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 wife—can'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 yourself—and 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 you—women 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 have—my 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.

Trains—sold out. Buses—full.

My car—Colin 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 through—made 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 end—dead 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 time—just 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 promotion—can'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 alive—we 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 fragile—just 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, look—Elise 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 off—what 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 this—it hurts even more."

Colin glared at me.

"Elise, you're completely unreasonable! Your dad wasn't killed by us—don'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, hurry—get 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 drinks—go 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 guests—hurry 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 floor—aren'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 timing—let'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 flight—I 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 bonus—perfect for treating everyone to dinner!"