Chapter 28

DIANA

My mind was blown. When he said his family had a private jet they liked to use for travel, I was thinking of a little thing that fit six people. This was not that. I thought for sure we were at the wrong jet. I couldn't believe my eyes as I stepped onto the luxurious aircraft, taking in the opulence that surrounded me. This was far beyond anything I had ever imagined.

The interior of the jet was breathtaking, with plush leather seats and elegant furnishings. This was on a whole other level. It was spacious and grand, more akin to a luxury hotel than an aircraft. It was bigger than my house back home. I marveled at the sheer extravagance of it all.

Hudson, noticing my awe-struck expression, chuckled warmly as he settled into one of the lavish seats. "Too much?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"It's—it's—" I stuttered, scanning the space one more time. "Overwhelming."

He laughed again, his rich baritone echoing through the vast cabin. "Just wait until you see what it's like to fly in style like this," he promised, his eyes alive with anticipation. "You'll never want to be squeezed into a flying tin can with two-hundred people again."

As I stumbled onto the plush couch, still grappling with the fact that I was on a private jet, Hudson gently took my hand, his touch calming my nerves.

"This is so much," I said. "I feel guilty."

"Relax, Diana," he said gently. "This isn't about flaunting wealth. It's about comfort and convenience. Especially for long trips. We can sleep and relax. It cuts down on the jet lag."

This was a new experience that I was lucky enough to be part of. I decided I should embrace it. Twenty years down the road, I was going to look back at this moment and realize just how lucky I was to get the chance to ride in a private jet. It was unlikely to ever happen again.

"Thank you, Hudson," I finally managed.

The staff on board greeted us warmly. Once we were in the air, they got right to work waiting on us hand and foot. We were given glasses of champagne before they served us delicious food. I couldn't believe the level of service and attention to detail. It was as if we were royalty, being pampered and catered to at every turn.

I glanced over at Hudson, a wide grin on my face. "This is how you travel?" I asked.

He chuckled. "I don't want to tell you about the other jet we use to make short trips."

As we sipped our champagne and enjoyed the gourmet meal, I couldn't shake the feeling of disbelief. It felt surreal, as if I were living in a fantasy. This wasn't the kind of experience that happened to someone like me. And yet, here I was, soaring through the sky in absolute luxury. I couldn't imagine what it was like to grow up with the kind of wealth that afforded a plane like this.

I felt like I needed to pinch myself, just to make sure I wasn't dreaming. But as I looked around at the stunning interior of the jet and the breathtaking views out the window, I knew that this was all too real. I was determined to savor every moment of it.

I woke up to the soft hum of the engine and a warm ray of sunlight caressing my face through the tiny window. Hudson was still sleeping peacefully beside me, looking relaxed and content. We had moved from the lavish seats to an even more comfortable bed during the night. It was surprising how well I was able to sleep thousands of feet above ground level.

I went to freshen up. I had been surprised to find a fully equipped bathroom on board. The walls were adorned with expensive-looking tiles, and there was a large mirror lined with soft lighting. There were plush towels neatly arranged on the racks and an array of premium toiletries neatly lined up on the counter. Everything was immaculate, suggesting a level of care and maintenance that was truly impressive.

After freshening up, I sat down on the plush couch and picked up a magazine. Hudson emerged a few minutes later. We shared breakfast and talked about what we would see and do during our short stay.

"We'll be landing in ten minutes," one of the attendants announced.

"Excited?" Hudson asked.

"Beyond excited," I said.

We took our seats and put on our seatbelts. I stared out the window and watched the city come into view. After landing, a car was waiting to take us to the city of Krong Siem Reap. The excitement was pumping through me like I had been slamming Red Bull all night. This was the beginning of our adventure. I was eager to explore everything the beautiful country had to offer.

As the car approached the Amansara Hotel, I was immediately struck by its elegant fa?ade, surrounded by greenery. The architecture was modern yet timeless. There was an air of understated luxury that drew me in from the moment I laid eyes on it.

We stepped inside and were immediately greeted by the warm glow of ambient lighting and the soothing sound of flowing water from nearby fountains. The lobby was spacious and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Everything was so clean with neutral colors, creating a sense of serenity that immediately put me at ease.

Hudson quickly checked us in. We made our way to our private villa. Once again, I was struck by the beauty of the lush gardens that surrounded us. Palm trees swayed gently in the breeze. The scent of exotic flowers filled the air. It was so enchanting, like I stepped into an entirely new world.

Our villa was absolutely stunning. The spacious living area was bathed in natural light, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of the surrounding jungle.

And then I saw it—our own private pool and garden, nestled within the lush greenery of the jungle. It was like something out of a dream. I couldn't believe that it was real. Hudson grinned at my reaction.

"Pretty impressive, huh?" he said.

I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from the stunning vista before me. "It's incredible," I replied. "I never imagined we'd be staying somewhere like this."

"Hey, if we're going to see the world, we may as well do it in style," he said.

He led me by the hand out to the patio. Two chilled glasses of white wine were waiting for us on a small table.

"To new adventures," Hudson said, raising his glass to mine. We toasted and savored the exquisite taste of the delicious wine. It was crisp and refreshing, with a subtle hint of peaches and cream that danced on my tongue.

We changed and settled on the patio of our villa, surrounded by the soft glow of candlelight. The atmosphere was magical, with floating flowers in the swimming pool.

"I made plans to visit the temple tomorrow," Hudson said.

"I cannot believe I'm here," I said. "I feel like I'm in a dream."

"It's pretty amazing," he agreed.

"When I was making my mental list of things I wanted to do and see, I always saw it as a before and after," I said.

"Before and after what?" he asked.

"My mom always told me to get my living done before I settled down and had kids," I said. "The way she put it made it sound like life as I knew it ended the day I chose to get married and have a family. The thought of motherhood terrified me. I was like, no way. No way am I going to do that to myself."

Hudson's gaze softened with understanding as he listened intently. "You're a teacher but you don't want kids?"

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before speaking. "I think it's because I saw motherhood through the lens of my own mother's experience," I explained. "She was held to a very high standard by my father, who expected a lot from her when it came to her childrearing and wifely duties. She was always very concerned with her image. She was worried about what people would think if she wasn't being supermom and volunteering for everything. I know how hard she worked."

I could feel the weight of those expectations pressing down on me, even now, all these years later. My mother had always been a pillar of strength and grace, but beneath her composed exterior, I knew the toll it had taken on her. I knew what she gave up.

"Was that because of the demands your father put on her or she put on herself?" he asked.

"My dad is old school," I said. "He has always had a kind heart, and he adores my mother. But they both had roles to fill, and he expected her to fill hers as fully as he did his. She didn't work out of the house, but she was always on the move. When we all got older and had after-school activities, I swear she probably didn't sleep for twenty years."

I glanced at Hudson, searching his eyes for understanding. "It sounds like a lot of pressure," he said.

I nodded, relieved he understood. "It was," I admitted. "And I think it's made me wary of the idea of motherhood. I can see now that it doesn't have to be that way. Having the right partner matters."

"So, you do want kids?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Probably. Eventually. Working with children opened my eyes to their innate goodness. They are so pure, honest, and brilliant. I think it's absolutely a lot of work, but I imagine the good outweighs the bad."

He smiled. "I've got some cousins and brothers with kids," he said. "They're not so bad."

I realized he probably thought I was asking to have his babies. That was not my intention. "What was your childhood like?"

"Unconventional." He chuckled. "I'm one of many brothers. Our house was sheer chaos."

"You said you were born into a wealthy family, did you have nannies?"

He shook his head. "Only when my mom had to be away or if she had a lot of work to do. Because there were so many of us, she did have to hire drivers to get us to our sports stuff. We lived in a big-ass mansion, and even though there were a lot of people in the house, it didn't feel that way. It's easy to get lost in a sea of overachievers. When my mom died, my dad kind of faded away. It was a challenging time for him. We kind of lost both our parents."

"That must have been hard," I said.

"It wasn't easy," he admitted. "And I think that's why I turned to partying and drinking as a way to escape. I didn't want to deal with all the feelings. My brothers were all doing their thing and I was the guy left to fend for himself. Although my brothers will say they were abandoned."

"Do they have good relationships with your father?"

He shrugged. "Some do. Some are working on it."

"And you?"

"I don't know," he sighed. "I haven't really been a great son. I know I made those choices. I distanced myself. He's tried to reach out, but I rejected him. He knew I was struggling but I didn't want to hear him try to tell me how to get better."

I reached out and squeezed his hand, offering him a reassuring smile. "Well, I think this is a much better escape, don't you?" I said, gesturing to the beautiful scenery around us.

He smiled back. "Definitely," he agreed. "And having you by my side makes it even better."