My Husband Cremated His Brother

After the plane crash, I rejected the captain—my brother-in-law’s—final life jacket that he had as he handed it to me. Instead, I allowed myself to plunge a hundred meters from the sky.

In my previous life, I had survived after accepting his life jacket. But he died a tragic death in the crash.

After his death, I was consumed with guilt.

My husband proposed to take care of two households at the same time so that he could look after his sister-in-law. Out of guilt, I reluctantly agreed to his proposal.

I even had to give up my only chance of getting promoted to department head of the hospital to my sister-in-law, upon my husband’s insistence.

When I was seventy years old, I suddenly saw my brother-in-law, who was supposed to be dead, show up in front of me.

He said to my husband, “Bro, thank goodness you came up with that fake-death plan back then. I was drunk and caused the deaths of all the passengers after the plane crash. If not for that plan of yours, as the captain, I certainly could not have escaped scot-free and would have been sentenced to prison for life!

“It was too bad we had to keep her in the dark for her entire life.”

After a lifetime of sacrifices, I was so furious that I nearly passed out upon hearing my brother-in-law’s words.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the plane crash.

“Michelle, this is the final life jacket on the plane. Put it on now, quick!”

A chill ran through my heart as I watched Larrie hand me the life jacket.

When I did not take it, he looked anxious, and he urged me again, “Michelle, this plane is about to crash any minute. Hurry up and put on the life jacket!

“If something happens to you, how could I ever explain myself to my brother?”

In my previous life, I had accepted his life jacket. But in the end, after learning about the truth, I got so angry that I fell ill and died.

In this life, I would not be so foolish as to repeat the mistake. I flatly rejected his so-called kindness.

After pushing Larrie away, the plane began a rapid descent.

Amid the shrieks and the piercing roar of the wind, the plane crashed into the sea with a thunderous boom. The violent impact knocked me unconscious.

When I opened my eyes again, I was inside a ward. My body was heavily bandaged. I could only move an arm.

I realized I had broken several bones. By some miracle, I was still alive.

When Orlando saw me awake, he cried out in excitement, “Darling, you were unconscious for three days and three nights! Thank God you finally regained consciousness. You scared me!”

As he spoke, his swollen eyes brimmed with tears. He broke down and cried in grief, “But Larrie wasn’t so fortunate. There’s still no sign of him. I’m afraid he’s probably dead.”

I was stunned. Could Larrie really have died?

I had fiercely turned down his life jacket. How could he have died in this life?

Regardless of Larrie’s well-being, his family could no longer blame me for any mishaps. Moreover, I would not have to carry that guilt for decades.

While I was lost in thought, Orlando suddenly dropped to his knees beside my hospital bed with a heavy thud. Tears streamed down his face. “Darling, Larrie’s chances of survival are slim this time. He’s most likely not coming back.

“I pity my sister-in-law. She has become a widow at such a very young age. She still needs to raise a two-year-old child as well.

“Since Larrie gave you the very last life jacket before the plane crash, could we please take in his wife and child to live with us from now on?”

I was startled. I raised an eyebrow and asked, “How did you know that he gave me the last life jacket on that plane?”

In my previous life, Orlando had often leveraged my guilt for me to give in to him over and over again.

Upon hearing my words, Orland froze momentarily. His expression turned awkward as he stammered, “Well, I heard it from the survivors of the plane crash. Besides, I know Larrie would never abandon you at the moment of life and death. That’s why we shouldn’t leave his wife and child helpless, right?”