Running Away Before She Gets Me

For the next few days, Jeannie showed up in the morning, afternoon, and evening like clockwork. And she always brought food, which had been lovingly and painstakingly prepared.

But I never ate the food or paid her any mind. She would then go about decorating the hospital room. She added cozy and homey touches here and there until it vaguely resembled the house we'd stayed in in my previous life.

I grew even more unsettled after that.

When Jeannie left the room, I immediately asked to be discharged and went home.

Unfortunately, it didn't take long for Jeannie to track me down at my family's residence.

She was rubbing my parents' shoulders and back. "Mr. and Mrs. Miller, I'm happy to come by anytime to rub your shoulders if they feel stiff."

When my parents caught me coming downstairs, they said, "Sebastian just came back from the hospital. He could use a shoulder massage!"

Jeannie turned her expectant gaze toward me.

My parents had betrayed me, plain and simple. I could understand why my parents were so pleased with Jeannie all of a sudden. I had fallen for her gentle and considerate side before learning her true colors, too.

But what was she trying to accomplish?

I patted the back of my head as if to rouse old memories. I then recalled the Goodmans suggesting the marital alliance due to the financial troubles that plagued their family business.

Perhaps Jeannie was doing all this out of fear that we would abandon her family's cause.

Her fear was unnecessary. In my previous life, the Goodmans did pretty well for themselves after getting through hard times. The investment would not be a failed venture.

Having figured that out, I glanced at Jeannie again. Now that I was assessing her like I would an investment, my gaze had softened considerably.

My parents evidently noticed the slight shift in my demeanor, for they quickly nudged Jeannie toward me. She stumbled and fell forward. She seemed as weightless as a leaf.

I reached out to grab her instinctively, only to realize how abnormally thin she was under her clothes. She weighed nearly nothing at all. It was as if she were nothing but bones, and I thought I might crush her if I gripped her any harder.

I frowned as I met Jeannie's gaze. She was blushing, and joy filled her eyes.

However, I was annoyed and shoved her aside somewhat roughly. She swayed and staggered before regaining her footing, though she still looked at me with glittering eyes.

Even my parents were giving me knowing looks. They probably thought I was playing hard to get with Jeannie.

I couldn't stay in this house any longer. I grabbed my phone and decided to head out. I said curtly, "I've got business to attend to, so I'll be staying out tonight."

Jeannie refused to give up. She jogged to catch up with me. She followed me everywhere I went. When I tried to get into the car, she tried to open the door on the passenger's side.

I snapped, "Stop. Could you just get off my back?"

I had raised my voice a little. Jeannie froze with shock, though I saw her shoulders shaking.

Seeing her like this annoyed me even more. "I know you're after my family's funds. Don't worry, the investment is still a going concern even if we don't marry. Happy now? If you are, go away."

When she did not respond, I stepped on the gas and sped off.

Those inside the private lounge of the bar, both familiar and unfamiliar, were discussing my running away from the wedding.

"You're a legend, Seb. I can't believe you'd dump the school belle after pursuing her and jilt her at the wedding!" someone exclaimed.

"I told you Seb isn't one of those cheesy, romantic types. I bet he was acting all along just to bait Jeannie. Guess he really embarrassed her this time, huh?"

"I think she deserves it. She was always so high and mighty. She always looked down on us. How the tables have turned!"

As I listened to their boisterous jesting and condescension, I realized that Jeannie had become the laughingstock of the social circle because of me. No longer was she the school belle on a pedestal. She had fallen from grace and become fodder for vicious gossip.

I refused to join in their conversation and drank in silence.