Love Was Never Enough

"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."