Chapter 4

Zackary kept going, "I've already talked things over with the Hoover family. Once all this craziness is over, I'll make us official. You won't have to keep struggling.

"I'll handle everything with them. If you want to stay a vet, cool. If not, that's fine too. You'll have everything you want."

He sounded like he meant every word.

But I cut in, "What happened to the wedding money?"

Zackary froze.

I pressed on, "The money I put on that card, didn't you say you spent it on the filming gear?"

The room went dead silent.

Zackary's fingers went stiff, and he slowly let go of my hand.

"I had to use it for something else," he said.

"For Lexie?"

He didn't answer, but I already knew.

That card held every penny I'd saved over the years, including bonuses from the wildlife center, fees from consulting gigs, and all the little bits I'd managed to put aside.

I was planning to use it to pay off the last of the wedding bills, and after the wedding, Zackary and I were going to fix up that old house next to the wildlife center.

He knew all of that.

"She suddenly needed some PR money," Zackary explained. "If we can't keep the whole fiancé-ditching thing under wraps, all the shows she's already lined up will be in trouble."

I looked at him. "So you took our wedding money."

"It's not like I took it. I moved it around for a bit. I'll put it back before tomorrow, so it won't mess up the wedding."

"You didn't tell me."

"I was afraid you'd overthink it."

I laughed.

"You took my money because you were afraid I'd overthink it. And you didn't tell me because you were afraid I'd overthink it."

Zackary's face finally soured. "Jenny, I'm trying to fix things."

"Whose problems?"

He didn't answer.

I finished for him, "Lexie's problems."

Zackary was caught off guard by my question and then frowned.

He said, "Money can be replaced, the wedding can be rescheduled, but if the bad press about her blows up today, her whole career is toast."

I looked at him. "So my wedding can be pushed aside, but her career can't be messed with?"

His face darkened. "Jenny, you already have so much. You've got your job, the animal rescue center, and me. What about Lexie?

"Her fiancé just ditched her, and now people are laughing at her every time she's on camera. Why do you have to fight her for this right now?"

That sharp pain in my stomach flared up again.

I turned to get some water, but as soon as I took a step, my vision went dark.

Zackary caught me before I could fall. "Your stomach acting up again?"

He helped me over to the bed and reached for the nightstand drawer.

He opened it, but it was empty.

He paused for a second.

That was when he remembered; he'd taken my little medicine kit earlier to patch up Lexie.

"I'll have someone bring you some," he said.

Just then, his phone buzzed again.

He glanced at the screen, and his brows knitted together. No need to ask; it was obvious who it was.

Zackary replied to the message while handing me the glass of water.

"Drink some warm water first. Don't stay up on an empty stomach."

His tone was still that familiar kind of care I'd grown used to.

He always remembered my stomach was sensitive, and he'd catch me whenever I was about to fall.

But his care was always so casual, like it could be interrupted by someone else at any moment.

I took the glass but didn't drink right away.

Zackary looked at me, his voice softening again. "Jenny, can you just let it go, please?"

He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "We're getting married tomorrow."

I looked up at him.

There was exhaustion in his eyes, and a look that brooked no argument.

I took a sip of water and asked softly, "Zackary, what if something goes wrong tomorrow?"

He paused for a moment. "What could possibly go wrong?"

"Like, what if you don't pick me?"

Zackary's eyes flickered for a second, but he quickly smiled.

"No. I'll definitely pick you," he said.

I smiled too. "Okay."

Zackary let out a sigh of relief.

He turned off the main light, leaving only the little nightlight by the bed on, and set the glass of water within my reach.

"Get some sleep," he said. "I'll come for you tomorrow."

As I lay down, I heard his phone buzz again.

Zackary glanced at it and then turned his back to me to reply.

I didn't look.

I didn't need to.

My stomach still ached, so I closed my eyes and heard him say softly, "Goodnight, Jenny."

I didn't respond.

After a long time, Zackary finally put his phone down, thinking I was asleep.

The lighthouse outside my window stayed lit all night.

I lay there in the dark, eyes open, waiting until dawn.

Just before dawn, the rain stopped.

The fog outside was thick, and the lighthouse's beam swept in circles, painting the wall with shifting light.