Ryan stood frozen in the aircraft doorway, unable to say a word.
Ashley looked back and forth between his face and mine.
“You… you know each other?” she asked with a nervous laugh.
I kept my professional smile.
“Of course. Welcome aboard, Mr. Carter. Your seat is 2A. Ma’am, you’re in 2B. I hope you both enjoy your flight to Cancun.”
Ashley frowned.
“Carter?”
Ryan swallowed hard.
“Ashley… I can explain.”
She looked at him, then back at me.
“Wait… Carter… as in you?”
I gave a small, calm nod.
“Yes. Valerie Carter. His wife. We’ve been married for nine years.”
The color drained from Ashley’s face.
“You told me your divorce was almost finalized!”
Ryan opened his mouth, but no words came out.
The passengers waiting behind them were beginning to grow impatient.
“Sir, ma’am, if you’ll please continue down the aisle, we need to finish boarding,” I said in the same calm, professional tone.
They quietly walked to their seats.
Throughout the four-hour flight, I simply did my job. I served drinks, meals, and assisted passengers as though nothing had happened.
Ashley, however, couldn’t stop questioning Ryan.
“How long have you been lying to me?”
“You’re still living with her?”
“Was there ever a divorce at all?”
Every answer Ryan gave only made things worse.
After the plane landed, Ashley removed the ring he had given her a few weeks earlier and placed it on the tray table.
“It’s over. You lied to me about everything.”
She walked off the aircraft without looking back.
Ryan tried to approach me before I began the deplaning process.
“Valerie… please…”
I looked at him for a brief moment.
“You told me you were going to Austin on business. Enjoy your time in Cancun.”
Then I turned and continued doing my job.
A few weeks later, the divorce papers were officially filed.
This time, it wasn’t a fake story he told to impress his mistress.
It was reality.