Chapter 2
It was around this time that Abrielle found out Spencer had a childhood friend, Rosie, who was living overseas. The two were inseparable as kids, and if Abrielle hadn't come between them, everyone believed they would've ended up together.
Annie had always hoped Rosie would marry her son.
Annie had tried to threaten and bribe Abrielle to leave Spencer before, but Abrielle had refused every time. This time, though, she finally agreed.
"How much are you offering?" Abrielle asked.
Annie let out a mocking laugh.
"So, Spencer has already talked to you, huh? I told you before, Rosie will always have a place in his heart. They're the perfect match. Why do you keep clinging to him, turning yourself into an old woman for nothing?" Annie said.
"You just won't give up until you hit a wall, will you? 30 million dollars. If you agree to close your account, leave Elmville, and never come back, the money will be in your account right away," Annie added.
Abrielle figured it'd take at least a month to close her account, even if everything went smoothly.
She agreed without hesitation.
Once she left the hospital, Abrielle got the account closed without any trouble.
As she got into a cab to head home, her phone rang. It was Spencer.
"Did you finally figure things out?" he asked.
"Yeah, I do," Abrielle replied.
She let out a soft laugh, lowering her gaze to hide the emotions in her eyes.
Spencer let out a breath, his voice gentler now.
"I knew you'd come around," Spencer said with a hint of relief.
"Where are you? Want me to come pick you up? It's been forever since I had your spicy hotpot. I had the housekeeper stock up on all the ingredients. Everything's ready for you when you get home," he added.
Abrielle just murmured a reply and hung up.
Spencer didn't seem to notice she was acting different, or maybe he just didn't care anymore.
Either way, it was for the best. At least he wouldn't suspect a thing before she left.
As Abrielle got out of the cab and paid the fare, her fingers brushed against something in the hidden pocket of her bag, a charm she and Spencer had picked up together at the church just a month ago.
It read, "I'll go through all the ups and downs with you for the rest of my life."
But now, it all just feels like a cruel joke.
Whatever. All she wished now was that, for the rest of her days, she'd never have to see him again, not in this life, not in the next.
When Abrielle walked in, she saw Rosie sitting on the couch in her loungewear, hugging a pillow.
Rosie gave her a provocative look as soon as she saw Abrielle.
"Abrielle, come on in! Sit here," Rosie said.
Rosie stood up, showing off her long, pale legs. Her shirt was deliberately left unbuttoned at the top, showing a hickey on her skin.
That bright red mark stabbed right into Abrielle's eyes.
It felt like someone was crushing her heart in a vice, the pain so sharp she could barely breathe.
Rosie walked over to the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe, her voice playful.
"Why didn't you tell me your secretary was coming over today?" Rosie said.
"It's the first time I've met one of your colleagues. There are still a few things in the fridge. Should we cook them up? Since it's her first time here, we should show her some real hospitality," she added.
Abrielle's ears were buzzing so loud she couldn't even hear what Spencer was saying.
She forced a smile, feeling nothing but bitter irony.
Rosie was the newcomer here, yet from the way she talked, it was like she was already playing the hostess.
For the first time, the home she'd lived in for seven years, and the man she'd loved just as long, felt utterly unfamiliar.
Every single thing in the house was steeped in memories, but now their familiarity only made the irony cut deeper.
Abrielle clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms until the pain snapped her back to reality. She took a deep breath, then headed upstairs to her own bedroom.
As soon as she pushed open the door, the unfamiliar scent of a woman's perfume filled the air.
The sheets and pillows reeked of it, so strong it made her stomach turn.
Fighting back the urge to throw up, Abrielle walked over to the closet and opened it.
Just as she expected, all her clothes were gone. Her favorite nightlight and the skincare products she used every day had been dumped in another room along with everything else that belonged to her.
She pushed the clothes aside and grabbed the box where they kept their condoms. She started counting how many were left, tapping her fingers as she went.
One was missing.
Abrielle's face turned even paler, a wry, self-deprecating smile curling at her lips.
Spencer had brought another woman into their bed.
The realization was like a razor-sharp blade, slicing straight through her heart and leaving it shredded, raw and bleeding.
"Dinner's ready." The cold voice suddenly cut through the silence from the doorway.
She turned, eyes rimmed red, and saw Spencer in an apron, leaning casually against the doorway.
"What's wrong? Who upset you?" Spencer asked.
Spencer's brows furrowed, a look of concern softening his eyes as he stepped closer to Abrielle. Lowering his voice, he gently asked, "What's wrong? Did someone upset you?"