Running Away Before She Gets Me

I went home the next day unsteady on my feet. My parents were waiting for me on the couch, and their faces were grim.

"You've gotten out of hand, Sebastian. How could you stay out drinking the entire night? And why would you leave a wonderful young lady like Jeannie even though you insisted on marrying her in the first place?"

"You will give us an explanation today. No excuses."

I sobered up halfway when I heard what my parents said. Indeed, I had been the one who insisted on marrying Jeannie. And in the end, I realized that love and happiness could not be forced.

…

I could still remember the day I learned of Jeannie's death.

It was our 25th anniversary. The day before, I had, for the first time in our marriage, pulled the divorce card on Jeannie in a rare show of stubbornness. It was all so she would celebrate our anniversary with us and commemorate my 30th year of being in love with her.

"If you won't come home to celebrate with me, I'll file for a divorce," I had said. It would have worked had Jeannie not treated my threat as a joke.

That evening, I had waited for her expectantly in the restaurant. But all I got in the end was the news of her death.

I rushed to the police station after hanging up the phone.

"Are you Jeannie Goodman's husband?" Having verified my identity, the police officers gave me sympathetic looks. They told me Jeannie had committed suicide alongside a man named Gregory Sanders, presumably because they could not be together.

"Can you tell us what you know about Gregory Sanders?" the police officer had asked.

That was my first time hearing the stranger's name. I shook my head. I was still in a daze.

I only found out who Gregory Sanders was during Jeannie's funeral. Her best friend had cried relentlessly before Jeannie's casket. "If I'd known you were in love with Gregory, I would have stopped you from marrying Sebastian!"

After that, I learned that Gregory was Jeannie's senior from college. They had kept in touch all these years, and she had missed out on anniversaries and celebrations all these years to be with him.

When the funeral had ended and I was alone, I stood before Jeannie's tombstone and murmured, "Did you ever regret marrying me, Jeannie?"

No answer came from the tombstone, but I knew it anyway. "I regret marrying you, too. Given another chance, I would never bother getting to know you."

My gaze cleared at the thought of this as I fixed an even stare at my parents. "I won't marry her, and I can't explain it. I will, however, help the Goodmans."

My mom sighed in resignation. "You'll regret this one day. Forget it. We're off your case, so do whatever you want."

I returned to bed and fell into a deep sleep. Once I had gotten enough rest, I texted Jeannie and asked her to meet me at the company.

She came quickly and even dolled up for our meeting. She wore her hair in soft waves and donned a white dress. She looked as if she was going on a date. "It's been a while since you asked to see me, Sebastian."

A blush crept over her cheeks as she bit her lip bashfully like a schoolgirl.

I tossed the contract onto the table and said in a businesslike manner, "I know your family needs six million dollars in funding. Sign this contract and you'll get what you want, but only on the condition that you never bother me again."

Jeannie lowered her head and made no reply.

I bit out impatiently, "Hurry up, will you? I'm giving you what you want. Don't get greedy."

Upon hearing this, she looked up with tears in her eyes. Gritting her teeth, she tossed the contract back at me and stormed up to me. She tugged on my shirt, compelling me to look her in the eyes and see every emotion in them.

"Sebastian, I wasn't asking for an investment sum. All I ever wanted was you. Haven't I made it clear enough?" Teardrops cascaded down Jeannie's cheeks as she thumped her fist on my chest, but it did not hurt.

"We've been married for over 20 years. Is this how you're going to treat your wife now that you've been reborn? You weren't like this in your previous life…"