Astrella felt a sharp pang of bitterness in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside. What did it matter now? Her marriage to Raiden had always been out of gratitude and with her departure on the horizon, there was no room for such thoughts.
A faint smile tugged at her lips as she brushed past Raiden and opened the door. She stepped inside, locking it behind her.
What she didn’t know was that as the door clicked shut, Raiden’s breath quickened, his body tensing with something unspoken.
That night, sleep claimed her easily, peacefully and undisturbed.
The next morning, she awoke, pulled the earplugs from her ears and slipped into her workout clothes. She needed to keep her body in top shape if she was going to pass the test to become a pilot.
Aside from the six months she’d spent on maternity leave, she’d never let her fitness slide, often using the university track for her early morning runs.
At Arindale University, morning runs were a rite of passage for students and many of them recognized her immediately.
"Good morning, Miss Brooks!"
"Morning, Miss Brooks!"
Though she wasn’t a teacher, the students still greeted her with the same respect, mainly due to her connection with Raiden.