Murdered By My Loving Husband

I died right when my husband loved me the most.

He took me on a luxury cruise, making me feel like we were teenagers in love again.

But now, I am dead.

I am filled with a burning rage. Who the hell killed me?!

1.

Quinn! How am I supposed to live without you!

My husband, Arthur Wood, sat on the cruise deck wailing like a wounded animal.

Snot and tears smeared across his face, but he didn't seem to care as he collapsed onto the floor.

"Please, you have to find my wife! She's terrified of the dark. You can't leave her alone in that ocean!"

Officer Miller, a young woman standing across from him, looked heartbroken.

"Mr. Wood, please stay calm. We're doing everything in our power to recover Quinn's body."

Unfortunately, they'll never find my body.

I was pushed from a deck dozens of feet high. When I hit the water, it felt like slamming into solid concrete.

The impact shattered my bones instantly.

I was terrified. The bottom of the ocean was pitch black and freezing.

The water crushed the air out of my lungs, and before I could even struggle, the waves dragged me toward the stern.

The massive propellers of the ship tore me into a thousand pieces. It hurt. It hurt so much!

If Arthur knew how much I suffered, he would be devastated.

My ghost hovered beside him, reaching out to comfort him, but my hand passed right through his shoulder.

Just then, two more officers walked out of the security room with grim expressions.

"We've checked all three hundred cameras on this ship. The spot where Quinn fell is the only blind spot on the entire deck."

As soon as they spoke, Officer Miller's sympathetic look vanished. She traded a sharp glance with her colleague.

They had handled enough cases to know there were no such things as coincidences.

The most likely killer was standing right in front of them.

I froze. As I watched my husband sob, the memories of my death came rushing back like a tidal wave.

I remembered!

It was him. My husband, Arthur Wood, pushed me off that ship with his own two hands!

2.

Arthur and I had been sleeping in separate rooms for two years.

He claimed I was old, ugly, and didn't know how to dress up.

He was a high-level bank executive, while I was just a plain housewife. He never took me to his fancy parties.

When we first got married, we were poor but happy. He used to be so sweet.

If I craved the honey pecan bars from that bakery across town, he'd ride his scooter through the rain just to get them for me.

My brother used to call me a loser for marrying a man with no money. I even used my own savings to help pay our rent.

But I believed in Arthur. I knew he had potential.

I was right. By his mid-thirties, he was making seven figures at the bank.

A neighbor at the local coffee shop once scoffed at me while I was picking up breakfast.

"I don't get you, Quinn. You look miserable all the time. What do you have to complain about?"

"You live in a mansion. Your husband is successful. Your son is a straight-A student."

"I heard Arthur even gave you a 'Wife of the Year' plaque in front of the whole hospital staff when you gave birth. Most women would kill for your life!"

"Maybe you're right," I murmured.

I didn't argue. I just took my coffee and adjusted my sleeves to hide the fresh bruises on my arms.

I should have been happy. If only this life hadn't cost me twenty years of being a human punching bag.

3.

I tried to scream and hit Arthur as he sat there faking his tears.

"What are you doing? Arrest him! He's the killer! He pushed me!"

Arthur gave his statement. Even though he was the prime suspect, they couldn't find my body or any hard evidence.

I was so stupid. I actually had hope that he would eventually appreciate my sacrifices.

A few weeks ago, he had started acting so tenderly toward me. I fell for it.

"Quinn, I've been a monster. Can you ever forgive me? Let's start over and be happy again."

I was terrified of him, but this time, he didn't reach for a screwdriver to poke at my skin.

Instead, he held out a box of those honey pecan bars.

I took a bite. That familiar taste made me remember the man I used to love.

I remembered when I sprained my ankle years ago. I was crying like a baby.

Arthur carried me all the way home on his back. He was drenched in sweat and his arms were shaking, but he didn't complain.

He just called me his "precious girl."

He was the man I truly loved. I told myself he was just a man who made mistakes, and I should give him a second chance.

I looked at that "Wife of the Year" plaque on the wall and let him take my calloused hand.

"Okay," I whispered. "Let's try again."

4.

I really thought he had changed. Why else would he spend so much money on a luxury cruise for us?

Standing on the deck, looking at the endless blue horizon, I sighed contentedly.

"Artie, I'm so happy today. This is our first real vacation together."

Arthur smiled with his usual polished charm. "If you like it, I'll take you out more often."

A young couple nearby was laughing. "Look at them, babe. They're still so sweet after all these years. That'll be us one day."

"Of course!" the young man promised. He reminded me so much of Arthur when he was young.

Once the couple walked away, Arthur pointed toward a secluded corner of the railing.

"The view is better over there, Quinn. Let me take a picture of you."

I felt a sudden pang of insecurity. "I look terrible. I haven't taken a photo in years."

"To me, you've always been beautiful." His compliment was hollow, but I was too blinded by the moment to notice.

I walked over and spread my arms wide, feeling the sea breeze like I was in a movie.

I had never felt so free in my entire life.

"Thank you, Artie."

"No, Quinn. Thank you." Arthur's voice turned cold and venomous behind me.

"For what?" I turned around, only to see him raising his hands like a demon.

He shoved me with everything he had. There was no hesitation, no guilt, and no fear in his eyes. Only pure relief.

"Thank you for finally dying!"

There was a sickening thud.

It was the sound of my body hitting the water. It was the last thing I ever heard.

God, I hate him.

5.

I glared at Arthur, clinging to his back just like he used to carry me.

I followed him everywhere. I refused to believe there was no evidence of his crime.

I needed to know why he did this to me.

Arthur got into his car and checked the rearview mirror. Seeing no one, he let out a loud, joyous laugh.

"Did you do it?" A young woman was suddenly sitting in the passenger seat.

She was wearing heavy makeup and a low-cut dress. She looked like a total bimbo.

"Of course. The ocean is huge. Finding a body out there is impossible. She's probably shark bait by now." Arthur sounded incredibly proud of himself.

"Baby, you're the best! When are you going to marry me?" The woman, Elena, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Slow down. I have to play the grieving widower first. I need to throw her a funeral."

Arthur pushed her off and suddenly rubbed his shoulders. "Damn. Did I cry too hard? Why does my back feel so heavy?"

"Want me to give you a massage?"

"Not now. Go to work. I have things to handle at home." Arthur kicked his mistress out and drove back to our house.

I remembered her now. She was his assistant, Elena.

I had seen them leaving an OB-GYN clinic together once when I was picking up my pain meds.

6.

Arthur didn't even take off his shoes before rushing to the safe in his office.

He pulled out a thick documentDa massive life insurance policy.

He flipped to the last page and smiled when he saw his name listed as the sole beneficiary.

"Dad!" Our son, Liam, suddenly walked in. Arthur jumped, dropping the papers.

"Liam! What are you doing home from college?" Arthur scrambled to hide the documents.

Liam snatched them up and scanned the pages. "Five million dollars?! I heard Mom fell off the ship, but I didn't think you actually did it."

"You killed her for five million bucks? Are you even human?!"

My heart swelled. I started crying as a ghost. My son was finally here!

Liam was the only reason I stayed with Arthur for so long. I endured the beatings and the insults just to raise him.

I thought if I gave him all my love, he'd take care of me when he grew up. My good son was going to get justice for me!

"Liam, listen to me. Your mother's death was a tragic accident."

"Dad, stop lying. The cops only let you go because they don't have a body yet. You think I don't know what happened?"

"I saw you hit her every single day. I saw the bruises. You even broke her ribs once and made her cook dinner right after!"

I sobbed. He knew. He had seen everything and remembered it all!

My son was a good man.

"You're talking nonsense! You have no proof!"

Arthur tried to grab the papers, but Liam stepped back with a cruel smirk.

"I am the proof! If I tell the cops about the domestic abuse, they'll have a motive. You'll be locked up forever."

Arthur's eyes darted around. He went still, then spoke in a low, calculating voice.

"Liam, think about it. If you rat me out, the insurance company won't pay a dime. We both lose."

"But if you keep your mouth shut, I'll give you a million once the check clears. How does that sound?"

Liam froze, his breathing becoming heavy.

"Your mother is already dead," Arthur continued. "We can't bring her back. Why not let her be useful to this family one last time? You're starting your senior year. How about a new car too?"

"You..." Liam pointed a finger at Arthur. "You're a cold-blooded bastard. That was my mother!"

Arthur just gave a weak, pathetic shrug.

"I want half," Liam snapped. "Two point five million. For me and for you."

Arthur's eyes lit up instantly.

"That's my boy! It's a deal!"

I stared at the two men I had dedicated my entire life to. I had died for them.

And now, they were splitting the price of my life like it was a business deal.

It was so pathetic it was almost funny.

"Hahaha..." I pointed at them and laughed until my ghostly throat hurt.

They couldn't see me. They only saw the greed in each other's eyes.

I finally understood why I wasn't in heaven or hell yet.

The people who really deserved to go to hell were still standing right here.

I was going to stay and watch them burn.