A frisson of excitement ran through the arrivals hall as flight 612 from Seattle taxied to the gate. Neon signs outside flickered in Mandarin and English: “Welcome to Shanghai Pudong International." Lynn slipped through passport control under her real name—Lynn Waning—for the first time since exile. Clutching Milo's hand, she navigated the maze of glass and steel, the scent of jet fuel and jasmine tea blending in the humid air.
Milo's eyes widened at the flashing billboard above the baggage carousel: **“Waning Tide: Coastal Elegance Meets Sustainable Luxury"** in bold letters. Lynn swallowed pride and nerves. Her brand's logo—an interlocking wave and tide symbol—rotated slowly on the screen. Passengers paused to take photos; some whispered, “Isn't that the runaway heiress?"
She steered M
