The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 201

As they boarded the jet, Maya couldn't help but marvel at the sheer luxury of it. She had never traveled in a private plane before, and it was an experience that left her both in awe and gratitude.

Just as she finished texting Liam and letting him know she was flying with Evelyn and Derek, Evelyn settled into the seat across from her.

"Excited?" she asked with a broad smile since she had noticed the way Maya had been looking around earlier when they just boarded Maya nodded, unable to suppress her grin. "Very. Thank you for letting me join you."

Evelyn waved it off. "It's no trouble at all. It seems like fate that we're all heading to Husla at the same time."

Maya tilted her head thoughtfully. "Who knows? Maybe it is."

Evelyn smiled as she stole a glance at Derek, who was busy speaking with the flight crew. His demeanor was calm but focused.

She returned her attention to Maya, "So, how long are you going to be in Husla?" She asked curiously.

"I can't say yet, but I will let you know as soon as I'm sure," Maya promised, and Evelyn nodded before returning to her own seat.

Alone now, Maya's thoughts drifted to her meeting with her brother once again, and she reached for the locket around her neck.

She hesitated for a moment before unclasping it and letting it rest in her palm. She looked down at the small, delicate piece of jewelry, which was the only tangible connection she had left to her family. Her fingers brushed against the cool metal of the locket as she flipped it open, and she stared into the face of the little boy in the picture.

There was something familiar about him that tugged at her heart, though she quickly brushed it off. She was sure she felt that way only because of the connection between them.

Maya gazed at the picture for a long time, wanting to familiarize herself with every detail of his face so that she would easily recognize him when she saw him.

After staring at it for a moment, she raised her head, and her eyes met with Derek, who had just finished speaking with the flight crew and was taking his seat beside Evelyn. Her heart skipped a beat for a minute when she saw the little boy's face in his, but she quickly looked away and discarded the thought.

She was beginning to imagine crazy stuff because of the duration she had spent looking at the picture.

She was certain that if she had looked up and seen Liam or any other guy there, she would have seen her brother's face in theirs, too.

As the jet ascended into the clouds, Maya reached for her bag and pulled out a book while still holding onto the locket.

"How do you feel?" Evelyn asked as she linked her hand with Derek's.

Anxious," he said, and she

will meet her soon""" Evelyn said and then looked

about what happened to your parents?" Evelyn asked, and Derek paused as he thought

not sure. She was only a baby

raised her might have told her, don't you think so?" Evelyn asked, and

he said, and she yawned as she gave him a

noticed her dozing during the drive to the airport earlier, and she had been yawning a

earlier than usual and had been up for hours thanks to his

you be okay?" She asked, not bothering to deny that she needed to

need to think, too""" he said as he gathered her close so

resting against

as she leaned into him.

to sleep, but after trying unsuccessfully to find

go sleep on the bed?"

to you," she said

cuddle you until you sleep off," Derek said as he rose and

keep you company," she offered as they both

a smile, kissing her forehead as she

held her close and waited until she had fallen asleep before leaving

fell on the locket in Maya's hand, and

caught his attention again, as it had the night before, and he

you need something?" she asked, quickly closing her book

than he intended. "No, it's just... that locket. May I... see

hesitated, her fingers instinctively clutching the locket

back of his neck, offering her an awkward

so familiar, and

held it out to him. "It's the only connection I have left to my family," she

reverence that

him.

the intricate design, his thumb brushing over the tiny scratches that had accumulated over the years.

with a mischievous grin standing beside two

people he had