His Ring,Her inheritance

Chapter one

Serah's eyelids fluttered open, the soft sound of the private jet's engines filling the silence. For a moment, the gentle movement of the plane and the dim glow of the cabin lights pulled her back toward sleep. But then, a movement caught her eye. Across the spacious leather seats, her fiancé James sat close to Eva, Her adopted sister.

A sharp pain hit her chest.

Her heart beats violently against her ribs as she forces herself to stay still, pretending to be asleep. She didn't want them to know she was awake.

James's hand brushed Eva's cheek tenderly. His eyes, which moments ago had been so warm when they looked at her, now shone with something else, something forbidden.

Eva leaned in, her lips parting slightly.

Before Serah could believe it was happening, James pressed a kiss to Eva's lips. Soft at first, then deeper.

Serah's breath caught, cold and tight in her throat.

Her mind screamed: How could they? How could James, the man she trusted more than anyone, betray her like this? And Eva,her sister, who she had loved and protected all her life?

Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them away fiercely. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her hurt.

The cabin lights dimmed further as night fully settled outside. James and Eva stayed close, whispering to each other, their voices a low murmur Serah could barely hear.

She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms.

What do I do now?

Her grandmother's will echoed in her mind,three days to marry or lose everything. If she didn't act fast, James and Eva would have everything handed to them on a silver platter.

The thought of losing her grandmother's legacy, the estate her family had worked for generations to build, made her stomach churn.

But this betrayal... this was something else.

The jet's plush interior felt colder than ever.

Serah shifted her gaze, careful not to catch James or Eva's eyes. They must never see her awake. Not yet.

"Are you sure about this?" Eva whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice shaky but determined.

James's jaw tightened. "She'll never suspect a thing. Serah's too naive, too trusting."

Naive. Trusting.

Serah's chest tightened at the words. She was neither.

She sat up slightly, adjusting her scarf, careful not to make a sound.

James stood, pulling Eva into a tight embrace. They didn't notice the flicker of movement from the woman in the seat behind them.

Serah's mind raced. If she confronted them now, it would be chaos and she had no proof besides what she'd just seen.

She needed a plan.

She had to be smarter, stronger.

Her fingers brushed the small locket her grandmother had given her, resting against her neck.

A sudden rush of resolve surged through her.

This wasn't just about the money anymore. This was about trust. About family. About survival.

James was supposed to be the man who would protect her, stand by her side.

Instead, he had stabbed her in the back.

Eva, who had once been her sister in every way but blood, had turned against her too.

The jet shakes gently as it hits turbulence. Serah closed her eyes briefly, steadying her breath.

Don't cry. Not yet.

When she opened her eyes again, James and Eva were still there, laughing softly, whispering secrets she wasn't meant to hear.

A faint sound from the cockpit door alerted them. James straightened instantly, wiping the smile from his face.

Eva smoothed her dress, casting one last glance in Serah's direction.

Serah froze.

Has she been caught?

No. Their eyes didn't meet. But the warning was there.

The moment to stay hidden was over.

She needed to move, and fast.

Her phone buzzed in her purse. A message from her lawyer: "Don't forget the deadline. Three days."

Three days. Three days to find a way out of this nightmare.

Her throat tightened with a sudden dryness.

But she was no longer the helpless girl who had believed in fairy tales.

Serah wiped her tears away, pushed back her chair, and stood.

James looked over, suspicion flashing in his eyes.

"What are you doing?" he asked sharply.

"Stretching," Serah replied coolly, voice steady.

Inside, she felt like the ground had shifted beneath her feet. But outside, she was calm, and collected.

Eva watched from across the cabin, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

Serah's heart pounded louder.

She was trapped in a game she never wanted to play.

And she had no idea how it would end.

But one thing was certain: she wasn't going down without a fight.

___

The private jet's door opened suddenly, letting in a rush of cold air. The flight attendant stepped forward with a calm, practiced voice and announced, "We'll be landing shortly. Please prepare for arrival."

Serah's heart pounded in her chest. Her fingers clenched tightly around the armrest, but she forced herself to look up. Her eyes found James's, locking with his for what felt like the last time.

There was something in his gaze, something she couldn't read. Guilt? Fear? Or was it a warning? It flickered there for a brief moment, gone before she could make sense of it. His expression remained calm, almost too calm, and that only made her more uneasy.

Her mind screamed at her to run, to get up, to turn back before it was too late. Every instinct she had was yelling that something was wrong. Danger loomed ahead, unseen but heavy in the air. Still, her body wouldn't move. It was like her limbs were made of stone.

She wanted to speak, to ask James what was really going on, but the words caught in her throat. His silence spoke louder than anything he could've said.

The soft hum of the engines filled the silence between them. The jet began its slow descent, and her ears popped from the change in pressure. Outside, clouds stretched endlessly, hiding the world she was about to step into.

Serah swallowed hard, her throat dry. She didn't know what was waiting for her on the ground-but she knew it wasn't peace.

She was stepping into a storm.

And the clock was ticking.