Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 121

Tyrone hadn't slept a wink. He leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to Alicia's forehead, wrapping her hand in his, hoping to comfort her.

It seemed his touch worked; Alicia eventually settled, her breathing growing steady as she drifted off.

As the plane began its descent, a stabbing pain shot through Alicia's ear, jolting her awake.

She swallowed hard, her face turning pale from the agony.

Her eardrum had never fully healed after Mira's beating years ago, and now the rapid drop in cabin pressure made everything ten times worse.

"Take small sips," Tyrone noticed her distress immediately, unscrewing a bottle of water and pressing it into her hands. "Keep swallowing, it'll help."

Alicia nodded and tried, but no amount of water dulled the pain.

With every new wave, memories came crashing back—she was trapped again in that nightmare from four years ago, Mira and the others, fists flying, blood on the floor. Her own private hell.

"Feeling any better?" Tyrone's voice sounded far away, as if coming from the end of a tunnel.

Eyes rimmed red, Alicia curled into his arms, clinging to him desperately.

She knew she shouldn't—she was supposed to keep her distance—but right now, all she wanted was warmth, a shred of safety.

Tyrone stiffened, then pulled her even closer, whispering, "I'm sorry…I should have been there sooner."

But Alicia couldn't hear a word. Her left ear had gone completely deaf, and under the crushing cabin pressure, she might as well have been stone deaf.

At last, the plane touched down and taxied to a halt. Seaview City was still shrouded in darkness; it was barely two in the morning.

As they waited to disembark, a flight attendant named Winnie approached Alicia with a bright smile. "Excuse me, are you Mr. Lynch's girlfriend? Could we exchange numbers? I do a little personal shopping on the side—if you ever need anything, just let me know."

Alicia, too dazed to think much of it, exchanged numbers with her.

Tyrone shook his head, exasperated, and tapped Alicia lightly on the head as they left the jet bridge. "Are you determined to sell me off or something?"