Chapter 8

After the plane touched down at Kilead International Airport, the moment Cora and Aaron stepped into the arrivals hall, she felt the weight of an invisible pressure. At the exit, a wall of security guards in black suits and earpieces stood shoulder to shoulder, creating a vacuum of space that made other travelers stop and stare. At the center stood a man whose presence commanded the room. Hubert Schmidt, who was well into his 50s and took his self-care seriously, looked amazing for his age. His facial features were sharp, and his temples flecked with gray added to his air of authority. He ignored the murmurs and commotion around him, keeping his eyes locked on the gate. For a moment, there was a flicker of anticipation in his eyes, like any ordinary dad waiting for his child. Cora halted in her tracks with clear resistance written all over her face. But Hubert recognized her the moment she appeared. 15 years later, the father and daughter looked at each other across the crowd. T