Kristi had seen her fair share of sweethearts at thirty thousand feet, but this couple in business class felt different. The man, polished in a tailored suit, was utterly absorbed in the radiant woman beside him. He whispered in her ear, made her laugh with ease, and then, as the sun dipped into gold through the cabin windows, he opened a velvet box with a flourish. The necklace inside sparkled like a promise, its stones catching the light and dancing across the aisle.
Kristi paused mid-service, caught in their moment. “May I, my gorgeous Isabella?” the man asked, his voice warm and reverent. The woman—Isabella—blushed, lifting her hair as he fastened the necklace around her neck with practiced tenderness.
Isabella turned to Kristi, smiling. “That lipstick’s a lovely shade.”
Caught off guard, Kristi touched her lips, flustered. “Oh, um, thank you.”
The man grinned, tipping her generously. “Thank you for making this flight special.”
She offered her best professional smile and moved on, but the memory lingered like perfume in the air.
The next day was supposed to be peaceful—her one day off. Kristi had promised her mother a visit. She expected small talk and maybe a shared pastry. What she didn’t expect was her mother to greet her at the door, glowing like a teenager, and to introduce her to her new fiancé… Edwin.
Edwin. The man from the plane.
Kristi felt her breath catch. She managed a polite nod, even shook his hand. If he recognized her, he didn’t show it. “Pleasure to meet you, Kristi,” he said smoothly, like they hadn’t just met the day before under very different circumstances.
She sat through dinner in a daze, watching as Edwin charmed her mother, told polished stories of his travels, and moved through the kitchen like he’d always belonged there. He was good. Too good.
Later, Kristi pulled her mother onto the terrace for some air. “Mom, what do you know about Edwin?”
Her mother’s eyes sparkled. “He’s wonderful. A diamond tycoon’s son. He’s bringing me into a new life.”
Kristi hesitated. “I saw him yesterday… with another woman. They weren’t just friends, Mom. He gave her jewelry. They were…” She trailed off.
Her mother’s smile faltered. “Why are you trying to ruin this for me?”
“I’m not. I just—this man isn’t who you think he is.”
“He’s romantic. You’re too young to understand.”
Just then, Edwin strolled out with drinks in hand, the picture of casual luxury. When her mother stepped away, Kristi rounded on him.
“You played me yesterday. You gave another woman a necklace and told her you loved her. Now you’re engaged to my mother?”
Edwin’s smile barely shifted. “You’re mistaken. Isabella’s an old friend. You must’ve misread.”
Kristi didn’t flinch. “I know what I saw.”
His eyes narrowed, but his voice stayed smooth. “I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself.”
Without a word, Kristi took her drink and poured it over his head. Orange garnish and all. “You’re a fraud. I’m going to prove it.”
Her mother returned just in time to see Edwin dripping with citrus and ice. Kristi left without another word.
She couldn’t convince her mother with words. She’d need evidence.
She remembered the passenger list.
At the airline office the next day, she concocted a story about a missing item. She managed to confirm that the woman was named Isabella, and with a stroke of luck, she even secured her contact info. When she called, Isabella agreed to meet.
They met at a hotel café. Kristi told her everything—who Edwin really was, what she saw, and what her mother didn’t believe. Isabella’s expression hardened.
“I knew something felt off. He told me he needed money—for a business emergency. I was planning to give it to him tomorrow.”
That was all Kristi needed. “Let’s catch him. Together.”
They devised a plan. Isabella would meet Edwin as arranged. Kristi would be nearby, undercover. They’d record everything.
The next night, in a sleek restaurant, Isabella played her part perfectly. Edwin showed up in a sharp suit, all charisma and confidence. He didn’t recognize Kristi, disguised as a waitress. As he sipped wine and talked of luxury investments, Kristi ‘accidentally’ spilled wine on his shirt.
He bolted up, cursing. In the chaos, she swapped his unlocked phone.
In the restroom, heart racing, she combed through his texts and found a web of flattery, lies, and flirtation—messages to other women just like Isabella, just like her mother. She was just crafting a message to trap him when Edwin stormed in.
“I know you took my phone,” he growled. “Give it back.”
Kristi stood her ground. “Stay away from my mother.”
He lunged. She screamed. The staff intervened before it turned violent. Edwin left furious. Kristi left shaken.
At the police station, the officers didn’t care about her intentions. “No charges—for now,” they said. But Edwin filed a restraining order.
Her mother was livid. “You’ve gone too far, Kristi. I don’t want to see you anymore.”
That night, heartbroken and alone, Kristi met Isabella again. Over wine and silence, they logged into Edwin’s dating profile—Kristi had changed the password before handing it back. Together, they messaged every woman he was currently talking to.
Dozens replied. Dozens had stories. And all of them were angry.
Then came the wedding.
The chapel was perfect. The music soft. The bride—Kristi’s mother—radiant.
And then the heels. One pair. Then another. The doors swung open, and one by one, the women Edwin had scammed stepped inside. Dozens.
The whispers turned to shouts.
“He’s a liar!”
“He told me he loved me!”
“You stole from me!”
Chaos erupted. One woman hurled a slice of wedding cake into Edwin’s face. Another smashed a bouquet over his head. He ran. Someone tripped him. The police arrived.
Kristi watched from the edge of the crowd. Her mother emerged from the chapel slowly, dress wrinkled, makeup smudged.
Their eyes met. But her mother didn’t speak. She simply walked past her and climbed into a waiting car.
Kristi didn’t chase her.
Some people needed space to understand the truth. Kristi would wait.
And in the meantime, she’d make sure men like Edwin never got away with it again.
