The car slowed.
Then turned.
And the world changed.
The quiet city roads gave way to something more controlled. More empty. Wide stretches of pavement, guarded gates, and distant structures that stood untouched by the public.
Leah lifted her head slightly from Izana's lap.
"…We're here?"
Izana's hand stilled briefly in her hair.
"Yes."
She blinked, adjusting as the car came to a smooth stop.
Outside—
The private airstrip stretched out in front of them.
No crowds.
No noise.
Just a sleek jet waiting in the distance, its surface catching the morning light.
Clean.
Sharp.
Untouchable.
Leah pushed herself up slowly—
Then paused.
A small wince.
Subtle.
But there.
Izana noticed instantly.
His hand moved to steady her before she even finished sitting upright.
"Careful."
"I am being careful," she muttered, though her tone was softer than before.
Dante stepped out of the driver's seat.
The door opened.
Cool air slipped inside.
"We're here," he said casually. "Try not to miss your own honeymoon."
Leah shot him a look.
"We weren't going to miss it."
Dante smirked slightly.
"Just making sure."
Izana didn't respond.
He stepped out first.
Then turned.
Offered his hand.
Leah took it.
Carefully stepping out—
And the moment her feet hit the ground—
A slight shift.
A flicker of discomfort.
Izana's eyes narrowed slightly.
He didn't say anything.
He just—
Moved.
Before Leah could react—
One arm slipped behind her back.
The other beneath her knees.
And suddenly—
She was off the ground.
Leah froze.
"…Izana."
His grip was steady.
Unmoving.
Secure.
"You're in pain."
Her face flushed instantly.
"We are outside."
"Yes."
"…People are looking."
"That doesn't concern me."
Leah glanced around.
A few staff members stood at a distance.
Still.
Professional.
But definitely watching.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"You could have just let me walk."
"You weren't walking comfortably."
"That's not the point."
Izana didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
"Then explain the point."
Leah opened her mouth—
Then closed it.
"…You're impossible."
"Yes."
But his hold on her didn't change.
If anything—
It adjusted slightly.
More secure.
More careful.
Leah exhaled quietly.
Then—
Her arms lifted.
Wrapping loosely around his neck.
"…You're not putting me down, are you?"
"No."
"…Of course you're not."
Dante watched them pass.
His expression unreadable for a second.
Then—
A quiet huff of amusement.
"Enjoy your trip," he called after them.
Izana didn't look back.
"Drive carefully."
Dante smirked.
"Always do."
Leah glanced over Izana's shoulder.
"…He's definitely going to say something later."
"Yes."
"You don't care?"
"No."
She smiled faintly.
"…I figured."
The closer they got to the jet—
The quieter it felt.
Not empty.
Just controlled.
Every movement deliberate.
Every person aware.
A man stepped forward as they approached.
Dressed sharply.
Professional.
"Mr. Grimshaw."
Izana didn't stop walking.
But he acknowledged him with a slight nod.
"Everything is prepared?"
"Yes, sir. The jet is ready for departure at your command."
Leah watched the exchange quietly.
The tone.
The respect.
The distance.
It was different.
This was his world.
Cold.
Structured.
Untouchable.
She glanced up at him.
"…You sound different here."
Izana's gaze flicked down to her.
"How?"
"More… official."
A pause.
Then—
"That's because this isn't private."
Leah tilted her head slightly.
"…And with me?"
Izana didn't hesitate.
"It's always private."
Something in her chest softened.
Warm.
Quiet.
"…Good," she murmured.
Inside the jet—
Leah blinked.
"…Oh."
The interior was larger than she expected.
Not overwhelming.
But refined.
Soft seating.
Muted colors.
Everything perfectly arranged.
Comfort without excess.
She looked around slowly.
"…You didn't tell me it looked like this."
Izana stepped in behind her.
"It's functional."
Leah turned to him.
"This is not 'functional.'"
A pause.
"This is ridiculous."
Izana removed his jacket calmly.
Placing it aside.
"It's sufficient."
Leah laughed softly.
"You're impossible."
"Yes."
He set her down carefully.
Slowly.
Making sure her feet were steady before letting go.
His hand lingered just slightly—
Ensuring she was balanced.
Leah noticed.
Of course she did.
"You're still being careful."
"Yes."
"You're not going to stop, are you?"
"No."
She smiled.
"…Okay."
They sat.
The space quiet again.
But this time—
It wasn't empty.
It was theirs.
Leah leaned back slightly.
Her fingers resting loosely in her lap.
"…It still feels strange."
Izana turned his head toward her.
"What does?"
She hesitated.
Then—
"All of this."
A small gesture around them.
"The wedding. Leaving. Us just… going somewhere."
A pause.
"Without anything waiting."
Izana watched her.
Carefully.
Then said,
"That's the purpose."
Leah looked at him.
"…You really planned all of this."
"Yes."
"For me?"
"For us."
That made her smile.
Soft.
Genuine.
The jet began to move.
A low hum filling the space.
Leah's fingers tightened slightly.
Just instinct.
Just reaction.
Izana noticed.
Without a word—
His hand covered hers.
Warm.
Steady.
Leah glanced at him.
"I'm not nervous."
"I know."
A pause.
"Then why—. "
"I won't let go."
Her expression softened.
"…Okay."
She didn't move her hand.
Didn't pull away.
The ground shifted.
Then—
Fell away.
Leah turned toward the window.
Watching as everything below became smaller.
Distant.
Unreachable.
"…We're really leaving," she whispered.
Izana's gaze stayed on her.
"Yes."
She leaned back slowly.
Her shoulder brushing against him.
Then resting there.
Natural.
Easy.
"…It feels like everything before this was… something else."
A pause.
Then—
"It was."
Leah glanced at him.
"And now?"
Izana's hand remained over hers.
Steady.
Certain.
"…Now it's ours."
She smiled.
Then closed her eyes briefly.
Letting herself relax.
Completely.
A few minutes passed.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
Leah shifted slightly—
Then leaned further into him.
Resting more comfortably this time.
Carefully.
Izana adjusted instantly.
One arm moving behind her.
Supporting.
Not pulling.
Just there.
"You're adjusting again," she murmured softly.
"Yes."
"You don't have to."
"I do."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…Okay."
The hum of the jet softened into the background.
The world outside distant.
Unreachable.
Leah's breathing slowed.
Evened out.
Her body relaxing more with each passing second.
"Izana…"
"Yes."
"…Wake me when we get there."
A pause.
Then—
"No."
Leah smiled slightly.
Eyes still closed.
"…Why not?"
"Because you need rest."
She exhaled softly.
"…Bossy."
"Always."
Her grip on his hand loosened.
Not letting go.
Just easing.
Drifting.
And eventually—
She fell asleep.
Right there.
Against him.
Izana didn't move.
Didn't shift.
His hand remained exactly where it was.
His arm steady behind her.
His gaze calm.
Watching.
Quiet.
For once—
There were no interruptions.
No calls.
No demands.
No expectations.
Just silence.
Just distance.
Just time.
And somewhere above the clouds—
For the first time in a long while—
There was nothing waiting for them when they landed.
Only what came next.
Together.