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.

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.

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.