The Captain's Secret Harbor Isn't Home의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

The delivery address read "Tidewater Apartments, Building 17, Unit 1203."Below that, there was a note. "Must be signed for in person. Do not release to family members."I stared at that last line for a long time."Do not release to family members."Emery Harlow and I had been married for six years. Every time she left for sea, she'd leave her keys in the second drawer by the front door."Corbin, the house is yours while I'm gone," she'd say.I looked after her parents, handled her annual inspection paperwork, and sent group updates to the crew members' families on her behalf. I'd always assumed I was family. But on her shipping manifest, family had meant the person who wasn't allowed to touch that set of accessories.My phone buzzed on the table with a message from Emery."Just passed through the strait. Signal's spotty."I typed back one word."OK."She probably wasn't expecting something that short, because two minutes later, another message came through."How come you d

Emery's ship docked five days later, and I didn't go to the harbor to meet her.In the past, I'd start preparing three days before she came ashore. I'd put fresh sheets on the bed, pack the fridge with her favorite foods, and stash hangover pills in the car.This time, I stayed home and went through the ledger. I was scanning the Beauhaven port page into the computer when the front door unlocked.Emery walked in, dragging her suitcase behind her, still in uniform. The first thing she saw was the ledger open on the table, and her expression cooled immediately."Corbin Wilder, are you investigating me?""Are you afraid of me investigating?"She tossed her cap onto the couch. "I just got off the ship, and you're already picking a fight?""I'm not picking a fight."She walked over and pulled the ledger away from me. "Where did you get this?""The family copy of the voyage ledger. It's always been kept here."She glared at me, visibly annoyed. "Don't touch anything from the ship a

The color drained from Emery's face, and she immediately reached for the paper again. I turned to dodge her.The forged version of my signature was clumsy and uneven. Stamped along the side was my authorization stamp, one that was kept in my study. She must have gone through my drawers and taken it without asking.Gerald rushed over and grabbed my arm. "Give that back to Emmy right now! You don't understand how things work on a ship, so stop making a fool of yourself in front of everyone!"Noah chimed in quietly. "Mr. Wilder, she's this close to making fleet captain. Meet her halfway and don't ruin her career over this."Every guest at the table was staring at me. Some were watching for the spectacle, some were trying to smooth things over, but not a single one of them was on my side.Emery's brow was furrowed tight, and her voice carried the weight of a warning. "Corbin, stop blowing a small thing out of proportion. Without me, you're nothing."I folded the document neatly, slip

"I know you have full audit authority over the vessel. Can you withdraw the request?""For six years, you never once asked about what my mother left behind. Now that something's gone wrong, you suddenly care about my authority. It's too late."Emery set the notice down, and for the first time, real panic crossed her face. "Corbin, you can't keep digging into this.""Afraid it'll hurt your promotion?" I asked."No." She hesitated. "This could affect the entire ship."I looked at her steadily. "So, you finally remember there's an entire ship."She came closer and gripped my shoulders. "Listen to me just this once. I'll deal with Noah, and I'll get everything back. Just withdraw the request.""Withdraw it, and then you keep stamping my name on things?"Her face went ashen. "I was wrong."It was the first time she'd ever said that. But it wasn't because she'd hurt me. It was because I was holding something that scared her.Noah asked to meet. The location was the cafe downstairs

Emery's lips moved a few times before she managed to speak. "I didn't tell him to file that."The officer asked, "The account is yours, and the verification code was sent to your personal phone."Emery went silent. I looked at her."So, for the past few years, I've been registered as living at Tidewater?""Noah didn't have a place to stay for a while, and I just wanted to help him get through it."I laughed. "Using my name?"She lowered her head. "I thought it was just a few subsidy claims. I didn't think anyone would look into it."The officer's expression hardened. "Captain Harlow, I'd advise you to choose your words carefully. The family subsidy comes from a designated account, not your personal funds."That was when Emery realized she'd said the wrong thing. She looked at me, her voice dropping. "Corbin, I really wasn't trying to hurt you.""But did you ever think about me?" I asked.She didn't answer, because the answer was too ugly to say out loud.The conference room