My Pilot Husband Gave My Dying Father's Last Flight to His Mistress

On reunion night, my father was dying. I booked the earliest flight, desperate to see him one last time.

I was stopped at the gate.

The flight's oversold. Didn't you agree to rebook for tomorrow?

The agent handed me a rebooking form.

The scrawled signature was unmistakably my husband's handwriting.

Thinking of my father clinging to life, I called Colin Matthews immediately, furious and frantic.

He wasn't even rattled. Instead, he blamed me for not being understanding.

"If Scarlett can't board, she'll miss the game. She'll throw a fit and file a complaint."

"I'm the captain. I have to protect the company's image. You're my wifecan't you support my career?"

"If a complaint could've been avoided but the company gets dragged into it because of you, people will say I'm playing favorites."

"We have to avoid any appearance of impropriety."

I laughed in disbelief and sent him the divorce papers.

Fine. Let's divorce. Then he won't have to try so hard to avoid suspicion.

"Elise, your dad's taken a turn."

"The doctor says he might not last three hours. He's been waiting for you"

Mom's voice broke. I swallowed my pride and begged Colin over and over.

"Please. I'm begging you. This is the only flight that'll get me there in time."

"Scarlett Simmons can catch the next game. My father is dying."

His voice went cold.

"Elise Henson, Scarlett's been waiting four years for this game. How can you be so selfish?"

"Besides, doctors always exaggerate to scare families. Stop scaring yourselfand stop trying to guilt-trip me."

I started to explain, but then I heard Scarlett's voice in the background, bored and dismissive.

"Oh, Colin. Is Elise doing that thing where she cries and throws a fit? I told youwomen are exhausting."

"If she really wants the seat, she can have it. I'm just an outsider, after all."

Colin rushed to reassure her.

I choked back the urge to scream.

"Colin Matthews, everything you havemy dad helped you get it"

He cut me off.

"Stop dragging up the past! I'm the captain now. I have to avoid impropriety!"

"If I bump Scarlett for you and she complains, people will say I abused my position! If the company investigates, my career is over!"

"Enough. Take the train. Stop making a scene."

The line went dead.

Outside the terminal windows, the plane pulled away from the gate.

I crouched on the floor, clutching that rebooking form, helpless.

Four years ago, Colin was just a first officer. His coworkers froze him out. He nearly lost his job.

My father vouched for him. That's the only reason he stayed.

Back then, Colin held me and swore he'd never let my parents down. Never let me down.

Now he'd severed my last chance to see my father with his own hands.

My eyes burned. I scrambled to find another way.

Trainssold out. Busesfull.

My carColin had borrowed it. I didn't even know where it was parked.

I hired a driver at triple the rate and raced down the highway through the night.

Dad, wait for me.

As we cleared the toll booth, my phone buzzed.

Scarlett had posted an update.

Landed! My best bro came throughmade it to the game right on time.

The picture showed her sitting in the gym, smiling carefree, middle finger raised at the camera.

Colin had replied instantly in the comments:

[Of course, guaranteed reliable!]

Watching them flirt back and forth made my blood boil.

I took several deep breaths, then opened my phone and sent a file.

The whole way there, I kept urging the driver to go faster.

Half an hour later, Mom called again.

My heart sank. Dread spread through my chest.

I answered with trembling hands. On the other enddead silence.

Then a wail of heart-wrenching sobs.

"Elise your dad is gone."

"At the end he kept staring at the doorway. His eyes never closed"

My whole body shook. I went limp in the back seat.

By the time I rushed to the memorial hall, it was already noon the next day.

Dad lay alone in the refrigerated coffin, dressed in the burial clothes Mom had bought.

I knelt on the floor, clutching his icy, stiff hand, crying until I nearly passed out.

Just a little bit more timejust a little bit.

I numbly exchanged pleasantries with relatives who came to pay respects.

The funeral was almost over when Colin finally showed up.

And trailing behind him was Scarlett, dressed in a riot of colors.

Colin's gaze swept over the portrait in the hall. His eyes looked sad, yet carried a trace of relief that was hard to miss.

"Elise, my condolences."

"Dad was sick for so many years. Passing on is also a release."

His hypocritical words made my skin crawl.

"If you hadn't made me give up my seat to avoid suspicion, I wouldn't have arrived a day late."

"My dad was waiting for me. He died without seeing me"

Colin's expression stiffened.

He glanced at the relatives around us and lowered his voice to a hiss:

"Dad was dying anyway. Even if you'd been on that flight, you might not have made it in time!"

"I'm at a critical point for my promotioncan't you be more considerate?"

Scarlett casually patted my head.

"Come on, Elise, everyone dies eventually. I think Uncle went pretty peacefully. We're still alivewe should be happier, not so depressing."

"And don't blame Colin for yesterday. You know I'm impatient. I waited years for that game. I had to watch it."

"I really didn't expect Uncle to be so fragilejust like that, gone."

Fragile.

My dad fought his illness for three years, and in Scarlett's eyes it was just that one dismissive word.

I shot to my feet and swatted her hand away.

"Get out!"

Scarlett stumbled back two steps, playing innocent.

"Colin, lookElise is worked up again. Why can't she take a joke? That temper of hers, you're the only one who puts up with it."

Colin pulled her behind him and frowned at me.

"Elise! She just speaks without thinking, but her heart's in the right place!"

"She came out of kindness to see Dad offwhat kind of attitude is this?"

Watching him take her side, I was beside myself with rage.

I grabbed an apple off the table and hurled it at the cheating bastards.

"Get out! You and your 'good buddy'both of you, get out!"

Colin twisted aside. The apple hit Scarlett square in the forehead.

She clutched her head and collapsed against him.

"Ow, it hurts. I was already dizzy from drinking too much yesterday, and now thisit hurts even more."

Colin glared at me.

"Elise, you're completely unreasonable! Your dad wasn't killed by usdon't take your anger out on us!"

The moment he finished, he grabbed Scarlett and stormed out.

Watching his back disappear into the distance, the relatives around me started whispering.

"Isn't that Old Mr. Henson's son-in-law? Why is he walking off holding some strange woman?"

"Could it be their relationship fell apart and they're getting a divorce? That's way too brazen."

Mom hugged me painfully tight.

But I didn't cry.

Because my failure to see people clearly made Dad leave behind a lifetime of regret.

What right did I have to cry?

After handling my dad's funeral arrangements, my nerves were on the verge of collapse.

Dragging the last of my strength, I returned to the apartment Dad had bought me while he was alive.

The moment the door opened, a strange perfume hit me in the face.

Scarlett sat cross-legged on the couch, holding my game controller, sunflower seed shells spit all over the floor.

"Holy crap! Colin, heal me quick! I'm about to die! Hurry, hurry, hurryget in front of me!"

Colin sat on the carpet, his face full of indulgence.

"Don't panic, don't panic, I'm here! Who dares touch my bro, I'll wipe him out!"

The two of them bantered back and forth, high-fiving from time to time. That easy, natural intimacy made it seem like they were the couple.

Seeing me push the door open, Scarlett didn't even turn her head. Like she was ordering a maid around, she shouted:

"Oh, Elise is back. There aren't any drinksgo downstairs and grab some Red Bull, okay? Cold, got it! Gaming's got me heated!"

Colin chimed in:

"What are you standing there for? You're the lady of the house. We have guestshurry up and play hostess!"

I almost laughed.

"This is my apartment. Who said she could come in? Get out!"

Colin's expression darkened.

"Scarlett was worried you'd be home alone overthinking, so she came to keep you company, play some games, help you relax. What's with the attitude?"

I looked at him coldly.

"Keep me company? Or come here to flaunt in my face? Spitting sunflower seed shells all over the flooraren't you disgusted?"

His brows knitted.

"When did you get so nitpicky? That's just how Scarlett is. Her being casual here means she doesn't see us as outsiders."

I gave a bitter smile and pulled a divorce agreement from my bag.

"Fine. Then I'll be the outsider. Perfect timinglet's divorce."

Colin's expression shifted.

"What the hell are you saying? Just because I avoided a conflict of interest and didn't let you board? I don't agree!"

He pulled a bright red certificate from the nightstand and slapped it onto the table.

It read:

[Captain Colin Matthews, facing unexpected flight oversales, handled the situation properly, prioritized the overall interests, effectively avoided passenger complaints, and protected company reputation. Hereby commended.]

"See this?"

He pointed at the certificate, voice smug.

"This is what avoiding conflicts of interest gets you. I earned my promotion on my own merit, and I got an award!"

"Leadership praised my professional ethics. Because I didn't play favorites and sneak family onto the flightI put the passengers first."

"Elise, your sacrifice was worth it. This is my honor, and it's yours too. You should be proud to have a husband like me."

Looking at his smug, self-satisfied face, all I felt was nausea.

"Passengers?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"You mean your 'female bro'? Funny how you didn't worry about conflicts of interest then."

Colin didn't show a shred of shame.

"You and I have a marriage certificate. Scarlett and I have nothing."

Scarlett sauntered over, giving me a provocative smile.

"Yeah, just bros. What's there to avoid?"

"Good thing Elise cooperated, or Colin wouldn't have gotten that certificate. Oh right, there's also a bonusperfect for treating everyone to dinner!"

Colin nodded along.

"Tomorrow night, I booked a celebration dinner. You'll toast Scarlett and apologize for that scene you made at your dad's memorial."

"My dad just died, and you want me to celebrate your success?"

He shrugged, utterly indifferent.

"How were we supposed to know he couldn't hold on? It's not like I killed him. Besides, he's already gonewhat's the point of taking it out on us now? Just because your dad died, I'm not allowed to celebrate? Should I die too?" He waved his hand dismissively. "It's settled. We're all friends here. Don't make it awkward."

The celebration was at the most luxurious hotel downtown.

Colin had booked a large private room and invited his flight crew colleaguesand Scarlett.

When I pushed open the door in plain black mourning clothes, the lively room fell silent.

Colin had been mid-brag, wine glass in hand. The moment he saw what I was wearing, disgust flickered across his face.

"Elise, today is my celebration dinner. Who exactly are you mourning? Talk about bad luck."

Scarlett sat pressed against his side in a deep-V spaghetti strap top, tattoos on full display. She stubbed out her cigarette, stood up reeking of alcohol, and grinned.

"Don't jinx it. Today's a big dayColin got promoted, got a raise, and won an award. We're drinking until we drop!"

His coworkers chimed in eagerly.

"Yeah, Mrs. Matthews, Captain Matthews is our company's role model this year."

"Putting duty above family, keeping public and private separatethat's the kind of awareness we should all learn from."

"And Scarlett's so down-to-earth. Now that's real friendship!"

Every compliment landed like a slap.

Colin's lips curled with barely concealed satisfaction, though he played modest.

"No, nojust doing my job." He glanced at me. "And I should thank my wife. She had some... emotions at the time, wasn't entirely understanding, but in the end, she supported my work."

He poured a full glass of baijiu and held it out to me, eyes sharp with warning.

"Since you're here, lose the long face. Learn from Scarlettbe more generous." He pushed the glass closer. "Come on, honey. Toast her."

The sharp smell of alcohol turned my stomach.

When I didn't move, Scarlett laughed loudly.

"Oh, Colin, don't force her. She obviously hates methinks I stole her seat and cost her the chance to see her dad one last time." She turned to me with mock sympathy. "But Mrs. Matthews, be reasonable. Your dad's illness was a burden anyway. What difference does it make if he went a little earlier or later?"

She leaned in, eyes glittering.

"Me, though? That game only happens once every four years. Trading one life your dad was going to lose anyway for Colin's future and my happiness?" She spread her hands. "Pretty good deal, don't you think?"

She snatched the glass and downed it in one go.

"ThereI drank it for you. Consider the matter closed." She jabbed a finger at me. "And from now on, stop making such a fuss. Colin and I are just bros. You can't forbid him from having female friends, right?"

Colin yanked Scarlett close and jabbed his finger in my face.

"Elise! You're an embarrassment! Look at Scarlett, then look at yourself! How can you be this petty?" His voice rose. "She treats you with respect as my wife, and you? Your head's full of dirty, disgusting thoughts!"

Scarlett jumped back in seamlessly.

"Colin, don't be so harsh. Women like her are just sensitiveeasily jealous, love to blow things out of proportion, can never let anything go." She sighed theatrically. "We already told her we're just bros. If there was really something between us, we'd have been together ages ago. What would she even have to do with it?"

"But she just won't believe it. She insists there's no such thing as pure friendship between a man and a womanshe thinks we're that dirty. I don't know what else I can do."

The moment he finished, his colleagues turned on me with condemning looks.

"Seriously, who doesn't have friends of the opposite sex? Miss Henson is being way too petty."

"Exactly. People with dirty minds see dirt everywhere. She doesn't trust Captain Matthews at all."

"Scarlett's just that typeone of the guys, totally aboveboard. But Miss Henson is so small-minded."

Colin suddenly shoved me hard.

"Yeah, Elise. Seriously, stop walking around with that long face."

"You keep bringing up your dadaren't you just trying to go after Scarlett?"

"I'll say it plainly: your dad deserved to die!"

"The biggest contribution he made in his whole life was dying when he did, boosting my reputation and helping me get that certificate. He died at the perfect time. You should feel honored for him!"

"Scarlett and I didn't do anything wrong! Our friendship didn't do anything wrong!"

I staggered and caught myself, chest heaving with fury.

Looking at Colin's twisted, smirking face, I opened my phone without hesitation.

Two moans everyone recognized blasted through the private room.

Colin and Scarlett went white in an instant.