Broken Trust in a Hidden World

Chapter 1

It hurt. It hurt so much… Henry Fitzwilliam realized that his body was numb with pain. His head felt dizzy, and his eyelids were heavy. He desperately wanted to close his eyes and fall into a deep sleep, but he couldn't. After all those years invested in love and brotherhood, everything had just crumbled away in a matter of moments.
He didn't understand what he had done wrong. His girlfriend’s betrayal, his brother’s deception—these had been the people he had trusted the most.
Suddenly, the clear sky erupted with thunder, dark clouds cloaking the bright moon. A torrential downpour drenched him, the cold rain hitting his face like daggers. It was painful, so painful.
Was even God against him? Henry seethed with anger. He wanted to thrash and scream out his frustrations, but his throat felt parched, and no sound would come out. The agony coursing through his body drained him of all strength, even a whisper felt impossible. And all of this pain, he had his so-called brother to thank for.
Crack! A bolt of lightning suddenly pierced the sky. It wasn't particularly thick, but it was blinding, its fierce brilliance making Henry blink away tears as he struggled to look at it.
“Ha! Those who defy fate perish. Is that what you intend for me, God? Bring it on! More than twenty years I’ve toiled for my career and cherished these relationships, and I’ve had enough. Today, I'll show you that I'm not afraid. Come at me!”
Clang! The lightning seemed to find its target, transforming into a silver streak that shot directly toward Henry.
In an instant, the lightning struck his left hand. It was as if all vitality had been siphoned away, a jolt coursing through him and electrifying every corner of his being. Cold sweat broke out on his brow; his mind was a swirling fog, and his vision blurred. Then, an indescribable pain shot through his left hand once more, and finally, he could endure no longer. Everything faded to black…
Two years passed. Each night when the world grew quiet, he would wake from this nightmare, and tonight was no different. Except that now, he was on a plane.
“Sir, are you alright?” A sweet voice broke through his thoughts.
Henry turned to see a striking flight attendant in a vibrant red uniform, probably in her twenties, tall and poised, yet a look of concern creased her brow.
He managed a faint smile, his pale face betraying him. “I’m fine, could I get a glass of water, please?”
Lily Yates shot him a questioning glance but nodded and walked away.
In truth, Henry's mind was still in turmoil. He leaned back in his seat and took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. But once again, that familiar, beautiful face invaded his mind—his love of many years, the one who had betrayed him for his best friend. And then the face of that so-called brother emerged, the one who had led a group of minor thugs to nearly beat him to death, and who had successfully claimed the company he had painstakingly built. It was also his betrayal that had left Henry's left hand so scarred.
He instinctively looked down at his left hand, now adorned with a black leather glove, reflecting on the two years spent overseas. He had changed so much; the Henry who once pursued wealth to provide for his girlfriend was long gone, replaced by a man known as “the Left-Handed Devil.”
Henry wasn't a killer, but he was colder than one. He wasn't a soldier, yet he had the skills of one. He wasn’t a bad person, but he wasn’t a good one either; that was how he defined himself.

Chapter 2

Henry Fitzwilliam had abandoned everything overseas to come back for revenge—not just once, but twice.
"Sir, your water," said Lily Yates, her sweet voice cutting through Henry's thoughts.
"Thank you," he replied, taking the glass and gulping it down. It soothed his inner turmoil slightly, but he wasn’t satisfied yet. Smiling at Lily, he asked, "Could you pour me another glass?"
The flight was going to take ten hours, and being a night flight, the first-class cabin had very few passengers. Henry, in his twenties, was arguably the most attractive person on board. Good-looking men liked pretty women, and vice versa; Lily grinned and nodded, "Sure thing, sir, just a moment..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the plane suddenly jolted. Lily lost her balance and stumbled toward Henry. With his seatbelt fastened, Henry's movement was limited, but he quickly reached out to steady her, preventing her from falling.
In that moment, Henry felt his left hand pressing against a particularly soft and voluptuous area.
A thrill shot through him. As his hand lingered, Henry realized he had unwittingly crossed a boundary. Yet, he showed no desire to pull away. In fact, his fingers wiggled slightly, and he thought lasciviously, “This must be a perfect 34E. So soft, so inviting.”
Lily’s face turned crimson, embarrassment flooding her features as she struggled to find words.
The awkward silence was short-lived as the flight attendant’s voice came through the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, please don't be alarmed. We encountered some turbulence, but we are now safe. On behalf of the captain, I apologize for any inconvenience."
"Oh, is that all? You scared me there," Henry chuckled, then turned to the still-flustered Lily. "Um, could I trouble you for another glass of water?"
Suddenly realizing she was still leaning against him, Lily's cheeks deepened with blush, heat radiating to her ears. She quickly stood up, murmuring an apology, and turned to fetch more water.
Watching her back as she walked away, Henry smirked to himself, "What good fortune to encounter such an experience on my first day back."
A few minutes later, Lily returned, carrying a fresh glass of water. The redness on her face had faded significantly, but her ears still glowed with embarrassment. She maintained some distance from Henry, probably wary of a repeat scenario.
Henry simply smiled and took the water, drinking it down again. The coolness of the liquid helped alleviate some of his irritation, allowing him to feel a bit more at ease. Due to a recent nightmare, he had no intention of sleeping so he casually pulled out a few in-flight magazines to read.
Half an hour passed without Lily showing up again. Henry didn’t think much of her absence until the flight attendant’s voice rang out once more, "Hello passengers, we will be landing at Skyhaven Airport in ten minutes. Please prepare for landing and ensure your valuables are secured."
Having drunk several glasses of water, Henry felt the urge to relieve himself. With ten minutes to go, he stood up and headed toward the restroom.
In the first-class section of international flights, the restrooms are usually spacious and upscale, often empty, especially with so few passengers on board now. Henry confidently pushed the door open and swiftly locked it behind him.
Just as he turned around, a girl’s shrill scream echoed in front of him.

Chapter 3

Henry Fitzwilliam’s curious gaze widened as he stood in the cramped restroom. In front of him was a stunning flight attendant, Lily Yates. She stood there, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. Despite the black lace bra attempting to conceal her ample curves, it was hardly enough. The almost tangible shape of her figure made it hard for Henry to catch his breath.
Taking in the sight, Henry couldn’t help but gulp. He had encountered Lily before, and now, his eyes were fixated on the deep valley of her cleavage, enhanced by the way her fitted uniform clung to her smooth, flat stomach. The alluring sight made it impossible for the upright Henry to ignore the very noticeable bulge forming in his jeans.
"Uh... can you leave?" Lily stammered, her voice a mix of urgency and embarrassment. She never expected to find herself in such a vulnerable position after just hastily covering up when her bra fell into the toilet.
At the sound of her innocent plea, Henry shook himself out of his daze. He drew in a deep breath, suppressing his urges, and promptly closed the door behind him as he walked out. Yet, even as he exited, the vivid image lingered in his mind, a satisfied smirk creeping on his face. “Wow, that flight attendant’s body is incredible, especially that amazing cleavage. Must be a 34E. Definitely not a letdown.”
A couple of minutes ticked by before Lily emerged from the lavatory, her head hung low. The blush creeping up her neck and into her ears made her look even more adorable, igniting a playful urge within him to tease her.
Henry took a deep breath, trying to keep his mind away from the captivating image he had just witnessed. "So, um..."
Before he could finish, Lily quickly interrupted him, her voice barely above a whisper. "No need to apologize, I should’ve closed the door. It's my fault." She turned abruptly, her blush deepening as she hastily exited the restroom.
“Uh, actually, I wasn’t planning to apologize. I just wanted to say that your figure is... well, it’s truly impressive,” Henry called after her, chuckling at the situation as he stepped back into the restroom. After a quick relief, he sighed, feeling quite satisfied. “Guess I really struck gold today. Returned home just to run into a stunning flight attendant.”
Moments later, as he resumed his seat on the plane, Lily reappeared, seeming busier than ever. She had work to do, announcements to make, and yet every time she passed by Henry, her gaze lingered unavoidably in his direction. A faint smile danced on her lips, but she maintained a careful distance.
“Well, looks like the flight attendant’s a little flustered around me, but hey, that’s not my issue—I’ll take what I can get,” Henry thought to himself, wearing a charming, harmless grin. Yet to Lily, that smile ignited memories of their earlier encounter, causing her cheeks to blush once more. She turned and hurried away, flustered.
Time sped by as the flight finally landed. Despite eagerly searching among the crowd, Henry couldn't catch another glimpse of Lily before he stepped off the plane.
Standing at the Skyhaven airport exit just after 9 AM, he breathed deeply, soaking in the familiar aroma of the place. It was hard to believe that he had left two years ago with a heavy heart, and now he was back.
Thoughts of an old acquaintance flashed through his mind, causing a flicker of resentment in his eyes, but that quickly faded. Resolved, he hoisted his suitcase and headed towards the exit, eager to embrace whatever awaited him in this nostalgic place.

Chapter 4

As Henry Fitzwilliam moved briskly down the street, a frown suddenly creased his brow. Could trouble be brewing?
“Sir, please hold on,” a voice called out. Without warning, several figures materialized behind him, encircling him. Henry wasn't intimidated; he had just arrived in Skyhaven and had no desire to make waves, so he paused obediently.
Confusion washed over him as he noticed the tight expressions on the faces surrounding him. It quickly became clear when he saw the faint bulges at their waists—these people were police officers. But why would they be looking for him? Surely, his identity cannot be compromised. He had taken extensive measures before returning home, and he had done many of them under the radar. Not even the cops in Skyhaven or Interpol would easily discover who he really was.
A woman wearing a white cap approached, flanked by two officers. Without a doubt, she was the one who had called after him. Henry eyed her curiously. Though her cap obscured much of her long hair and half of her face, he sensed an undeniable beauty about her—strikingly beautiful, in fact. The large black sunglasses she sported only allowed him to glimpse the confident curve of her lips, while her black and white casual outfit projected an air of mystery.
However, the way she carried herself gave Henry an uneasy feeling. Trouble was definitely on the horizon.
“Hello, sir. I’m Renee de Montfort from the Skyhaven Detective Squad,” she said, flashing her badge. “We need you to come with us.”
“What?” Henry replied, baffled. “To the station? Look, officer, you must be joking. What have I done?”
“You'll find out once we get there.” A hint of tension flickered across Renee's face. The same anxious look was mirrored on the faces of the other cops nearby, which triggered an unsettling realization in Henry. “You don’t think I’m some kind of thug, do you? Take a look at me—I hardly fit the bill.”
“Ha! You’re not a thug, but ‘Poison Dragon,’ the international drug dealer, certainly is you,” Renee responded flatly. “If you don’t want things to escalate, I suggest you cooperate with us.”
Henry felt a rush of frustration at being compared to such scum. He had heard of the notorious drug lord, but to lump him in with someone like that was just plain insulting.
Of course, he couldn’t say any of that to Renee. Instead, he settled for a sheepish grin. “Officer, you’ve got this all wrong.”
“Cut the act. Whether I’m right or wrong, we’ll sort it out at the station.” Renee made her point final, and her team of officers edged closer, their posture tense as they had received intel indicating that this alleged drug lord might be armed.
Henry wasn’t afraid of these officers. Dealing with them wouldn’t take too much effort, but he genuinely didn't want to stir the pot on his first day back. He had important matters to attend to, so with a resigned tone, he said, “Fine, I’ll go with you, but I will file a complaint.”
“Suit yourself.” Renee replied coldly and set her motion in order.
The undercover officers clambered into an unmarked car, surprisingly not a typical police vehicle. It seemed the Skyhaven police wanted to handle this case discreetly. It annoyed Henry that they arrested the wrong person, and to top it off, Renee looked self-assured, which didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Just hours earlier, Henry had been abroad, and half an hour ago, he had just stepped foot in Skyhaven. Unexpectedly, here he was finding himself at the police station. Little did he know that the first day's events were only beginning; the ramifications of this encounter were unknown.

Chapter 5

In the interrogation room, Henry Fitzwilliam slouched in his chair, facing a trio of people. To his left sat the so-called captain, Renee de Montfort; in the center was Xander Blackwood, the deputy chief of the detective division, a balding man in his forties with large glasses; and to his right, a rather attractive female officer, though she paled in comparison to Renee. Dressed in her police uniform, with her baseball cap and sunglasses removed, Renee de Montfort was indeed quite stunning.
Henry Fitzwilliam couldn't help but daydream a little. Wasn't it a bit of a waste for such a beautiful woman to be a cop? Clearing his throat, Deputy Chief Xander Blackwood coughed twice before addressing him. “Name, occupation, age.”
“Renee’s husband, occupation: husband, twenty-five,” Henry answered lazily as he stretched.
Xander Blackwood paused, surprised by the response. He turned to glance at Renee, who looked ready to explode. “Renee, why don’t you step out for a moment? Let me handle this.”
“Uncle, I arrested him! I’m not going anywhere!” Renee's frustration was palpable, her stubbornness emerging.
With a slight sigh, Xander responded, “You can stay, but don’t let your emotions get the better of you.” Knowing her fiery nature, he tried to advise her.
“Fine,” Renee bit down on her anger but nodded begrudgingly.
“Hey, that’s a good wife! Men are talking, women should stay quiet,” Henry joked, finding amusement in Renee’s flustered state. He had no hurry to resolve his own issues; teasing her was far more fun.
“You—do you believe…” Renee started, slapping the table as she jumped up, but before she could finish her thought, Henry gave her his most serious look and flatly replied, “No.”
Renee seethed with rage, and if it weren’t for Xander holding her back, she might have stormed over to teach Henry a lesson.
“Renee, maintain your composure. If you keep this up, I might have to escort you out,” Xander warned, at a loss for how to handle his niece.
“Exactly! As public servants, why do you all act like thugs, itching for a fight? Do you even deserve to wear that uniform? Do you deserve the badge on your shoulder?” Henry yawned, pressing on with his provocation. The more they reacted, the more entertained he became. Even if Xander joined in on the fun, Henry wasn't worried; after all, facing a beautiful woman in a scuffle might just lead to an interesting outcome. A sly grin crept across his face at the thought.
Seemingly perceiving Henry's delight in her frustration, Renee crossed her arms and sulked in annoyed silence.
“Angry looks good on you too,” Henry continued with flirtatious banter. He hoped to get a rise out of Renee again, but to his disappointment, she ignored him, leaving him feeling bored. At that moment, Xander cleared his throat and returned to the earlier question.
Henry was uninterested but wanted to leave the precinct sooner than later. “My passport and identification are in your possession, right? You must be checking them. Since you'll know soon enough, what’s the point of asking? I’m more curious when you’ll let me go. You can't just detain me without reason.”
“You know our procedures,” Xander frowned at Henry, his curiosity evident.
“I’ve dealt with it, not in detail, but I doubt I’m wrong,” Henry shot back calmly.
Now both the deputy chief and Renee began to wonder if they had apprehended the wrong person. If they had mistakenly detained him, it could become problematic, especially since Henry seemed knowledgeable about their procedures. He could file a complaint later, and who knows, Renee might be held accountable. She had worked hard to climb to the rank of captain, and as her uncle, Xander couldn’t let her career go down the drain. Therefore, he stood up, pulling Renee out of the interrogation room.
What was he up to, acting all secretive? Sighing, Henry thought to himself, he hadn't slept well on the plane and might as well catch a nap.

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