I Was Never His Ending

Zach led Rainie up the stage. One hand rested lightly at her back, while the other brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. That action alone made everyone bubble with excitement.

A reporter quickly asked, "Mr. Lawson, who is this lady to you?"

I clenched my fists. Zach hated direct questions. All his answers were very rehearsed and formulaic. When someone mentioned me the last time, all he did was offer them a polite smile.

"Ms. Jensen is part of the founding team, and I trust her professional ability."

I hated how he wanted to keep us hidden, but then he would apologize with a big bouquet of roses. "The company's still making its way out. It's for the greater good."

…

Two months had gone by since that day.

Now he was asked a similar question. He looked at Rainie, and when he spoke, his voice cracked. "She's… my salvation."

Rainie cried right away. Camera flashes filled the air, so bright and rapid that my eyes nearly went dry.

On the same day five years ago, after Zach's revival, the doctors pronounced him paralyzed in both legs. I held his hand tightly and told him we could not give up.

Once we exhausted all the doctors we could find locally, I took him overseas. When the pain was too much for him during physical rehabilitation, I let him grab my arm. The first time he stood up with the guardrail's help, he fell down after two seconds.

I lunged over to act as his pillow, but his weight pressed against my leg's bone. For the next month, I had to wear a support brace.

Even so, I still helped him with getting back on his feet, though I was also limping. Eventually, he could stand. He could walk. He could run. He could even jump.

Now, he was calling Rainie his salvation.

My vision was blurry, and I lowered my eyes to the scars on my arm. They could never disappear now.

I wondered if my sacrifice meant nothing to him.

It was already eleven when the event ended.

I avoided the crowd and got into the car, but he never came out. It was not until midnight that his call finally came. "Sorry, forgot to tell you I'm staying with Rainie. You can go home alone."

I was stunned. "I'm your fiancee, and you're going to stay with another woman?"

He retorted softly, "You make it sound worse than it really is. She's still upset after her recent divorce. I just don't want her mind to wander to dark places when she's alone."

Someone on the other end muttered, and his voice turned gentler. "Hey, you're up. I made soup for you." The call ended abruptly.

Even saying goodbye to me had become too much trouble for him now.

Disappointment churned within me. My head was spinning, and I had to roll down the window to let the chilly draft in just to regain some clarity.

Once I got home, I carefully navigated the darkness and fell asleep on the couch. The next morning, I was woken up by the sound of the door opening.

Zach glanced at me and went to the bedroom. "Why did you sleep on the couch?"

I pushed myself into a sitting position.

He was already changing his clothes. "Why did you say that last night?"

He froze for a moment and changed the subject. "I'm going to be late for work."

I frowned.

Just when I was about to press further, my phone buzzed. "Ma'am, Mr. Lawson is transferring 45% of the shares to Ms. Quinton. You need to be here early for the process."