“Good. I'm counting on you to deal with that jerk."

As planned, Erick picked up the car key and headed to the airport.

Upon reaching the airport, Erick saw a familiar slender figure from a distance.

Elin was wearing beige trousers and a simple white and black T-shirt, lacking any noticeable flair.

As Erick walked toward her, memories of Elin's once passionate and innocent nature, especially when she adorned herself in red dresses, flashed through his mind.

His eyes couldn't help but narrow when he realized that ever since she got married to Dayton, she rarely wore dresses, even during the summer months.

As Elin caught sight of Erick's cold and elegantly handsome face, she was taken aback. The last thing she expected was for Raegan to arrange for Erick to pick her up.

Stubbing out his cigarette, Erick greeted, "Glad to see you, Elin."

Nervously clutching her Luggage, Elin responded, "Nice to see you too, Erick."

The two exchanged greetings with stoic expressions.

Following the brief interaction, Erick impatiently adjusted his tie before assisting Elin with her suitcase, stowing it in the trunk.

Opening the passenger door, he gestured for her to take the seat.

“I actually prefer sitting in the back seat," Elin said.

With the passenger seat door open, Erick rested his hand on the door frame. He fixed his eyes on Elin, maintaining a stoic silence but wearing a somber expression.

Casting a quick look at Erick, Elin quietly took her place in the passenger seat. She always seemed to yield to him without protest.

Once inside the car, they went all the way in complete silence, not uttering a single word to each other.

Elin's gaze was fixed intently on the car's hood. Years of suffering at the hands of her former partner taught her to stay grounded in reality. She also understood that a man like Erick, who was far beyond her reach, should not be part of her life. Erick, in the driver's seat, came from a distinguished family, in stark contrast to her, who felt like nothing more than a failure.

Elin's self-esteem had plummeted further following her disastrous marriage, making her feel even lesser in Erick's presence.

Suddenly, Elin felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Every encounter with Erick seemed to fill Elin with a mix of nervousness and embarrassment.

As they halted at a red light, Erick reached into the car's cooler and offered Elin a warm drink.