My Pilot Husband’s Other Wife

My pilot husband had to work overtime on Valentine's Day, so I secretly boarded his flight with our daughter, wanting to surprise him.

In business class, my daughter hugged her doll and asked happily, Mom, can I go see Dad fly the plane?

Before I could answer, the woman sitting next to me laughed:

"Her dad's a pilot?"

I nodded.

The woman continued:

"What a coincidence! My husband's a pilot too, and he's the airline's ace captain!"

Looking at her proud expression, I smiled: "Really?"

Soon, my husband's steady voice came through the PA system:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm the captain of this flight..."

My heart warmed, but the woman next to me suddenly leaned closer:

"That's my husband, the captain. Doesn't he have a nice voice?"

I froze completely.

The woman waved the luxury watch on her wrist:

"He said he couldn't be with me on Valentine's Day. He coaxed me for hours last night and gave me this watch, specially asking me to fly with him today."

I stared at that watch and immediately recognized it as the promotion gift I'd just given my husband two days ago...

Ruby sat beside me, fiddling with the drawing she'd prepared for her dada wobbly but colorful picture of our family of three.

Ruby insisted on surprising her dad, which is why I booked this flight.

"That watch must be expensive, right?" I asked, controlling my emotions.

"Not really."

Rose waved her hand dismissively, the corners of her mouth curved just rightnot too showy, but unable to hide her smugness.

"My husband makes hundreds of thousands a month. Buying this is nothing to him."

Hundreds of thousands a month?

I knew Jett's salary very well.

An ace captain's pay wasn't low, but it definitely didn't reach hundreds of thousands monthly.

Not to mention he only became captain thanks to my connections.

Three years ago during the captain promotion assessment, his performance was mediocre.

It was my fathera director at Jett's airlinewho intervened to secure his qualification.

And for these three years, despite having the captain title, he'd actually only served as first officer.

All of this, Rose's "ace captain" had clearly never mentioned.

"Your husband treats you so well."

I said, though my eyes couldn't move from that watch.

The back of the case should have an inscription: "To Jett, may every flight be safeyour eternal love."

It was a limited edition I'd searched three cities to find three years ago.

Rose was immersed in her own happiness, completely oblivious to my increasingly rigid expression.

"It's what he owes me. Who told him he couldn't spend Valentine's Day with me? He spent half the night last night trying to make it up to me."

Last night, Jett called, his voice full of exhaustion:

"Rachel, I have extra simulator training tonight. It's too late, so I'll just crash at the company dorm and not come home."

"Won't you be tired flying on Valentine's Day tomorrow?"

I'd felt sorry for him then.

"For you and Ruby, any amount of exhaustion is worth it."

He said it so sincerely, I didn't doubt him at all.

Turns out his so-called "extra training" was in another woman's bed.

"That's not all he's given me. He gives me gifts every month."

Seeing how attentively I was listening, Rose couldn't control her need to show off anymore.

She leaned over and picked up an orange Herms Birkin bag from beside her seat, its color painfully bright under the cabin lights.

"This one, birthday gift from last year."

She stroked the bag like stroking a lover's face.

My breathing stopped.

That bag, limited to fifty pieces worldwide, had disappeared from my closet six months ago.

Jett had said he accidentally damaged it while grabbing something, then just threw it away.

Then he "had a friend" buy me a new one.

I'd been touched by his sincerity at the time.

"Mom," Ruby suddenly tugged my sleeve, her childish voice clear, "that lady's necklace is the same as yours!"

My gaze mechanically moved to Rose's neck.

A rose gold chain with a delicate airplane pendant, the wings set with tiny diamonds.

It was a custom fifth wedding anniversary gift I'd commissioned from a designer, with our initials engraved inside.

"It really is."

I heard my own dry voice.

Rose's smile finally froze for a moment, but quickly recovered:

"How could it be? My husband had this custom-made just for me. He said it has great meaninglike him flying me around the world."

Jett had said the same thing to me at our fifth anniversary dinner.

He said once Ruby was older, he'd take us around the world.

That night he put this necklace on me, saying it was one of a kind, just like our love.

The day the necklace went missing, Jett turned the whole house upside down.

Finally he held me and said, "Out with the old, in with the new. I'll get you an even better one."

A month later, a more ornate necklace with bigger diamonds appeared in my jewelry box, supposedly custom-made by a friend.

Paid for with my money, of course.

Taking my things to give to his mistress, then using my money to buy replacements for me.

My stomach churned.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Rose finally noticed my condition.

"A bit airsick."

I forced a smile and accepted water from a flight attendant.

The warm water slid down my throat as I forced my voice steady:

"How long have you and your husband been married?"

Rose froze, then a flash of awkwardness crossed her face.

"We're not married yet."

Perhaps catching the shock that flickered across my face, she quickly added:

"Don't rush to look down on me, but he and his wife have no feelings for each other!"

My fingers gripping the water cup suddenly tightened, knuckles turning white.

"He said his family pressured him back then, and that woman saw his status and forced herself on his family."

Rose pursed her lips, her eyes showing contempt.

"He said that woman is incredibly boring. Every day with her is torture, painful as hell. If he hadn't met me, he wouldn't know how to endure it."

As she spoke, her face showed deep sympathy for Jett, as if he were the biggest victim in this twisted relationship.

Listening to her words, a storm raged inside me.

Forced herself on him? Jett, you dare say I forced myself on you?!

I still remember the first time I brought him homehe wore a faded white shirt and stood awkwardly in my family's living room.

His family was poor, his parents ordinary workers.

He worked desperately hard to get into aviation college.

After graduation, he spent years grinding away at airport ground services before finally mixing his way into a low-level flight engineer assistant position.

If he hadn't used his halfway decent face to persistently chase me, could he have the success he has today?

Seeing his wasted talent, I begged my father to use his connections to pave the way for him, all the way to the captain's position.

Feeling sorry for his humble background, I never let him want for anything materially, giving him a life he'd never dared dream of before.

When his father fell seriously ill, I used every medical resource available, hired the best specialists, and paid all the medical bills.

My parents were dead set against me marrying him, saying our family backgrounds were too different, incompatible.

I was the one blinded by so-called "love," threatening to die if I couldn't marry him, until my parents reluctantly agreed.

After that, they constantly helped his career for my happiness.

And I'd always thought he was hardworking and ambitious, felt sorry for how hard he worked.

Turns out in his mouth, all my efforts became forcing myself on him and pressuring him.

A huge sense of absurdity and nausea welled up inside me. I really was lovesick back then, completely blind!

Rose hadn't noticed my churning emotions at all and continued her defense:

"It's truethe one who isn't loved is the real mistress. So what if his wife has the title? She doesn't understand him at all, doesn't deserve him. Jett said once he finds the right opportunity, he'll confront her about divorce."

My heart felt like an invisible hand was squeezing it tight, the pain almost suffocating.

I took a deep breath, using all my strength to maintain surface calm:

"How long have you been together?"

Rose's face immediately bloomed with a sweet smile: "Next month on the fifth, it'll be exactly four years!"

Next month, the fifth...

My brain buzzed, going completely blank.

Four years ago on that day was when I gave birth to Ruby!

That day my labor started early. I was rushed to the hospital and endured seven or eight hours of agony before giving birth to our daughter.

Throughout the entire process, Jett wasn't by my side.

When I emerged from the delivery room, exhausted, I only saw my anxious parents.

He didn't show up until much later, running in drenched in sweat.

Said he went to buy the pastries I'd been craving, but the line was too long and he got delayed.

Though I felt hurt, seeing his guilty, distressed face as he held me, my heart softened immediately. I even comforted him instead.

I even stopped my parents from scolding him.

Turns out while I struggled at death's door, he was sweetly confirming his relationship with another woman.

Makes sensewhat pastries take that long to buy?

Looking at Rose's smug face, my voice turned ice cold:

"Does his wife know you exist?"

Rose raised her eyebrows proudly, her tone contemptuous:

"That stupid woman? How could she know? Jett keeps her completely in the dark. She probably still thinks her marriage is happy."

She sneered, as if telling a huge joke.

"Though it'd be better if she knew. If she has any sense, she'll get lost on her own, save Jett the trouble."

"Stupid woman." "Get lost on her own." These words were like poisoned daggers, stabbing viciously into my heart.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I suddenly stood up and threw the remaining warm water in my hand right in her face.

"Ah! Are you crazy?!"

Rose's scream shattered the cabin's quiet.

She sprang from her seat, her carefully applied makeup running down her face, eyeliner smeared everywhere, looking both disheveled and vicious.

Ruby was frightened by this sudden turn of events and burst into tears with a loud "wah," hugging my leg tightly.

I immediately pulled my daughter behind me, coldly watching this hysterical woman.

"You crazy bitch! What are you doing!"

Rose wiped her face with her sleeve while cursing, completely losing her previous elegant demeanor.

Flight attendants quickly arrived:

"Ma'am, what happened? Please stay calm."

"Calm? Didn't you see this crazy woman throw water at me?"

Rose pointed at my nose, shaking with rage.

One attendant tried to calm Rose while another turned to me:

"Ma'am, can you explain the situation?"

Before I could speak, Rose broke free from the attendant's restraint and lunged at me with claws out:

"Looks like you're just like that old hagyour husband doesn't love you either! I hit a nerve!"

"Slap!"

Without hesitation, I raised my hand and delivered a resounding slap across her face.

The cabin fell instantly silent, even Ruby's crying paused for a moment.

Rose clutched her face, staring in disbelief, then erupted in even more hysterical screaming:

"You dare hit me? Do you know who my husband is? He's the captain of this plane! He's the son of the airline's chairmanyou're finished!"

She turned to the attendants, ordering:

"Go get the captain right now. Let him see how his wife is being bullied!"

The attendant looked troubled:

"Ma'am, the captain can't leave the cockpit during flight. It's regulation."

"Stop the nonsense. If you don't go, I'll file a complaint. Right now!"

Rose was practically roaring.

The attendant hesitated, then walked toward the cockpit.

Several minutes later, she returned with a complicated expression.

"Captain Jett says... he's handling flight operations and can't leave the cockpit. He asked me to relay that he hopes all passengers remain calm, and everything will be resolved after landing."

Rose was clearly unsatisfied with this response. Just as she was about to erupt, the cabin PA suddenly crackled:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the interruption. We've received reports that a passenger in business class has seriously disrupted order and attacked others, causing harm to my wife. My wife specially boarded this flight today to accompany me, yet encountered such unpleasantness. I cannot ignore the wrong she's suffered. Security personnel, please immediately restrain the troublemaker to ensure the safety of other passengers and my wife. Please trust that we will handle this properly and ensure flight safety."

After the announcement ended, every eye in the cabin focused on me.

Those gazes were full of contempt, condemnation, and the excitement of watching drama unfold.

"So she started the trouble..."

"Looks so respectable, how could she act like this..."

"The poor captain's wife, encountering this on her own husband's flight..."

Whispers came from all directions.

Ruby cowered in my arms, asking softly, "Mom, why did Dad say that?"

A chill rose in my heart.

Two security officers soon arrived at our seats:

"Ma'am, please cooperate with us to understand the situation."

Rose immediately jumped in: "This woman hit me for no reason! My husband just said she's emotionally unstable. Arrest her quickly!"

An older flight attendant quietly advised me:

"Ma'am, I think you should apologize to this lady. Her husband isn't just the captainhe's also the chairman's son and very powerful in the company. Making this bigger won't be good for you."

I could hardly believe my ears:

"The chairman's son? How come I don't know the chairman has a son?"

I certainly didn't know my dad had any children besides me.

Rose sneered:

"What would you know? My husband is Chairman Alex's illegitimate son, only recently acknowledged. A commoner like you naturally wouldn't know."

She turned to the security officers, imperious:

"You! Arrest this woman immediately and hand her over to police after landing!"

The security officer looked at me helplessly:

"Ma'am, if you won't apologize, we may really need to ask you to move to the isolation seats in the back."

"I've done nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

I said coldly. "If anything, this lady should apologize for publicly insulting others."

The attendant, seeing I wouldn't yield, had to contact the cockpit again.

This time the reply came quickly: "Captain's ordersto ensure flight safety, security personnel should immediately remove the disruptive passenger from business class. Use force if necessary."

The security officer sighed and made a "please" gesture:

"Ma'am, please cooperate."

The surrounding passengers' gazes grew even more piercing.

Rose lifted her chin triumphantly, her expression seeming to say: See? This is what you get for crossing me.

I looked around at those uninformed passengers, at the troubled crew members, at my daughter trembling in my arms.

An unprecedented rage burned in my chest.

Jett, you not only betrayed our marriage, but now you're using your authority to openly favor your mistress, even twisting facts to slander me?

Fine. Very fine.

I gently wiped the tears from Ruby's face, softly comforting her: "Don't be afraid. Mommy will protect you."

Then I raised my head, looking straight into the security officer's eyes, my voice clear and firm:

"Let's go."

Holding my daughter's hand, I followed the security officer toward the isolation seats at the back of the cabin.

Ruby looked up, her big eyes brimming with tears, sobbing softly:

"Mom, does Dad not love us anymore? Why is he helping that lady?"

My heart clenched painfully. I crouched down to meet her eyes, gently wiping her tears with my thumb:

"Baby, Daddy made a mistake. Mommy will handle it. Remember, no matter what happens, Mommy will always love you."

Ruby pressed close to me, her small hand never letting go of my clothes.

Looking at the city growing larger outside the window, my resolve grew stronger.

Jett, you must pay for your betrayal and shamelessness.

The plane finally landed and taxied.

When the cabin door opened, two ground police officers were already waiting at the jet bridge.

Under everyone's gaze, Ruby and I were escorted off the plane, accompanied by the officers to the airport police duty room.

Ruby was frightened but bravely didn't cry aloud, just tightly holding my hand.

The duty room lights were cold and white.

We'd barely sat down when a familiar voice came from outside.

Rose was acting coquettish:

"Jett, you have to help me. That crazy woman was horrible. My face still hurts!"

"Alright, alright, don't be angry. Now that we're here, I'll definitely get you justice. She's just a troublemaking passengervery simple to handle."

The door was pushed open.

Jett walked in first, wearing his crisp captain's uniform:

"Officer, where's the troublemaker?"

I spoke coldly:

"Right here! Captain Jett."

I slowly stood up, calmly meeting Jett's gradually widening pupils.