The Dead Useless Fisherman Returns as the Untouchable

“Oh God, I can't tolerate this stench! Get away from here!”

​Andrew had barely crossed the threshold when his mother-in-law appeared in front of him.

She was holding a handkerchief to her nose, violently fanning her hand in front of her face as she glared at him with disgust.

“Every single day, you carry that stinking smell inside my house. Fish, crabs, and God knows what else lives inside that river muck! Are you trying to poison the air in my own house?”

Seeing that Andrew was about to bend down and take off his rubber boots, Martha jumped back as if accidentally touching him would contaminate her.

“Now don't just stand there gaping like an idiot! Go scrub the floor, take out the garbage, and start cooking dinner. Look at the mess this house has become!”

“Hey! Don't forget to press my dress for tomorrow while you’re at it! And yes, make sure your fishy hands don't ruin the fabric.”

“I want seared steak for dinner, and don't overcook it this time. A dumb idiot like you always messes up the seasoning! Useless… now go! Move your lazy legs.”

Martha had just left when Chloe and Julian, his wife's siblings, fired off their demand as well.

​Andrew’s body was aching from a twelve hour shift, and even his hands were raw and bleeding from rope burns. He turned his eyes towards his wife, Victoria, who had heard everything but stayed completely silent.

Instead, she met his desperate gaze with indifference.

“Why are you still standing there, making everyone uncomfortable? You heard my mother, so stop standing around wasting time and get the chores done. That’s what you’re here for, isn't it?”

Her words chipped away another piece of his heart. She really saw him as nothing more than a lowly servant meant to cater to her family's demands.

Still, Andrew lowered his head.

​“Alright. I'll get to it right away.”

He had spent fifteen years struggling day and night to provide for this household. Whenever he felt like he would choke on the humiliation, only thought of his twin daughters, Lily and Rose kept him going.

They were his world, the sole reason he allowed his pride to be ground into dust. For them, he would swallow any poison.

And although his wife had come increasingly distant from him since she had launched her company, using work as an excuse to put up a wall between them, a flicker of hope was still alive in his heart.

Deep down, he hoped that maybe… Victoria might look back, remember all he had sacrificed and appreciate him one day.

Little did he know that in her eyes, those sacrifices were just obligations.

​Later that night, Andrew finally washed the dirt and grime from his skin and stepped into the master bedroom.

It was a spacious room, but it felt completely cold and hollow, because the couple barely lived as husband and wife anymore. Most nights, Victoria slept turned completely away from him or stayed in the guest suite.

​Fifteen years ago, Andrew had pulled a drowning Victoria out of the freezing river during one of his fishing trips, saving her life.

Back then, full of grateful tears, she had insisted on marrying him to repay her debt. Andrew had genuinely believed her choice carried real love. He had held onto that precious memory like a lifeline through every storm of their marriage.

Right now, that same ​Victoria was sitting before the vanity mirror, massaging her undereyes with a metal wand. She didn't turn around when he entered.

​“The twins’ special scholarship program fees are due tomorrow morning at school,” she said suddenly, in a matter-of-fact tone. “The deadline is strictly at noon.”

​Andrew blinked, tiredly rubbing his temples.

“Tomorrow morning? But Victoria, you didn't even mention this earlier! I would have arranged something… can you cover it for now? Didn't your company just close that massive tech contract—”

​Victoria snapped her head around, her eyes flashing with instant annoyance.

“Are you serious? I am preparing for the biggest corporate award ceremony of my career tomorrow! I don't have the time or energy to deal with school administrative nonsense. Taking care of the children's needs is your responsibility, not mine. And regarding the contract, I have already redirected millions of dollars back into expanding my company operations. But I shouldn't be explaining this to you, Andrew! You are their father! Stop trying to run from your duties!”

​Andrew felt a sting in his chest, but he saw the anger in her eyes. Not wanting to turn another night into an ugly fight, he simply closed his eyes and breathed out. “Fine. I will handle it.”

​The next morning, Andrew was awake before dawn. He swept the house with a mop, ironed everyone's clothes for the day, prepared the twins’ breakfast, and packed their bags.

After dropping the smiling girls off at school, he returned home briefly to grab his coat. Victoria was at the kitchen counter sipping black coffee.

​Andrew hesitated, then walked over, pulling out a faded bank passbook and his phone screen.

​“Victoria, look,” Andrew said gently, his voice carrying a nervous pride. “I wanted to show you this. Over the years, I’ve been secretly setting aside every spare penny from my fishing bonuses into this savings account. It’s all for the twins. With my payment from the dock today, it will be completely full—more than enough to clear their entire scholarship fees in full.”

​He placed the account card and wrote the security pin right on a note beside her cup, handing over full access without hesitation.

“I want you to know that the girls are taken care of. I want you to be confident that you made the right choice back then–”

“So what?”

​Victoria didn't even pick up the card before cutting him off, glancing at him with total apathy.

​“Why are you showing me this? Do you expect me to clap and give you a medal?” she scoffed coldly. “Providing for your own children is your basic obligation as a man. Any decent father would do that, what's special about it?”

​Her biting words pierced his heart once again, but he said nothing, tucking his hands into his jacket and heading out the door.

​At the fishing dock, he started his day by carrying heavy wooden crates filled with ice and tuna on his shoulders.

The other dockworkers sneered and laughed behind his back, mocking the pathetic fool who had slaved away at the lowest-paying post for fifteen years despite having a rich businesswoman wife.

But he ignored them, keeping to his work like he hadn't heard anything.

It wasn't until a client who owned a busy restaurant downtown showed up, calling his name, that Andrew stepped away from work for a moment.

The moment he appeared, the client roughly shoved him against the wooden railing.

“Are you blind, you worthless scum? Look at these bruised fish! You’re ruining my restaurant’s reputation on purpose, aren't you?!”

The customer roared, spitting on Andrew's boots.

​The dock supervisor marched over, immediately taking the client’s side.

“Andrew! You useless piece of trash! If you’re too slow and clumsy to move crates, get the hell out of here! One more mistake and you’re fired without pay!”

​Andrew’s fists clenched until his fingernails dug into his palms. Anger burned in his gut, but he bowed his head and murmured an apology. He needed the daily cash. He swallowed the bitter shame, whispering to himself: It’s for Lily and Rose… Just endure it.

​At three in the afternoon, the dock accountant handed him his cash envelope at the end of his shift. Andrew rushed straight to deposit the money, and eagerly checked the screen balance.

​The total flashed in green digits: $55,000.

The exact sum required for the scholarship fees.

​A wave of relief washed over him, washing away all his pain and tiredness. A smile broke across his cracked lips.

He climbed into his old, rickety sedan and turned the ignition, speeding toward their school.

​As he drove down the highway, Andrew dialed Victoria’s number, hoping to share the good news.

She picked up on the fifth ring, sounding irritated.

​“What do you want, Andrew? I told you, I am extremely busy preparing for my award ceremony tonight! Stop disturbing me with your nonsense!”

​Before Andrew could reply, a deep, masculine voice echoed clearly from Victoria's side of the line: “Which tie is going better with this jacket?”

​Andrew froze, the blood draining from his face. “Victoria... who is that? Who is with you right now?”

​Victoria gasped softly, and the call abruptly went dead.

​Andrew’s heart pounded violently against his ribs. He redialed immediately, and it rang and rang until it cut off. He called back a second time, gripping the steering wheel hard.

​Finally, she picked up.

​“Stop calling me!”

She hissed.

​In the background, the same man's voice chuckled smoothly. “Yes, one for the lady too. What do you think about some shrimp martinis before we go on the floor?’

“Victoria! Who is that man? Tell me the truth!”

Andrew yelled into the speaker like a volcano had erupted. “I am your husband! We have been together for fifteen years, damnit! I have the right to know who is in that room with you!”

​Victoria didn't sound guilty as she scoffed.

“Your right? You think you have rights over me, Andrew? Look in the mirror! You are nothing but an illiterate, filthy fisherman smelling like gutters! How dare you question me!”

​“I saved your life!” Andrew shouted back, “I gave up everything for you and the twins, I have adjusted and adapted myself to your family's demands without a single complaint! And in return, you can't even give me one answer? Victoria, you can't treat me like this!”

​“You saved me fifteen years ago, and I regret marrying you every single day since!” Victoria spat “You are a pathetic failure! You mean nothing to me, do you hear me? Nothing!”

​“Victoria, tell me who he is! Right now! Then we'll see who regrets it or not!”

Andrew roared, desperately demanding the truth he had earned with his blood and sweat.

​Right at that split second, a blast of headlights flooded his windshield. ​A massive eighteen-wheeler cargo truck had crossed the median, barreling directly toward him.

​Andrew gasped, instinctively yanking the steering wheel with all his might, but the distance was far too short.

​Through the phone, Victoria was still screaming at him, when the deafening sound collision reached him.

​The massive truck smashed into the side of the car, and Andrew’s body was thrown violently across the cabin, glass shattering into thousands of shards.

His car was crushed into twisted metal, pinning his chest against the broken frame.

​Andrew’s limp, blood-drenched fist opened, letting the phone fall against the glass debris. He choked on his own blood, desperately struggling to keep his eyes open, fighting to stay conscious.

“Hello? Can you hear me! Andrew, stop using these cheap tricks to get my attention, alright…?”

Through the buzzing in his ears, the faint echo of Victoria’ voice was still coming from the smashed screen, before everything went black.