To get to Florida for my medical appointment, I rushed to the airport early in the morning, only to be denied boarding by my husband, Captain Ethan. "The flight's oversold. Take the next one." I pulled out my appointment confirmation and begged him to let me on the plane. "I went through so much to get this specialist appointment. If I miss it, I don't know how long I'll have to wait. The doctor said my illness can't be delayed. Our son, Leo, is only three. He can't grow up without a mother." He replied sternly, "Rules are rules. Even if you're family, no exceptions." Just then, I saw Chloe, the underprivileged student I'd sponsored, arrive late but board smoothly. I was furious. "I was here two hours before her! Even if it's oversold, shouldn't I be boarding and she rebooking?!" He flung my hand away, irritated. "Can't you be a little kinder? What are you arguing with a young girl for? She's never been to Disney. What's wrong with letting her go? And stop trying to manipulate me by faking an illness. You'll set a bad example for our son."
"It took me so much effort to get this appointment. If I miss it, I'll have to wait forever." I explained urgently, "This is life-saving." Having rushed to the airport early in the morning after pulling an all-nighter, my disheveled appearance earned Ethan's utter disdain. "What's all this fuss about? Our airline isn't refusing to compensate you. We even upgraded your seat. Don't be so greedy!" I threw the five-hundred-dollar voucher he shoved at me, my emotions crumbling. "I don't want an upgrade. I just need to get to my appointment on time. The doctor already said that if I don't get treated soon, it could turn cancerous. Can five hundred dollars compensate me for my life?" Seeing that I wasn't backing down, Ethan's face immediately darkened. "Are you done yet? I thought you quit your job to better take care of Leo, but it turns out you just wanted to be lazy and fake illnesses all day at home. It's one thing to put on an act at home, but now you're doing it in public? Isn't that shameful? So much drama, why don't you try acting?" His harsh words pierced my heart. When I married him, I not only defied my parents' wishes but also chose to forgo a wedding house and gifts. After we married, he was incredibly gentle with me. The only imperfection was how difficult it was for us to have a child. To fulfill his dream of becoming a father, I endured physical discomfort and psychological pressure, finally conceiving after hundreds of IVF injections. But shortly after Leo was born, I found out that the multiple IVF treatments had stimulated my uterine lining, leading to lesions. Just at this crucial point, Ethan entered a critical phase in his career, about to be promoted from co-pilot to captain. Fearing he'd be distracted, I kept my illness a secret and voluntarily quit my job to be a stay-at-home mom. It wasn't until the doctor sternly told me that I couldn't overexert myself, needed more rest, and recommended a specialist in Florida for urgent surgery, that I started to panic. But the specialist was so sought after, I couldn't get an appointment. To prevent my condition from worsening, I strictly followed medical advice, no longer frequently cleaning the house or doing a lot of daily chores. Ethan's dissatisfaction grew daily. I thought he would understand and empathize after I explained, but instead, he believed it was just an excuse to avoid housework. Watching the boarding time tick by, I was burning with anxiety and could only bring up Leo. "For Leo's sake, please let me through. He's only three, he can't be without a mom." Hearing me mention our son, the disdain in his eyes deepened. "You have the nerve to bring up Leo? Making a scene and being a compulsive liar in public, are you fit to be his mother? Aren't you afraid you'll set a bad example for him? I advise you to stop playing games. As a captain, I won't show favoritism. Airline policy states that in cases of overselling, only rebooking is allowed. And you, you're no exception!" Looking at his "impartial" face, I was utterly disappointed. Just then, a female passenger, Mrs. Davis, came forward and tried to persuade him. "Your wife looks very unwell. She might really be sick. How about I give her my seat? I'm not in a hurry." My eyes lit up, but Ethan rejected her outright, without a word. "Olivia, don't think I didn't see your annual physical report from last year. It clearly states you're perfectly healthy." "When did I get a phy---" "Silence!" Ethan rudely interrupted. "Don't keep using others' kindness to achieve your ulterior motives." At his words, Mrs. Davis, who had sympathized with me, immediately gave me a look of mixed emotions. The next second, she walked into the boarding gate without looking back. Left with no choice, I pulled out my electronic appointment confirmation and a screenshot of my medical records. "Ethan, look, I really did book an appointment with an oncology specialist at Florida Affiliated Hospital. I pulled several all-nighters to get this slot, I really can't afford to miss it." Ethan didn't even glance at it, sneering repeatedly. "Your lying skills are getting more sophisticated. Wouldn't it be better to spend that free time taking care of the family and Leo?" Looking at this man I thought I knew so well, I trembled with anger. "Ethan, in your eyes, am I someone who would joke about her own life?" "Who knows? All I know is that to gain my attention and concern, you've completely lost it." Before he finished speaking, the airport announcement blared for the third time. "Attention Ms. Chloe Thorne, flying to Florida, your flight T2135 is about to depart. Please proceed to Gate 5 immediately."
Originally, I thought it was just someone with the same name. It wasn't until she appeared in person that I confirmed she was indeed Chloe Thorne, the underprivileged student I'd sponsored for years. She walked unhurriedly towards the boarding gate. Seeing me there, a flicker of surprise crossed her face. She eyed me up and down, her tone devoid of its usual humility. "Olivia, if Ethan weren't by your side, I almost wouldn't have recognized you. Ethan is a captain. You should at least try to look presentable when you go out. How do you expect him to hold his head high in front of his colleagues?" She looked radiant, a stark contrast to my disheveled self. Her subtle taunt made me uncomfortable, but at that moment, I couldn't care less. I grabbed her hand like a lifeline. "Chloe, I have a life-saving medical appointment today. It's an emergency. Can you please switch with me and take the next flight?" She immediately looked at Ethan, who frowned, clearly displeased. "Switch? What switch? Every seat corresponds to an individual's identity information. If everyone did what you're doing, would there be any safety guarantee?" Then, he looked at her with a doting expression. "Go on in, quickly. Any later, your Disney plans will be ruined." A smirk played on Chloe's lips, the glee in her eyes impossible to hide. "It's a security risk, I really can't help..." Seeing her refuse, I grew desperate. "Chloe, I'm begging you. I sponsored you from high school through college. I'm only asking you for this one favor, please?" A trace of embarrassment flashed across her face when I mentioned my sponsorship. The onlookers, seeing her hesitation, began to voice their indignation. "Young lady, she helped you for years. If you don't have anything urgent, just let her go first." "Look at her, all dressed up in designer clothes. She's clearly made it big and is now completely ungrateful." "There are so many ungrateful people these days. You never truly know someone." The crowd's murmurs made Chloe's face flush. Ethan, seeing this, immediately shielded her behind him and loudly reprimanded me. "Olivia, you were so eager to sponsor her back then. Now you're trying to guilt-trip her? Don't pretend to be so noble or generous." To board the plane, I suppressed the urge to lash out at him. "Fine, no switch. I can buy it, right? Chloe, how much was your ticket? I'll pay you double. If that's not enough, I'll cover all your Disney hotel and ticket expenses." To my surprise, Chloe's eyes immediately reddened. "I may not be as rich as you, but you can't just throw money at me like that. What do you think I am?" Seeing her feign distress, Ethan was utterly heartbroken. "Olivia, are you insane? I never knew you were so materialistic. Don't think you can corrupt a young person's soul with your dirty money. It's her first time flying, her first time celebrating her birthday at Disney, and it happens to be the 10th-anniversary celebration. Can money buy that kind of happiness? How vulgar!" He stopped looking at me and eagerly pushed her towards the boarding gate. I snatched the boarding pass from her hand and demanded sharply, "Ethan, she checked in two hours after me. If the flight is oversold, why isn't she, the latecomer, rebooked, instead of me?!" A gentleman from the crowd leaned in for a closer look and immediately sided with me. "She's right. She arrived first. Even if there's a rebooking, it shouldn't be her." Hearing the gentleman's testimony, everyone immediately focused their attention on Ethan. Facing their questioning and scrutinizing gazes, his expression faltered. "It's... it's all randomly selected by the airline system. Whoever is chosen has to rebook. And besides, think about it: someone who isn't sick trying to fake an illness to board, don't you find her motives suspicious?"
His words made everyone step back simultaneously, looking at me as if I were a hijacker. I closed my eyes heavily. Three years of dating, six years of marriage — this was the man I defied my parents for, sacrificed my career for, risked my life to have a child for, and loved my whole life... My hands clenched into fists, trying to control my emotions. "Ethan, you keep saying I'm faking illness, but you can surely believe the words of my attending physician, right?" I called Dr. Miller. "Dr. Miller, hello, could you please take a few minutes to explain my condition to my husband? He's not letting me go to Florida for treatment." Dr. Miller's voice immediately rose several octaves upon hearing this. "That's outrageous! Your condition absolutely cannot be delayed. You must go to the hospital immediately!" Ethan snatched the phone, sneering. "Stop acting! I don't care if you're Dr. Miller or Dr. anyone else. How much did my wife pay you to act along with her?" He hung up the phone and turned to leave. "The plane is about to take off. Olivia, I'm warning you, go rebook your ticket, and stop disturbing everyone here!" I tightly clutched his sleeve, pleading with a last shred of hope. "Ethan, we've known each other for so many years. I swear on our relationship, I'm really sick and I have to go to Florida." My voice carried the desperation of someone at the end of their rope. A subtle softening appeared in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang. Chloe's sweet, coy voice carried from the phone. "Ethan, when does the plane take off? She's already rebooked, right? If she knew you specifically reserved her seat for me, I wonder what she'd think." My eyes widened in disbelief. "Why would you do this?! What did I ever do to you?! You'd rather give the ticket to Chloe, who arrived late, than let me get medical treatment. Ethan, you're a monster!" My desperate roar made passersby stare. Seeing the truth exposed, Ethan whispered to me. "Yes, I gave your seat to her. So what? She had a difficult upbringing, didn't have much of a family. Today is her birthday, why can't you be a little kinder and let her have this? And don't you ever look in a mirror before you leave? Even if you're faking illness, don't look like a homeless person. It's an embarrassment!" I looked down at myself: a sweatshirt stained with milk, loose pants, and mismatched shoes. But what could I do? He was never home, always focused on his promotion. Leo had a high fever last night. To avoid affecting his work, I stayed awake at the hospital all night by myself. By the time my mother came to take over at the hospital, I rushed to the airport non-stop. Where would I have had time to wash up and get dressed? Watching his retreating figure disappear into the boarding gate, my heart felt dead. Ten minutes later, the plane I should have been on soared into the sky. For Leo's sake, I knew I couldn't give up. I called Dr. Miller again. After understanding the situation, he immediately helped me contact the Florida specialist. Learning that an afternoon slot had opened up due to a last-minute cancellation, I thanked him and rushed to the train station. On the way to Florida, I saw Chloe's SnapChat updated. She was smiling radiantly in front of a Disney parade float, gently embraced by a man. The caption read: "My first time celebrating my birthday with the one I love most, in my favorite place. So happy!" Although the man's face wasn't visible, that figure, that hand... I'd recognize it anywhere. It was Ethan. The scar on his wrist from being bitten by a wild dog when he protected me years ago — I'd never forget it. I silently exited SnapChat and immediately turned off my phone. I don't know how I arrived at the hospital, or how I signed for the surgery. All I know is that I woke up the next day. When I turned on my phone, besides my mother's worried messages, there was not a single message from Ethan. It was clear he was lost in his new "paradise," completely forgetting about me and his responsibilities. Just after I replied to my mother, Chloe's message came in. "My boyfriend invited me to his promotion party on the 25th. What do you think I should wear to match my style? After yesterday's boarding incident, I'm sure you've guessed who my boyfriend is, right? I advise you to step aside quickly, and stop deluding yourself." I replied coldly, "Chloe, only decent people deserve to dress up. You're worse than an animal!" After that, I blocked her. A moment later, Ethan furiously called. "Olivia, you're getting more and more out of control! Your mother said Leo is sick and hospitalized, and you don't even care. Do you even act like a mother anymore?" I didn't respond to his accusation. I just said, seemingly out of the blue, "Our son's birthday is in three months; he wants to go to Disney. You take him." He paused for two seconds before demanding, "You're his mother, why don't you take him? Don't you know I'm in a critical period for my promotion? And I'll be on a business trip on the 25th. You better get back from Florida before I leave..." I hung up before he finished. The surgery was successful. The specialist advised me to stay for a few more days, but I insisted on being discharged early. After being discharged, I immediately had a private investigator track his and Chloe's every move. I also found a passenger who was at the boarding gate that day. The next day, I went to a law firm with the evidence. Then, I sent the full account of the rebooking incident to a media contact. Soon, the 25th arrived. I quietly arrived at the banquet, put on a mask, and found a quiet corner to sit in. Chloe, dressed in a beautiful, elegant gown, affectionately linked her arm with Ethan's. They moved through the banquet like a perfect couple. Everyone who saw her smiled and said, "Congratulations, Mrs. Thorne." Ethan didn't deny it, and Chloe accepted it readily. As the banquet began, he stood confidently on stage, sharing his flying experience and thanking his superiors for their mentorship. Applause erupted when he finished his speech. Just then, his superior, Director Thompson, quickly came on stage, announcing with a serious face: "We just received the latest notice from the board of directors: all of Captain Thorne's work is suspended, effective immediately."
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