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.
