Introvert 161

Posted by AdminM, ? Views, Released on August 8, 2025

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Chapter 161

Lucy’s POV

I thought Mom’s overprotectiveness was going to be the only problem stopping me from going to Kaiden’s secret haven and bringing him back, but I was wrong.

My mom came in second place. Whereas, the first place? That went to my own fear.

I normally don’t fear heights that much, but when the huge charcoal–black helicopter landed on the helipad in front of me–blow–drying my already dried hair into tangles–and its door opened for me to climb in, I felt like, nope. I wasn’t going to some metaphorical secret haven but a literal one. The real one. Because that’s the kind of vibe it was giving.

The charcoal–black chopper looked like the Grim Reaper’s luxury ride, all sleek and ominous. And on top of that, there were a couple of pilots and an assistant inside–decked out in full black SWAT–style gear.

Oh God. If someone told me these guys were today’s generation’s Grim Reaper, I’d totally buy that.

“Lucy!!!” I heard my mom yell from behind as soon as the engine of the chopper turned off. “Where are you going?! Come back! Right now!

Oh shit! I need to climb this death vehicle before my mom arrives. If I don’t climb now, God knows how many more weeks I’d have to spend

without him.

I scrambled into the chopper as quickly as I could, my heart pounding in my chest. “Close the door! Now! And let’s take off–fast! Fast! Fast!” | yelled, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation.

“Lucy!” Mom’s voice cracked through the urgency like a whip as she slammed her palm against the closed door of the helicopter. “Where do -you think you’re going, huh? You’re not going anywhere! Get off this chopper–right now!”

Her hand smacked the window so hard it echoed inside the cabin, the glass vibrating with each furious hit. Her face was inches from the glass -hair wild, mascara smudged, eyes bulging with a mixture of rage and desperation.

For a second, the way she pressed against the window–face distorted, mouth open in mid–scream–reminded me of those sudden, gut- dropping horror movie jumpscares.

“Ma’am, please keep your distance from the chopper,” the pilot requested.

But Mom didn’t give a damn.

“No! Let go of my daughter, you bloody kidnappers!” she yelled.

Dan came running from behind, grabbed Mom, and pulled her away from the chopper. “Selena! She’s not getting kidnapped. She’s going to bring Kaiden back.”

“Kaiden is not a little kid! He can come back by himself! No need to send my daughter on such a dangerous journey!” Mom argued.

“He’s worse than a little kid when he’s upset. Sp…” Dan trailed off, his brow furrowing with that familiar mix of reluctance and resignation- the kind of look someone wears right before doing something they know they’ll regret… or get mocked for. “Sorry, Selena,” he muttered.

Then, without warning, he bent down and swept Mom’s legs out from under her, lifting her into his arms like she weighed nothing. She gasped in protest, slapping his chest with her fists, but Dan didn’t even flinch.

He turned away from the helicopter and began walking, keeping a steady pace and a cautious distance, like he already knew how explosive she could get.

1/3

18:08 Fri, 8 Aug

Chapter 161

AND…Wow! He’s strong, considering his age. I don’t know why Mom cheated on him. Well… her bad luck. And good for mhe

“Mr. Pilot. Let’s leave. Before Dan’s backbone gives up.” I said, my voice faced with dry amusement.

Right on cue, the helicopter responded with a thunderous growl, its blades slicing the air with renewed fury as the engine roared back in life

After a few minutes–or maybe it was hours, honestly it felt like an eternity–the pilot finally said, “Here we are, Ms. Sterwalt

I leaned toward the window. Below us, nestled on a rugged hilltop, was a small, exotic–looking house. It looked like something out of a dream –or a daredevil’s bucket list.

“I’m sorry to say,” the pilot added, “but there’s no safe area to land this chopper. You’ll have to jump from here.”

“Okay,” I replied absently, my eyes still locked on the house perched dangerously in the middle of nowhere. But then the words clicked in Jump from here? “Wait. What? You mean, jump like, jump–jump? Like really jump? Like the jump that skydivers do?”

Before the panic could climb further up my throat, the assistant seated beside the pilot calmly turned to face me, his tone measured and reassuring.

“Not exactly, Ms. Sterwalt. You have two options,” he explained smoothly. “We can secure a harness and lower you safely using a static rope descent. It’s completely safe and supervised. Or, if jumping isn’t your thing, there’s a rope ladder we can deploy so you can climb down gradually at your own pace. Both methods are standard for terrain like this. You’ll be supported throughout.”

I scoffed. “Jumping is not my thing? You must be kidding me. I was shaking like a leaf and praying my whole way here, and you think jumping is the first thing I was scared of?”

“Ma’am, are you going down or should we go back to the Sterwalt Mansion?” The co–pilot asked, more like warned.

Thave fought my biggest fear to come this far. There’s no way I’m gonna go back. Not when Kaiden is just a jump away from me. “I will go down. But how about you decline the helicopter a little down? The less height, the better, isn’t it?”

“Sorry, ma’am. We can’t go further than this. It’s risky,” the pilot replied.

“Okay,” I said, trembling with fear. “Put the harness on me.”

The assistant may have noticed my fear, that’s why he offered, “If you are nervous, I can hold you and help you get down.”

Nice idea. And I would have definitely taken his offer, if he was a she. But he is a he. I am here to persuade Kaiden, not to add trouble by making him jealous by showing up in the arms of another man.

“Thanks for your kind offer. But I can manage,” I said, smiling with instant regret for rejecting his offer.

The harness was already secured around me, snug against my torso. The assistant gave it a firm tug, inspecting each buckle and strap with practiced precision before stepping back with a nod of approval. “You’re all set,” he confirmed, his voice steady, professional. “Now, I’ll lower the rope ladder as an additional option. In case jumping doesn’t feel comfortable.”

The door to the helicopter opened, and I looked down–and there, I saw miniature Kaiden getting out of the house.

I couldn’t hold it anymore, I couldn’t wait to wrap my arms around him and hug him tightly until he passed out.

“No need for the ladder,” I said.

“So, on my three, okay?” the assistant guided.

I nodded in approval.

18:08 Fri, 8 Aug

Chapter 161

“One…” he began the countdown as I took a deep breath and positioned myself in front of the wind

*Two…” I closed my eyes, my heart racing faster than it had ever rated in my entire life.

It was like, if it raced just a few paces faster, I might get a major heart attack.

“Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ve measured the height and length. Even if you lose your consciousness due to fear, you’d stil lavet perfetthe without getting your backbone snapped like Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider–Man 2, the assistant said, and I’m definitely sure he want trying to help me with my nervousness at all.