Love Was Never Enough

For three years of marriage, Jeanette Schafer had devoted herself completely to caring for Skyler Weisberg, who was confined to a wheelchair. Yet, Skyler harbored nothing but contempt for her. He hated her touch so much that the last time she accidentally brushed against his legs, he locked her out of their home for 99 days. The day finally came when Skyler's legs had healed enough for him to stand again. Yet, the first thing he did was to drive straight to the airport to pick up his first love. Years of selfless devotion and tender care meant nothing compared to his 'the one that got away'. Swallowing the heartbreak, Jeanette made a call. She whispered, "The contract is fulfilled. I'm filing for divorce." Only after she walked away did Skyler realize what he had lost. But by then, it was already too late. Chapter 1 "Kimmy, my legs are healed! Please come back to me. I'll pick you up at the airport!" Jeanette Schafer had been crying tears of joy just moments before, but looking at the familiar profile picture on Skyler Weisberg's phone, her smile froze. She had always known Skyler did not love her. The only woman he had ever truly loved since the beginning was his first love, Kimberly Affleck. Right after graduating from college three years ago, Skyler had chosen to stay behind and take over the family business, while Kimberly had flown overseas to chase her dreams. They had chosen different paths, but Skyler had never truly let go of Kimberly. When news reached him that Kimberly had suddenly gotten married abroad, he could not accept the reality. He had raced to the airport in his car, determined to fly to Reaburg and stop the wedding at all costs. However, Skyler crashed on the highway, leaving his legs permanently disabled and his dreams of chasing after Kimberly shattered. At the time, Jeanette was working as a resident doctor, assisting the chief surgeon in Skyler's complicated leg surgery. After the operation, the once-proud golden boy could not accept his new reality as a disabled man. He became violent and angry, cursing and throwing tantrums whenever something upset him. The hospital staff were all afraid to approach him, so they pushed forward Jeanette, who had the least experience. Jeanette had a gentle, harmless girl-next-door face, which was naturally more approachable than others. Combined with her solid professional skills, patience, and careful attitude, she became the only person in the entire hospital who could get close to Skyler. Later, when Skyler was discharged, his mother, Dorothea Ashbourne, came to see her. Dorothea offered her five million dollars, hoping she would marry Skyler and provide full-time care for him. Jeanette was desperate for money to pay for her seriously ill mother's medical bills, so she agreed without hesitation. She quit her hospital job and spent three years pouring herself into Skyler's world. When Skyler raged because of his injured legs, Jeanette willingly endured all his temper. When his wounds hurt, Jeanette stayed up all night massaging them for him. Every time he fell during rehabilitation, she immediately cushioned his fall with her own body. Everyone wondered why this young woman, who suddenly appeared, treated Skyler so well. Only Jeanette knew that all four years of her college tuition had been paid for by Skyler's scholarship fund. He was the head of the campus philanthropy board, and she had been just another faceless name on his list of sponsored students. The distance between them had always been so vast that Jeanette never dared to hope for more. Yet, later, she accidentally encountered Skyler after his accident. She stayed by his side, willing to give him everything she had. Jeanette used to think that if she continued like this year after year, Skyler would eventually see her worth. However, seeing him share the news of his recovery with Kimberly before anyone else, her heart finally gave out. After three years of marriage, she seemed to have never entered his heart. Every year, when Valentine's Day came around, Skyler disappeared without a word. No matter how desperately she searched or how long she waited, he never came home that day. Eventually, she found out that Valentine's Day was his anniversary with Kimberly. Even though they were miles apart, he still marked the day, still bought her gifts, and still honored her memory like she had never left. Skyler kept a study in the house, a room she was never allowed to enter. Once, she accidentally walked in while cleaning, and he locked her outside in the pouring rain for an entire night. The room was filled with nothing but Kimberly's photos. It was then that Jeanette finally understood that she could never truly move Skyler. Still, she had done her part. His legs were healed, her task was complete. While Skyler was still on the phone, happily sharing his recovery with Kimberly, Jeanette stepped into a quiet corner and made a call of her own. She whispered, "Ma'am, Skyler can walk again. My part of the deal is finished. I'm filing for divorce." Chapter 2 The Weisberg family threw a grand party to celebrate Skyler's recovery, and Jeanette had arrived at the hotel early in the morning to help Dorothea with the arrangements. Out on the balcony, the two women stood side by side, their expressions unreadable as they looked at one another. After a long pause, Dorothea finally let out a sigh. "Jeanette, do you really want a divorce? You’ve taken care of Skye for three years. Now that he’s healed, he’ll definitely appreciate everything you’ve done. You two should try to make this marriage work." "Kimberly is coming back." It took only that one sentence, and Dorothea’s face changed. Her shock was quickly replaced by worry, and then helplessness. "Well then… I’ll respect your decision," Dorothea replied, quietly giving up. Jeanette felt a cold wave rise in her chest. Just moments ago, Dorothea had still been trying to persuade her to stay, but she gave up the second Kimberly’s name was mentioned without a fight. It seemed that they all knew how important Kimberly was to Skyler. Despite caring for him devotedly for three years, she was nothing more than a caregiver in his heart. "Jeanette, what are your plans after the divorce? Since your mother passed away, you've been all alone. You've taken care of Skye for three years, and I've always seen you as my own daughter. If you need any help, tell me—don't be shy." Jeanette's eyes became teary, touched by the sudden maternal warmth. Dorothea was right. Three years ago, Jeanette took the five million dollars from her, believing she could use it to cure her mother’s illness. Unexpectedly, her mother’s condition worsened beyond saving three months later. Her mother was gone, but she had taken Dorothea’s money. So, she stayed in the Weisberg residence and continued caring for Skyler. Now, it was finally time to start living for herself. After a few moments of thought, Jeanette replied, "Ma'am, I want to go abroad for a PhD. I was trained in medicine, and it’s time I return to it." "Don't worry about that. I'll definitely arrange everything for you." Jeanette looked at Dorothea gratefully, while also reminding her, "Ma'am, I'll discuss the divorce with Skye myself, so I won't trouble you with it." Dorothea nodded, looking at Jeanette with more pity in her eyes. With Kimberly back, he knew that Skyler would happily agree when Jeanette mentioned divorce. There was not much left for Dorothea to do. It was a shame, really. Jeanette was a good girl, but clearly, she was never meant to be part of the Weisberg family. Soon, the venue filled with guests. Dorothea brought Jeanette out to greet everyone together. But as the event start time approached, the guest of honor, Skyler, still had not appeared. Dorothea waved over her daughter, Isadora Weisberg. "Isadora, didn't I ask you to pick up Skye? Where is he?" Isadora smiled mysteriously. "Mom, don't worry. Skye will be here soon, and I guarantee he'll give you a surprise!" After speaking, Isadora turned to Jeanette with a smug look and whispered, "Well, country girl, your good days are over!" She had always looked down on Jeanette, believing she had approached Skyler for money by any means necessary. Over the years, she had bullied Jeanette both openly and behind the scenes. The ballroom doors opened, and Skyler appeared in everyone's sight wearing a black designer suit. Beside him, Kimberly appeared in a stunning wine-red gown, her arm gracefully linked with his. "Is that Kimberly Affleck? Mr. Weisberg's first love?" someone in the crowd asked. "Of course it is. When has Mr. Weisberg ever looked at anyone else like that?" "He’s been devoted to her for years. He got into that accident rushing to stop her wedding, and now that he’s back on his feet, she’s the first person he brings back." "Exactly! It's just a pity that some people don't know their place and won't let go of the Weisberg family!" Discussions erupted everywhere, and people looked at Jeanette with mockery and ridicule. Isadora chuckled. "Speechless, huh? Kimmy is gorgeous, isn’t she? Now you get it, right? You don’t win a man’s heart just by being a good little caregiver. Kimmy's back, and it's time for you to pack up your sad little bags and leave." Jeanette stood frozen under the ballroom’s spotlight, feeling as though every stare was a dagger stabbing straight through her. Yes, she really did not belong here. Everyone treated her like a caregiver or servant, and no one had ever truly acknowledged or respected her. She should have left long ago. Chapter 3 Skyler led Kimberly through the crowd and stopped in front of Dorothea. His voice was full of excitement."Mom, Kimmy's back." Dorothea frowned, her gaze sharp as it landed on Kimberly. "You're already married. Why did you suddenly come back?" Kimberly's lips trembled, and tears immediately rolled down her cheeks. "Ma'am, everything that happened before was my fault. I'm sorry." Skyler's heart ached the moment he saw her cry. He pulled her into his arms without hesitation. "Mom, Kimmy's divorced now. Her ex-husband was abusive, a complete monster! Everything that happened in the past is over. I don't care about that anymore, and neither should you." Dorothea had always known how much Skyler cared for Kimberly, but being scolded by him in front of so many people still made her feel humiliated. She turned and left without another word. Then, Skyler's and Kimberly's eyes turned to Jeanette. Skyler did not seem to feel the need to explain anything to her. He simply said, "Kimmy just got back and doesn't have a place to stay. Go home and get the room ready." That usual commanding tone caught Jeanette off guard. She blurted out, "Ms. Affleck is moving into our home?" Skyler raised a brow like it was obvious. "Of course. Where else would she go?" Isadora let out a snort of laughter from the side. "Did you hear that? 'Our home'? She really thinks she's the lady of the Weisberg residence." Laughter rippled around them, and Jeanette felt an overwhelming sense of isolation. Three years ago, after the accident, Skyler spiraled and drank himself into oblivion day after day. When his house accidentally caught fire, Jeanette ran in without hesitation, carrying him out through the smoke and flames. However, she was hit in the head by a falling light fixture and spent a month in the hospital. When she woke up, Skyler had been sitting at her bedside. He had asked her to marry him. He bought this house as their marital home, promising it would be their future together. But now, as soon as Kimberly returned, she was moving directly into her marital home. While Jeanette stood there in stunned silence, Kimberly gave Skyler a pitiful look. She mumbled, "Skye, does Ms. Schafer not want me in your house? If it makes her uncomfortable, I can just stay at a hotel. I don't want to cause trouble." "Absolutely not. Hotels are full of strangers. It's not safe!" Skyler responded firmly, then turned to Jeanette with a stern look. "Nettie, she's only staying for a while. Don't be so petty." Jeanette suddenly smiled. "You're right. I'm being petty. I'll head home now and tidy things up. You two enjoy yourselves." She turned without waiting for a response, walking out of the ballroom filled with mocking laughter and cruel stares. It was just a house, nothing worth clinging to. After all, sooner or later, it would belong to Kimberly anyway. Back at the now quiet, empty house, Jeanette packed up the sunlit bedroom she had lived in for three years. She had always lived frugally, and Skyler had never once bought her anything. So, even after all that time, her belongings barely filled a single suitcase. It was almost a relief since it was easier to walk away when you were not carrying much. Just as she finished packing, her phone buzzed. Someone had uploaded a video to social media. It was a clip from the party, and Skyler and Kimberly stood by the champagne tower, sipping from each other's glasses. They gazed at each other lovingly, looking like a perfect couple made for each other. In the background, someone shouted, "Kiss! Kiss!" Jeanette quickly turned it off, unable to watch anymore. Not long after, Skyler and Kimberly returned home, both reeking of alcohol. When Skyler saw that Jeanette had already given up her bedroom for Kimberly, he looked pleased. Once Kimberly went upstairs to shower, Skyler did something rare. He actually sat beside Jeanette and even reached out to pat her head. "Nettie, I knew you'd understand. You always do." Jeanette leaned away, just out of his reach. His hand froze awkwardly in mid-air, and his eyes darkened slightly. He muttered, "I told you already. Kimmy's just staying here for a bit." "It's fine. Ms. Affleck can stay as long as she wants," Jeanette replied as she handed him a pile of documents. "My former hospital is requesting some medical equipment. Can you take a look? Maybe Weisberg Corp could help with a donation?" Skyler took the folder, laughing under his breath. "So, is this the price for letting Kimmy move in?" Jeanette did not respond. Her eyes remained on the folder, nerves quietly building. Skyler did not even read it. He signed everything without a glance, thinking it was her way of bargaining for some compensation for Kimberly moving into the marital home. Naturally, he did not notice the divorce papers at the bottom of the pile. Back in her room, Jeannette pulled out the signed papers and stared at his name at the bottom, not knowing how to feel. Maybe she should cry because her three years of love and loyalty still led to nothing, or she could laugh because, for the first time in three years, she was finally walking away and starting over. Chapter 4 Early the next morning, before the sun had even come up, a knock sounded at Jeanette's bedroom door. "Nettie, make some soup, will you? Kimmy drank last night, and her stomach's not feeling great." After Skyler's injury, he had become incredibly self-conscious and refused to let strangers see him in a vulnerable state, so the mansion had no staff. He had grown used to ordering Jeanette around. Still half-asleep, Jeanette answered without thinking, "No." "What did you just say?" Skyler looked stunned, as if he could not believe what he heard. After all, Jeanette had never once refused him in the past three years. When Skyler questioned her, Jeanette became more alert. She pointed to her stomach and said, "I'm on my period, and my stomach really hurts. I should avoid cold water." Skyler looked her up and down, as if considering whether this excuse was reasonable. After a moment, he sighed. "Fine, I'll take her out to eat." When Skyler and Kimberly left, Jeanette was sitting in her room reading. Since she was about to go abroad for her PhD, she wanted to get back into her studies early. Kimberly came to her room and said sweetly, "Ms. Schafer, Skye and I are going out to eat. You should come with us." Jeanette did not refuse. After all, she knew that once Kimberly spoke up, Skyler would not let her say no anyway. The sleek black Maybach weaved through morning traffic before finally pulling up in front of their old college. As soon as they got out of the car, Kimberly intimately linked arms with Skyler and said, "Skye, it's been so long since we've been back. This place holds so many memories for us!" Skyler nodded, though his eyes briefly flicked to Jeanette, who stood off to the side, awkward and quiet. He explained, "Kimmy wanted to come for the chicken soup in the cafeteria. Thought we'd stop by and revisit the place." For once, he gave Jeanette an explanation. However, all she offered in return was a nod. "It's fine. As long as you're happy." Skyler's brow furrowed slightly. Something about Jeanette felt different, but before he could dwell on it, Kimberly was tugging him into the campus, laughing. Everywhere they walked was tied to some memory they shared. They talked and smiled, lost in their world, completely forgetting Jeanette behind them. Jeanette stared at their backs, weariness creeping into her bones. She told herself to just hold on a little longer. Once the mandatory waiting period ended, she would be gone for good. The cafeteria was clean and had plenty of food options. Skyler carried a full tray excitedly toward Kimberly. "Kimmy, I got everything you used to love in college. Go ahead, try it." Jeanette glanced at the spicy dishes on the table, a little dazed. Three whole years, and Skyler still remembered everything Kimberly liked. Yet, he never once noticed that Jeanette could not handle spicy food. Quietly, she stood up to get herself something milder. A cafeteria worker carrying a pot of steaming soup behind her did not notice and bumped right into her. The hot broth splashed everywhere, and Skyler instinctively pulled Kimberly into his arms. However, the boiling soup landed straight on Jeanette's arm, and blisters began to form immediately. "Are you okay?" For the first time, Skyler dropped Kimberly and rushed to Jeanette, grabbing her arm, visibly alarmed. Before Jeanette could speak, Kimberly gasped. "Skye! It burns! It hurts so much!" Her hand had a few small red spots, nothing compared to the blistering on Jeanette's skin. Yet, she clutched her wrist and began to cry. "My hand got burned, Skye. It really hurts." Skyler let go of Jeanette without another word and scooped Kimberly up in his arms. "Don't worry, Kimmy. I'll take you to the hospital right now." He took two steps, then turned back with a slightly guilty look. "You're a doctor, and you know how to treat burns. Take care of yourself first. I'll send the driver for you in a bit." Jeanette had been holding it together for days, but something inside her snapped at that moment. Tears rolled down her cheeks before she even realized they were coming. This was her husband, the man she had cared for selflessly for three years. Yet, no matter how badly she was hurt, compared to Kimberly, she would always come second. Every sacrifice and care over the three years meant absolutely nothing to him. He had stomped on her love again and again, like it had never mattered at all. Chapter 5 The weather was hot, and because Jeanette's arm injury had gone untreated for too long, it became infected and started to worsen. The doctor insisted she be admitted to the hospital, and she agreed. She had taken care of Skyler around the clock for the past three years and had never once stepped away, even when she was sick herself. But now, she wanted to live for herself. Jeanette turned off her phone and stayed in the hospital, using the quiet time to rest and read. Watching the doctors rush up and down the hallways filled her with longing. Once, her dream had been to become a great doctor, to heal people and make a difference. However, after signing that contract with Dorothea, she let go of that dream. Now, with a new opportunity to return to school, she simply wanted to study hard and one day work on the front lines of medicine again, finishing what she started. Just before discharge, Jeanette ran into Isadora in the hospital corridor. Isadora was there with a friend who had a check-up. The moment she saw Jeanette, she stormed over, fuming. She snapped, "Country girl, what the hell are you doing? Disappearing on purpose? Do you even realize how messed up everything's been at home? Skye's been looking everywhere for you!" "Why would he be looking for me?" Jeanette was puzzled. She thought she had given Skyler and Kimberly plenty of space to enjoy their time together in peace. Isadora groaned and ran a hand through her hair. "I don't have time to explain. Just go back and see for yourself." With that, Isadora completely ignored Jeanette's wound and dragged her out of the hospital, bringing her home. As soon as Jeanette entered the mansion's front door, she noticed something different. The garden that had been lush and green a week ago was now completely withered, and the house was a complete mess. Skyler heard the noise at the entrance, and his eyes suddenly lit up. He strode to the door and grabbed Jeanette's injured arm. "Where did you run off to? Jeanette, you're really developing quite an attitude! Just because I was a little late taking you to the hospital, you decided to run away from home! Look what a mess this house has become!" Jeanette felt pain shoot from her wound all the way to her bones. Blood had started to seep through her bandage again. It finally hit her that Skyler had not been looking for her because he cared. He had been looking for her because the house was falling apart without a maid. He did not care about her injury or where she had been during this time. Instead, he would only blame her for not being the dutiful wife she used to be. Jeanette gritted her teeth and pulled her arm from his grip. "Skyler, you're hurting me!" Only then did Skyler notice the blood stains on her clothes. He remembered the burn from the cafeteria and finally softened. He said, "I didn't realize it got that bad. Fine, this time I was wrong, but you running away from home cancels that out. Come here. I have something to show you." For the first time ever, Skyler took her hand in his and led her upstairs. He placed a sparkling diamond necklace in front of her and said, "This is for you. A little something for your injury. Kimmy's moving out too, so don't stay mad, okay?" Jeanette opened her mouth, unsure what to say. In the past, she had hoped every day that he would give her a gift, anything at all. But now that it was sitting in front of her, she could not tell if he gave it because he cared or because of Kimberly. Jeanette expressionlessly took the box and placed it on the table. She turned and went to her room to shower, but when she came out, she saw Kimberly wearing that necklace in front of the mirror. Kimberly saw Jeanette in the mirror and smiled smugly at her. "Sorry, Ms. Schafer. I hope you don't mind. I just mentioned yesterday that I liked this necklace, and today, Skye bought it back. He really is—" Before Kimberly could finish, Skyler came out of the kitchen. He saw the necklace around Kimberly's neck and was momentarily stunned. Kimberly hugged his arm, being all sweet. "Skye, you're so thoughtful. I really love this gift." Skyler looked at Jeanette with complicated feelings, then at Kimberly. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "I'm glad you like it." "Yeah," Jeanette mumbled quietly. "As long as Ms. Affleck likes it." She brushed past them without another word and headed to the garden. A familiar fragrance drifted past his nose, and Skyler watched Jeanette's retreating figure, feeling something strange. He was surprised that Jeanette was not angry, and he wondered if she was just pretending. Then again, it did not matter. After all, it was just a necklace. He could buy her something more expensive next time. He quickly convinced himself that Jeanette would not be that petty. Chapter 6 The 30-day mandatory waiting period passed quickly. Jeanette had already booked her flight abroad, and she was just waiting for the final day to arrive. That morning, she began packing everything into boxes, preparing to ship her belongings ahead of time. As she stepped out the door with one of the boxes in her arms, she ran straight into Kimberly and Isadora, who had just barged into the house. The box flew open, spilling its contents across the floor. Jeanette rushed to gather them, but it was too late. Both women had already noticed. "Why are you packing up so much stuff?" Isadora asked sharply. Jeanette gave a random excuse. "They're just things I don't need anymore. I'm donating them to the orphanage." Isadora scoffed. "You're seriously donating that junk to the orphanage? Poor kids." Jeanette ignored the jab and shut the box, preparing to leave. "Hold up," Kimberly said, reaching in and pulling out a bracelet. "This looks interesting. I'll take it." Jeanette's eyes darted to the bracelet in Kimberly's hand. Her expression changed instantly as she snatched it back. "No, I put that in there by mistake. This one's not for donation. I'm keeping it." This was the last thing her mother, Katherine Stewart, had left her before she died, and Jeanette had always carefully kept it, never expecting Kimberly to find it today. "What do you mean no? It's just a bracelet. You should be grateful that Kimmy likes it, so hurry up and give it to her. The way you act is embarrassing!" Isadora scolded her with disgust. "I said no. It's mine. Why should I give it to her?" Jeanette's voice rose, her face flushed with anger. Isadora froze in shock. She could not believe that Jeanette had just yelled at her. Who the hell did she think she was? Isadora reached out, ready to snatch it back, when the front door burst open. Skyler stepped in, his expression already irritated. "I could hear the yelling from the driveway. What's going on in here?" His eyes scanned the room and landed on Jeanette. Before she could speak, Kimberly had already started crying softly. "Skye, it's my fault. Ms. Schafer had a box of stuff she was donating to the orphanage, and I just asked if she'd sell me the bracelet. She didn't want to." "Exactly! I've never seen anyone so petty. We're even offering to pay for it!" Isadora added fuel to the fire. When Skyler heard this, he immediately frowned at Jeanette. "It's just a bracelet you don't want anymore. If Kimmy wants it, just give it to her. I'll buy you a new one." The entitled tone in his voice stung Jeanette. She bit her lip, breathing heavily to keep her tears from falling. She held the bracelet out in front of Skyler. "Skyler, look carefully. This bracelet is something my mom left me. Don't you know what it means to me?" When Katherine had just died, Jeanette wore this bracelet every day, not even taking it off to sleep. Later, during one of Skyler's rehabilitation sessions, she bumped the bracelet and took it off, carefully storing it away. She thought that since she and Skyler had spent so much time together, he would have at least recognized this bracelet. Yet, he looked at it for a long time, and his expression did not change at all. Instead, his tone became even sharper. "Jeanette, you're getting more and more outrageous. It's just a bracelet, and you're making up lies about it being a keepsake? Do you think I'll believe that? I think you're deliberately making things difficult for Kimmy." He added, "The more she wants something, the more you refuse to let her have it. You'd rather donate it than give it to her. Jeanette, I never thought you were such a petty woman. I'm so disappointed in you!" With that, Skyler pulled Kimberly and walked out, slamming the door behind him. Jeanette wavered, then collapsed onto the floor, her strength drained. No matter what Kimberly said, Skyler would believe her without question. But Jeanette? Even when she spoke the truth, he refused to listen. Clutching the bracelet to her chest, she broke down in tears. Chapter 7 Due to the earlier incident, Jeanette no longer felt safe sending the bracelet by mail, so she placed it in her carry-on bag, planning to take it with her directly when she left. That day, she received a call from Dorothea, inviting her to dinner at home. Dorothea sounded sincere, saying this might be the last family meal they would ever share. Jeanette was moved by her words and agreed to go. When she arrived at the Weisberg Manor, Skyler had already brought Kimberly to sit in Jeanette's usual spot. She avoided their gaze and quietly took a seat at the far end of the table. During dinner, Skyler attentively cared for Kimberly, while Jeanette sat in silence, chewing without tasting anything. Dorothea watched it unfold with a trace of discomfort, though she said nothing to stop her beloved son. After dinner, Jeanette said goodbye to Dorothea. Just as she walked out of the house, she heard laughter from Skyler, Isadora, and Kimberly in the garden. "Skye, you know what? This bracelet is actually pretty interesting. It's hard enough to crack walnuts with. I wonder what material it's made of." "Who cares what it's made of? It's not like it's worth anything. Jeanette's dirt-poor. What valuable thing could she possibly own?" Isadora laughed along. These few words made Jeanette's blood boil, and she angrily walked over to find Kimberly wearing that bracelet. The bracelet already had many scratches and marks. It was scratched and scuffed now, clearly used exactly the way Kimberly had joked. Jeanette's face flushed deep red, her breath ragged as fury surged through her. She growled, "Skyler, did you seriously steal my bracelet and give it to Kimberly?" Skyler frowned, annoyed. "Steal? Don't be dramatic. Kimmy just wanted to borrow it for a couple of days. She was going to give it back." "Taking something without asking is stealing. That's a simple principle." Jeanette was almost losing her mind, her body trembling slightly as she reached out to grab Kimberly's arm, trying to remove the bracelet from her hand. "Ouch! Ms. Schafer, you're hurting me!" Kimberly whimpered, instantly playing the victim. Skyler's temper flared. He could not believe that Jeanette was talking to him like this and even daring to put her hands on Kimberly. He yanked Jeanette by the shoulder and shoved her aside. Jeanette could not react in time and fell directly to the ground. A flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by a sudden downpour. Kimberly leaned into Skyler's chest and murmured, "It's my fault, Skye. Don't fight over this. I'll just give it back to Ms. Schafer right now." She slid the bracelet off and held it out. Jeanette ignored the pain in her body, scrambled up from the ground, and reached out to take the bracelet from Kimberly's hand. Just as their hands were about to touch, Kimberly's hand trembled, and the bracelet fell to the ground with a crash, shattering into pieces. Jeanette's eyes widened in horror, while Kimberly let out a theatrical gasp. "Oh no, Ms. Schafer! Why didn't you catch it? Now it's broken. What are we going to do?" "Let it go. It's her own fault," Skyler grumbled, still angry. Then, he pulled Kimberly and Isadora back into the house. The rain fell steadily, and Jeanette looked at the shattered bracelet. Overwhelmed by pain in her heart, she sank to her knees, clutching her chest, and sobbed uncontrollably. The bracelet was gone; the last thing her mother had left her was shattered. And with it, the last piece of her connection to this world. Jeanette had given three years of her life. Yet, in the end, she was left with nothing. Chapter 8 After his shower, Skyler found himself walking to the window. Under the dim garden lights, a small figure was kneeling on the ground, searching bit by bit for pieces of the broken bracelet. Something seemed to have pierced his chest, and for a moment, he felt suffocated. Seeing Jeanette so obsessed with this bracelet, he wondered if it was really something Katherine had left behind. Skyler tossed his towel aside and was about to go downstairs when Kimberly and Isadora came up to meet him. "Skye, you're not going down to check on that woman, are you? She's just putting on a show for attention right now. Don't let her fool you!" Kimberly looked down nervously. "Skye, Ms. Schafer told me herself it was something she didn't want. I only borrowed it because I thought it was okay. It's my fault she got upset." Skyler suddenly felt clarity wash over him. Right, she had said that she did not want those things. However, she changed her mind when she heard Kimmy wanted them. If that was not targeting Kimmy, what was it? It finally made sense why she was making a scene in the garden now. If he went out there, she would just get bolder. With that thought, Skyler dismissed the idea of going to Jeanette. … When dawn broke, Jeanette had finally found all the fragments in the garden. After being rained on all night, she felt dizzy and lightheaded. Even so, she did not dare rest. She was leaving soon and had to repair the bracelet, or she would never have peace of mind. Jeanette ran to many places and finally found a craftsman who could repair the bracelet at the city's largest jewelry auction house. Tears welled in her eyes as she thanked him over and over again. It took three full days before the repair was complete. The craftsman handed her the bracelet and said, "Something that's broken is broken. No matter how you fix it, there will always be cracks. I did my best." Jeanette looked at the faint lines running across the bracelet, a pang of sadness filling her heart. Still, she was immensely grateful for the craftsman's help. "I understand, sir. You did everything you could. Thank you." Jeanette carefully carried the box out of the workshop, but she ran into the person she least wanted to see while going downstairs. "Ms. Schafer, what a coincidence! Are you here to buy jewelry too?" Kimberly asked with a smile. Jeanette did not want to talk to her and turned to go downstairs. However, as she passed by, she was suddenly shoved hard. Then, two screams echoed throughout the entire jewelry store. By the time Skyler arrived, both women were lying on the floor. Jeanette's face was covered in bruises, and blood was streaming down her knees. Meanwhile, Kimberly looked relatively unharmed, but she was crying uncontrollably. "Ms. Schafer, I know you hate me. I felt terrible about breaking your bracelet, so I came here specifically to buy you a gift to apologize. But how could you push me down the stairs? Were you trying to kill me?" Jeanette's head buzzed. Before she could speak, Skyler was already glaring at her with hatred. "Jeanette, how can you be so vicious? If anything happens to Kimmy, I'll make you pay the price!" Skyler's warning rang in her ears like thunder as he stepped over Jeanette with disgust, picked up Kimberly, and rushed straight to the hospital. Jeanette looked at her wounded body. Strangely, she felt nothing anymore. She laughed through her tears, mocking herself in an attempt at comfort. She thought, 'Maybe it's better this way. When the heart aches badly enough, perhaps the body's pain can no longer be felt.' Maybe this battered, broken body of hers was not worth cherishing anymore. Chapter 9 Jeanette was taken to the hospital by the jewelry store staff, and it happened to be the same hospital where she used to work. She had injured her leg and, like Skyler once had, was admitted to the orthopedics. That was how she bumped into her former mentor, Arthur Munoz. After bandaging her wounds, Arthur asked with concern, "How do you feel? Does it still hurt? Where's your husband? You're hospitalized, and he's not here with you?" Jeanette chuckled awkwardly. "It's fine, Dr. Munoz. I can take care of myself." Arthur immediately understood. Marrying into wealth sounded glamorous, but only the person involved knew the real suffering. He patted Jeanette's shoulder and comforted her, "It's okay. Worst case, you can come back to the hospital. You're always welcome here." Jeanette felt warmth in her heart. "Thank you, Dr. Munoz. I've been away from medicine too long, but once I get back up on track, I'll definitely return!" Arthur was very pleased to hear this. "Oh, by the way, did you know that there's finally a treatment for the kind of illness your mother had?" He let out a quiet sigh. "If only she had held on a few more years, maybe you wouldn't be all alone now." Jeanette blinked, stunned. It took her a moment to register what he had just said. "Dr. Munoz, are you saying that back then, my mother's illness was untreatable?" "Yes, didn't I tell you at the time? After the symptoms show, patients usually have no more than three months. Oh wait, I remember now… I didn't tell you directly. I told another lady who said she was your family member. She was afraid you couldn't handle it and wanted to break it to you gently." Jeanette's mind went completely blank, and something snapped in Jeanette's mind. She had no other relatives, and the only woman who could have appeared at the hospital then was Dorothea. She had known Katherine's illness was incurable, but still offered five million for Katherine's treatment in exchange for Jeanette staying by Skyler's side. In other words, Katherine's death had been part of the plan all along, and Jeanette, touched by Dorothea's "generosity", had stayed and devoted the next three years of her life to Skyler. To help her son recover, Dorothea had sacrificed Jeanette's best three years, making her pour out her heart and soul, only to end up like this. Arthur looked startled as Jeanette suddenly broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. "Three years… Three years of my life, and it was all a joke! I was such a fool… such a stupid, stupid fool!" She began hitting herself in despair, and Arthur, alarmed, had to sedate her to calm her down. When Jeanette woke up, she was as calm as a puppet. She dragged her injured leg to complete the discharge procedures. As she turned around, she saw Skyler in the hospital corridor, carefully supporting Kimberly with a face full of tenderness. Jeanette kept her gaze forward and walked past them without hesitation. However, Skyler reached out and grabbed her by the shoulder. "How can you just walk past Kimmy like that? Jeanette, apologize to her!" She turned to face him calmly, her voice steady. "I didn't push her. I won't apologize." Kimberly immediately burst into tears. "Skye, please don't be mad at Ms. Schafer… Maybe she didn't mean to!" Skyler's expression darkened as he shoved Jeanette against the wall. He gritted his teeth and warned her word by word, "Jeanette, if you don't apologize to Kimmy, don't even think about coming home! You're so damn ungrateful. I want to see how long you'll last out there with no place to go!" Jeanette gave him a bitter smile. So, he knew she had nowhere to go. Yet, did he realize he was the reason she had nothing left? This time, she did not cry. Instead, she glared at him with eyes full of hatred. Skyler was stunned by this expression. He had never seen Jeanette like this. Before he could react, she shoved him aside and limped away without a word. Then, she dragged her battered body to the airport and left the city completely. Before leaving, Jeanette mailed Skyler's copy of the divorce papers to him. Looking at the shipping label with the name she had whispered to herself countless times over the years, she finally muttered, "Skyler Weisberg, never again."