Pasten Your Seatbelts
Fasten Your Seatbelts
Alice gestured toward the reinforced crates.
“For the time being, you’ll remain inside the modified container. Customs officers are required to inspect all outbound cargo before departure, but this container has already been prepared for that process. It’ll pass through the scanners like any other shipment.”
She smiled reassuringly.
“Once we’ve completed the departure procedures, you’ll be able to come out and make yourselves comfortable in the cabin.”
The youngest member of the medical team, Nurse Daniel Park, hesitated for a moment before cautiously raising his hand halfway.
He cleared his throat.
“Um… excuse me, Madam,” he said politely. “If you don’t mind me asking… our names won’t appear on any passenger manifest?”
“They won’t,” Alice replied with a reassuring smile. “Officially, none of you ever left the country.”
Everyone exchanged understanding glances before making their way toward the waiting container.
One by one, they climbed inside the modified crate. Near the entrance sat a large wooden shipping crate secured to a reinforced pallet, making the
another carefully packed antique.
terior appear as though it was carrying nothing more than
Beyond the concealed section, however, the space opened into a surprisingly comfortable compartment. Fold–down seats had been neatly arranged along the sides, with enough room for everyone to sit comfortably during the short wait. The temperature inside was pleasantly cool, and the soft overhead lighting gave the enclosed space a far less cramped feeling than Maya had expected.
Once everyone was settled, the concealed entrance was secured behind them, leaving them to wait quietly for the crate to be cleared and loaded onto the aircraft.
Once everything was in place, Alice turned to Hana.
“Go ahead and let Customs know we’re ready for inspection.”
“Kashikomarimashita, Madam.” (Certainly, Madam.)
With a respectful bow, Hana turned and walked toward the operations center to notify the Customs Department that the cargo was ready for routine outbound inspection.
The compartment soon fell quiet.
Unlike Maya, however, the others appeared remarkably at ease.
The medical team sat calmly in their seats, their expressions composed as though this were nothing more
Chapter 272–Fasten Your Seatbelts.
25 Points)
than another assignment. Prior to departure, they had already been thoroughly briefed on every step of the operation–what to expect and exactly how to respond if anything unexpected happened.
For senior staff at Ashcraft Medical Pavilion, unusual situations were nothing new. They regularly cared for heads of state, royalty, and influential figures whose identities demanded absolute discretion. They had long since learned when professionalism meant asking no questions.
Dahlia appeared just as relaxed, quietly typing away on her phone. Lee and Kim sat opposite them with their usual calm vigilance, while Jaime looked more fascinated than nervous, his curiosity clearly outweighing any anxiety he might have felt.
Only Maya found herself unable to relax.
It wasn’t that she doubted Harper’s plan–she trusted Harper completely. It was the strange reality of hiding inside a cargo container while waiting to be “smuggled” onfo an aircraft that made her heartbeat a little faster.
As if sensing the growing silence, Jaime spoke up.
“Aunt Dahlia… does your family have a hangar like this too?”
A small smile tugged at Dahlia’s lips.
“We do have several private aviation facilities,” she replied. “But I’d say they’re not quite as advanced as
this one.”
Her gaze swept briefly across the concealed compartment around them.
“The Takahashi Family has always been decades ahead when it comes to technology. If something like
this doesn’t exist on the market, chances are they’ll simply design and build it themselves.”
She paused before looking back at Jaime, the corners of her lips lifting ever so slightly.
“And Jaime…”
He looked at her.
“Yes?”
Dahlia’s expression softened.
“It’s our family now, remember?”
Jaime blinked.
For a brief moment, he didn’t know what to say.
A quiet warmth spread through his chest, and he quickly lowered his head, embarrassed by the sudden sting behind his eyes.
”
“…Right,” he murmured with a shy smile. “Our family.”
Maya smiled gently. After everything they had lost, seeing Jaime finally find a place where he felt he
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Chapter 222–Fasten Your Seatbelts.
belonged warmed her heart.
+25 Point
Dahlia simply smiled to herself before returning her attention to the phone in her hands, as though what she had said was the most natural thing in the world.
Across from them, Lee and Kim exchanged a faint, knowing glance before the corners of their mouths lifted almost imperceptibly. Even the medical team couldn’t help but smile softly at the quiet family moment unfolding before them.
A comfortable silence settled over the compartment until muffled voices and the occasional electronic beep drifted through the reinforced walls as the cargo underwent its routine customs inspection.
After a brief silence, the entire container shuddered beneath them before slowly lifting off the ground. Maya instinctively gripped the edge of her seat as the floor beneath them slowly rose.
“They’re moving us,” Jaime whispered excitedly, unable to hide the grin spreading across his face.
The movement lasted only a minute or two before another soft jolt rippled beneath their feet as the container was lowered into the aircraft’s cargo hold. A series of metallic clunks echoed through the compartment as the locking mechanisms engaged one after another, firmly securing the crate in place.
Everything fell still for a moment before another series of metallic clicks broke the silence as the locking
mechanism disengaged.
With a soft hiss, the door slowly swung open, revealing Hana waiting outside with her usual calm, professional smile.
“Everything went smoothly,” she said with a respectful bow. “You’re welcome to move into the cabin now.” One by one, everyone stepped out of the concealed compartment, and Maya immediately found herself looking around in quiet amazement.
The cabin felt more like a private luxury residence than an aircraft. Rich walnut paneling, cream leather furnishings, and warm ambient lighting complemented wide reclining seats, handcrafted tables, an
Γ elegant lounge, and a refreshment bar, while panoramic windows filled the cabin with the warm glow of
the sunrise.
It felt less like boarding a plane and more like stepping into the living room of an exclusive penthouse.
She settled into an aisle seat while Jaime eagerly claimed the window beside her, his excitement impossible to hide.
Once everyone had taken their seats, the cockpit door opened and the captain stepped into the cabin with a welcoming smile.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Captain Takeda. On behalf of my crew, I’d like to welcome you aboard.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
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Chapter 272–Festen Your Seatbelts
+25 Points
“We’ll be departing shortly. Our flight to Tokyo will take approximately fourteen hours, and we’re expecting favorable weather throughout the journey.”
His smile remained calm and reassuring.
“Please settle into your seats and fasten your seatbelts. Once we’ve reached cruising altitude, you’re welcome to move about the cabin. If you need anything at all during the flight, our cabin crew will be happy to assist you.”
With another polite nod, the captain returned to the cockpit as the cabin door closed behind him.
A few moments later, the aircraft began to move.
The aircraft taxied toward the runway before the engines roared to life, and the jet surged forward, lifting smoothly into the sky.
Jaime remained glued to the window as the ground fell away beneath them. Before long, the world below disappeared beneath a blanket of brilliant white clouds, leaving, nothing outside but endless blue skies above and a sea of clouds below.
The first stage of Harper’s plan had gone exactly as intended.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.