Ditched for His Bro My Captain Husband's Downfall

My mother was in critical condition. I had just bought a ferry ticket, desperate to rush to the mainland to see her one last time. But just as I was about to board, my colleague at the ticket gate stopped me. "Your ticket is invalid, Chloe. The Captain transferred your boarding pass to Mia." As he spoke, he handed me a digital transfer agreement on his tablet. There, in bold digital ink, was the signature of my husband, Jackson—the captain of this very ship. Thinking of my dying mother, my blood boiled. I marched straight to Jackson’s office. When I confronted him, he didn't care at all that his mother-in-law was dying. Instead, he glared at me, accusing me of throwing a tantrum. "Mia has been waiting for this concert on the mainland for two years. If she misses tonight’s ferry, she won’t make it in time. She’ll definitely file a formal complaint against the cruise line!" "I am the Captain, Chloe. I have to worry about our customer satisfaction ratings. As my wife, you need to be supportive." "If I let you on the ship anyway, my crew will whisper behind my back about nepotism. I suggest you take tomorrow's ferry. Besides, it’s not like your mom is going to drop dead tonight anyway." I let out a cold, bitter laugh. I grabbed the divorce papers I had already drafted and slammed them right into his face. "Sign this. Let’s get a divorce. That way, you won’t have to worry about me anymore." "Chloe, your mom's condition is terrible!" "She’s barely holding on, using every ounce of her strength just to wait for you." Hearing my father’s sobbing voice over the phone, I threw my pride away. I turned back to Jackson and begged. "Jackson, please, I’m begging you. This is the last ferry tonight. I have to get on it!" "Mia can see a concert anytime, but my mom can't wait until tomorrow!" Jackson spared me a cold, dismissive glance. "Chloe, Mia has waited two years for this night. Don't be so selfish." "Besides, you know how old people are. They love to exaggerate their illness just to get attention. She’s just missing you. Stop trying to guilt-trip me with all this life-and-death drama!" Just as I was about to scream at him, Mia walked into the office. She looked at me with that classic, patronizing pity. "Jackson, see? I told you your wife would make a scene!" "Sigh, if Chloe really needs to go, I’ll just give her back the ticket. After all, I’m just your platonic bro. I don't want to get in the way." The moment Jackson heard that, he immediately turned to reassure her. "What are you talking about, Mia? The ticket is yours!" I clamped down on my rage. "Jackson! The only reason you became Captain in the first place was because my mother used her—" Jackson’s face darkened instantly, and he cut me off. "I became Captain through my own hard work! And another thing, we are supervisor and subordinate on this ship. Learn to maintain professional boundaries!" "If I give you the ticket and kick Mia off, she might report me. Do you want to ruin my career?" "Alright, enough. Go back, give your mom a call, and wait for tomorrow’s ferry." Jackson took Mia by the hand and led her onto the ship. I stood alone on the dock, watching the ferry slowly pull away into the dark ocean, heading toward the mainland. Ten years ago, he was just a low-level mate. Because of his terrible social skills and blunt mouth, he was ostracized by everyone and almost fired. It was my mother who used her connections in the shipping company to save his job and pave his way to the captain's chair. Back then, he swore he would cherish me and treat my mother like his own. Now, he had personally broken his promise, denying me the chance to say goodbye to my dying mom. There were no flights on this small island. The ferry was the only way out. I desperately called every friend and contact I had. Finally, I managed to rent a private fishing boat at an exorbitant price. During the bumpy ride, a few notifications popped up on our Snapchat group chat. 【@Jackson: We made it to the venue! My bro is the most reliable guy ever. Got me to the concert right on time!】 Attached was a selfie of Mia at the concert. She was smiling brightly, winking at the camera. Jackson replied instantly: 【When did I ever let you down?】 The Snapchat group only had four people. Besides the three of us, there was my close friend, Ethan. Originally, when Jackson insisted on bringing Mia into our lives as his "platonic bro," I had invited Ethan—who used to have a crush on me—into the group to make Jackson jealous. But Jackson had barely cared. Watching the two of them flirt shamelessly in the group, my mind almost snapped. I had to take several deep breaths to keep my hands from shaking. I tapped on Ethan’s profile and sent him a private message. On the fishing boat, I kept urging the captain to go faster, telling him money was no object. A few minutes later, my dad’s number flashed on my screen again. My heart squeezed. A suffocating dread washed over me. When I answered, there was only dead silence on the other end. I don't know how long passed. The freezing sea wind made me shiver, and then, my dad’s heartbroken, agonizing sob shattered the silence. "Chloe... your mom... she’s gone!" "She couldn't even close her eyes... She died staring at your picture..." All the strength was sucked out of my body. I stumbled, almost falling over the railing into the dark water. By the time I rushed back to my hometown, my mother was already dressed for her final rest, lying quietly in the casket at the funeral home. I ran to her, grabbing her cold, stiff hand, and cried until my voice went hoarse. I had failed her. I didn't make it. For the next few days, I went completely numb, greeting grieving relatives like a ghost.It wasn't until the funeral was almost over that Jackson finally showed up. While everyone else was dressed in solemn black, Mia stood behind Jackson wearing heavy makeup and a flashy, bright designer dress. Jackson squeezed out a few fake tears and walked up to me. "Chloe, I’m so sorry for your loss. Rest in peace, Mom." I slapped him across the face. Hard. "If you hadn't given my ticket to your 'bro', would I have missed my mother’s final moments?" "She died waiting for me!" Jackson stiffened. He glanced at the surrounding relatives, his face turning red with embarrassment as he hissed in a low voice: "There are people watching! Give me some respect!" "Besides, your mom had terminal cancer. She was going to die sooner or later anyway. Even if I gave you the ticket, you might not have made it in time!" Mia stepped out from behind him, patting my shoulder with a patronizing smile. "Chloe, you need to understand your husband. He was just doing his job. We all came to the funeral to show our respect, isn't that enough?" "And don't blame Jackson for the ticket. I’m a blunt person, so I’ll just say it—I really had to see that concert." "We just didn't expect your mom to go so fast. She just... died." Hearing her words, I swung my hand and slapped her across the face too. "Get the hell out! Don't dirty this place!" Mia clutched her cheek, stumbling backward. She looked at Jackson with tearful, innocent eyes. "Jackson, look at your wife! What does she mean by calling me dirty? She’s insane! If you're a real man, hit her back!" Jackson hesitated. This place was filled with my family and relatives. If he dared to raise a hand against me here, he wouldn't make it out of the door in one piece. Instead, he stepped in front of Mia, shielding her. "Chloe, Mia is just honest. She didn't mean any harm. It's totally inappropriate of you to hit her in public like this! Apologize to her right now!" "Apologize?" I grabbed a wooden folding chair nearby and hurled it straight at them. Seeing that I was actually trying to hurt them, Jackson grabbed Mia’s hand and ran out of the funeral home, screaming back at me, "You crazy bitch! You've lost your mind! We didn't kill your mother! Why are you taking it out on us?" After they fled, some relatives whispered among themselves, and my dad looked deeply embarrassed. I finished the service with a cold, expressionless face. When I finally returned to the island and opened the door to our apartment, a strong smell of food hit my nose. In the kitchen, Jackson was cooking with Mia. Mia saw me first. She "accidentally" dipped her finger into the boiling pot. "Ouch! It’s burning, it’s burning!" She immediately grabbed Jackson’s ears with both hands. "Quick, blow on my fingers! It hurts!" Their bodies were practically pressed together. Jackson froze when he saw me. Mia tilted her head, giving me a smug look. "Oh! Chloe, you're back?" "Heh. If I had come back any later, would you two be in my bed already?" I snarled, my teeth clenched. Jackson’s face darkened. He pulled Mia’s hands away from his ears. "Chloe, can you not be so petty? Mia knew you were grieving, so she bought groceries and wanted to cook you a nice dinner to apologize. She just burned her hand. If you can't appreciate it, fine, but stop slandering us!" I looked at him coldly. "Accidentally burned her hand while cooking for me? Or did she come here to mark her territory in my kitchen?" Jackson’s eyes narrowed. "Chloe, look at Mia. Even after you slapped her at the funeral, she didn't hold a grudge. If you were even half as sensible as her..." "Yeah, I’m not sensible," I interrupted. "Since that’s the case, let’s get a divorce!" With that, I threw the divorce papers Ethan had helped me draft onto the dining table. Jackson looked at me in disbelief. "Just because I didn't let you board the ferry to maintain professional boundaries? Chloe, I’m not signing this!" He pulled a document out of his briefcase and slammed it down. "Look at this, Chloe! A special commendation letter from corporate headquarters!" Jackson looked incredibly smug."Do you see this? They praised me for keeping my cool under pressure and staying dedicated to my post. They even promoted me!" "The board of directors highly values my professional ethics. Chloe, keeping you off that ferry was worth it!" Looking at his proud face made me want to throw up. "Jackson, you know very well that this commendation only exists because of my mother's legacy. The board only sent it to you out of respect for her." Mia snorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "What a joke. Your mother is already in a casket. What, does your family own the shipping line? Stop dreaming." Jackson patted Mia’s shoulder. "Don't waste your breath on my wife. Oh, by the way, Chloe, I booked a private VIP lounge at the karaoke club tonight to celebrate my promotion with my colleagues. You should come." I couldn't believe my ears. "My mother’s body isn't even cold, and you want to throw a celebration party?" Jackson frowned. "People die, Chloe. It's life. What, because your mom died, I’m supposed to stop living my life? If you don't want to come, then don't! Mia will celebrate with me anyway." I said, "She’s not your colleague." Mia smiled, her red lips curving upward. "Oh, Chloe, I forgot to tell you. Thanks to Jackson, I’m a chief flight purser on the ferry now. My rank is actually higher than yours." Just as I was about to lose my temper and slap her again, my phone buzzed repeatedly. I got over a dozen notifications. I unlocked my screen, and what I saw made me gasp. I slowly looked up at the two of them. "Who else did you invite tonight?" Jackson said indifferently, "Everyone on our crew. I booked the largest VIP room." A slow smile crept onto my face. "Great. As your 'wife', how could I miss such a major milestone?" Jackson was visibly surprised by my sudden change in attitude, but he didn't think much of it. On the way to the lounge, Jackson drove, and Mia sat in the passenger seat. They laughed and joked the whole way. I sat quietly in the back, staring at my phone. A cold, dangerous smile played on my lips. Jackson, since you decided to be a heartless bastard, don't blame me for what comes next. When we arrived at the VIP lounge, the crew members had already gathered. As the guest of honor, Jackson sat right in the middle of the main couch. Usually, the seat next to him was reserved for me, but Mia quickly slid into it. The crew members looked at me standing by the door, then at Mia sitting cozy next to Jackson. The atmosphere turned awkward. "Captain," a new deckhand couldn't help but ask, "what's going on here?" Jackson scoffed. "She’s just drama. I’ve been too busy with work to cater to her, so now she’s throwing a fit and threatening to divorce me." The new guy laughed. "Man, if my wife was that high-maintenance, I'd sign those papers in a heartbeat! Honestly, Mia is so much better. She’s hot and has a great personality." Mia blushed, playing coy. "Hey, watch your mouth! Jackson and I are just bros. Don't start rumors!" Only the veteran crew members kept their mouths shut. They knew Jackson would still be a nobody scrubbing decks if it weren't for me and my mother. Jackson roared with laughter. "Mia is right! We grew up together. She’s my bro, it’s not like that!" Seeing my cold face, Jackson got up and shoved my shoulder. "Chloe, seriously? Who are you pulling that miserable face for?" "Is this still about your dead mom?" A sick, twisted grin appeared on Jackson’s face. He leaned in and whispered in my ear: "Honestly, it’s a good thing your mom died. Otherwise, who knows how many years I would have had to wait for this promotion. Now, I don't have to fear anyone. You want a divorce? Fine. Let’s do it!" Looking at his ugly, arrogant face, I didn't hesitate. I unlocked my phone and tapped the screen. The next second, a series of loud, heavy gasps and moans echoed through the speakers of the VIP lounge’s sound system. Jackson and Mia’s faces turned pale in an instant. "Turn it off! Turn it off right now!" Jackson roared in panic.