment she stepped off the plane, the familiar sights and sounds wrapped themselves around her, as though time had stood still.
“Mom!” Mia’s voice cut through the bustling noise of the airport, and Athena’s eyes immediately locked onto her daughter. Mia was running toward her, her small arms outstretched. Athena smiled widely, arms open, and within seconds, Mia had thrown herself into her embrace. The instant their bodies met, the weight of the past few days apart seemed to melt away, but the emotions were still raw.
Mia clung to her mother like a monkey, her tears dampening Athena’s neck. “I missed you so much, Mom,” Mia sobbed, her voice small and vulnerable, yet so full of love.
Athena tightened her hold, her own tears threatening to spill. “Oh, my baby,” she whispered, kissing the top of Mia’s head, “I missed you too. What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“I just… I miss you, Mom,” Mia whimpered, her little hands gripping Athena tighter as if afraid she’d slip away again.
Athena’s heart broke at the sight. She hadn’t been gone long, but it felt like an eternity to Mia. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” Athena murmured softly, her lips brushing against Mia’s cheek, “Mom’s here now. I’ll always be here.”
Meanwhile, Evie, standing nearby, was holding Aiden in her arms. She pressed a kiss to his forehead and cheeks, watching the bond between mother and daughter unfold before her eyes. “Aiden, do you miss your godmother?” she asked, her tone gentle, though her eyes were filled with a tinge of sadness as she observed the warmth between Athena and Mia.
Aiden sighed dramatically but nodded, looking up at Evie. “Yeah, I miss her,” he admitted, though he was careful to mask the emotion behind his usual stoic demeanor.
Evie smiled, her heart lightened slightly by Aiden’s admission. She set him down, watching as he slowly started to push a suitcase on his own, his movements a little clumsy but determined.
“Do you think Aiden is growing up too fast?” Evie asked, her voice tinged with nostalgia. She watched Aiden as he maneuvered the suitcase, his little legs moving slowly but steadily toward the baggage claim area.
Athena, still holding Mia in her arms, looked at Aiden, her heart heavy but proud. “Is that a bad thing?” she replied, her lips curving into a soft smile as she kissed Mia’s cheek again. “Aiden’s growing up, yes, but that doesn’t mean he’s losing his childhood. It’s just… part of life.”
Mia giggled as Athena kissed her, her earlier tears now replaced with laughter. “Mom, it tickles!” Mia protested, her voice filled with joy.
“Even tickles get kisses!” Athena replied, giving her a few more playful kisses on the cheek.
The sweet moment was interrupted by a figure in the distance—Byron. He had been rushing to catch a flight, but something caught his attention as he walked through the VIP channel toward security. In the crowd ahead of him, he spotted a familiar figure holding a child in her arms.
Without thinking, Byron quickened his pace, intent on closing the distance. The child in the woman’s arms looked so familiar, but it wasn’t until he was closer that he realized it was Mia.
Before he could reach them, Freya, who had been walking beside him, stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Byron, our plane is about to leave,” she said, her voice steady but tinged with a slight note of concern.
Byron, momentarily distracted by the sight, shook off her hand and glanced in the direction where the figure had been. But the woman and child were gone, disappeared into the crowd, leaving Byron standing there with a strange, unsettled feeling.
“Byron, what did you see?” Freya asked, her voice now serious.
Byron hesitated before responding, his mind still racing. “It was nothing,” he finally said, though he couldn’t shake the image of the woman he’d briefly glimpsed—someone with short hair, a bit taller than Athena, but with a presence that seemed to haunt him.
Freya didn’t press him further. Byron was rarely shaken, but something had clearly unsettled him. She led him to the security line, but his chest still felt tight, his thoughts whirling around unanswered questions.
As the group moved through the airport, Evie spoke to Athena about the new theme park under construction nearby, its development led by Imbe Group, a company Byron’s family owned. “Imbe Group has bought nearly half of Girard City, right?” Athena asked, her voice reflective as they walked toward the exit.
Evie shrugged, smiling slightly. “Not quite, but they’ve acquired a significant portion of another country. They’re a big player now.”
“Mom, what’s Imbe Group?” Mia asked, her innocent voice cutting through the adult conversation.
Aiden, ever the matter-of-fact one, answered, “Imbe Group is a leading investment company, and the founder is Byron Crawford. He’s a business genius.”
Athena’s attention snapped to Aiden. “Aiden, who told you that?” she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
“Financial news,” Aiden replied matter-of-factly, his face neutral as ever.
Mia, however, was less impressed with Aiden’s response. “Bad brother,” she said, sticking her tongue out. “Mia’s not asking you!” she added in playful defiance.
“Okay, okay, no need to be a greedy little pig,” Aiden said, feigning indifference, though it was clear he wasn’t bothered by Mia’s scolding.
Mia puffed up her cheeks, her frustration clear. “You’re a bad brother,” she huffed, still in her mother’s arms.
Athena smiled at their banter, though her eyes seemed distant. The city outside was a stark contrast to the warmth of her daughter’s embrace. It felt as if time had passed, yet, in another sense, it was as though she had never left. The city felt familiar, but it also felt like a world she no longer fully belonged to.
As she gazed out the window, a soft sigh escaped her lips. Some things had changed—yet, some things would always remain the same.