Chapter 8
"I don't need your promises. I just want to know. I saw Rosie stick out her leg and make me fall. If I insisted on holding her accountable, would you get involved?" Abrielle asked.
Spencer was silent for a moment before speaking in a hoarse voice.
"Rosie didn't do it on purpose. She's just a young girl. How could she be so calculating?" he said.
Abrielle wasn't surprised. She just nodded slightly.
"Alright then, hand me your phone," she said.
Spencer looked a little surprised, but did as she asked.
"What, you suddenly want to check up on me? See for yourself, my phone's totally clean. You're the only one I care about," he said.
Abrielle scrolled through his phone and saw that, aside from work stuff, even his conversations with Rosie were totally normal, nothing sketchy at all.
The last thing Rosie sent him was just yesterday: [I'm in Oakland with my mom.]
'So that's why Spencer only bothered to spend time with Rosie when she was away, like he was tossing her scraps of attention,' Abrielle thought.
She quietly exited the chat and opened up his media messages.
There, in the trash folder, she spotted a message sent seven years ago.
He said: [Are you really just going to watch me leave you for someone else?]
Abrielle felt a sharp pain in her chest. She lowered her eyes and handed the phone back to him, untouched.
Spencer's heart lurched, and he immediately explained, his voice low and urgent.
"That was seven years ago. I admit I used to have feelings for her, but now, you're the only one in my heart. Seven years, Abrielle. Haven't you felt how much I love you?" he said.
If this had been before, Abrielle would have believed him, no questions asked.
But now, she hesitated.
She couldn't bring herself to gamble on whether his heart had ever strayed in those seven years.
"Fine," Abrielle said quietly.
She closed her eyes and turned away, not sparing Spencer another glance.
For the next few days, Spencer was there with her in the hospital every single day, never leaving her side.
He made sure she had tea and water, massaged her legs, and whenever she mentioned craving something, he'd immediately run out and get it for her, no questions asked. Anyone who saw them would think he adored her beyond measure.
But only Abrielle knew how much of his love was genuine, and how much was just an act.
On the day she left the hospital, Spencer didn't come to pick her up.
Instead, he sent her a bunch of voice messages, each a full minute long, reminding her to pack her things and wait for the driver outside.
He claimed he was tied up at work, but promised he'd be home soon to keep her company.
Abrielle checked herself out of the hospital and, without waiting for the driver, hailed a cab straight to the Walker Group.
Sure enough, when she passed by the CEO's office, Spencer wasn't there.
He'd lied so many times that when she found out this time, she didn't feel a thing.
Abrielle handed her resignation letter to the HR staff, and everyone gathered around, looking genuinely surprised.
"Miss Buckley, you're really quitting?" one of them asked.
"No way, you've been here for seven years! Why are you leaving all of a sudden? Does Mr. Walker know about this?" another chimed in.
"Did you find a better company? But seriously, what company in Elmville could ever compare to the Walker Group? And Mr. Walker values you so much. Are you really sure you want to leave?" someone else added.
Abrielle chuckled softly.
"I've found somewhere better to go. I'm still young, so I figured I should give it a shot and maybe find someone who truly likes me," she said.
She meant someone who liked her, not the other way around.
"See you around if fate allows," she added.
Everyone felt a bit sentimental, but didn't say much. They just wished her the best.
"We always thought you were destined to be single. You haven't dated anyone all these years, so are you finally seeing someone and quitting to start a family or something?" one of them teased.
Abrielle just smiled and didn't say anything. As she was leaving, she suddenly overheard a colleague say.
"Hey, Miss Buckley, are you still going to Mr. Walker's wedding? I heard he and his childhood sweetheart are officially together now, acting all sweet together. Miss Stewart just landed today, and Mr. Walker even went to pick her up himself."
Abrielle's breath hitched, her chest tight and aching as a mess of emotions swirled inside her.
She didn't listen to another word. She just walked out without looking back.
'Why should I let myself stop for a man I don't love anymore?' Abrielle thought.
When Abrielle got home, she packed up everything connected to Spencer into a cardboard box and threw them out.
Then she packed up her usual clothes.
She'd come with very little, and she was leaving with just as little.
Just as she was drifting off to sleep, half-asleep, she picked up the phone.
Turns out, it was the Walker Group's executive assistant.
"Miss Buckley, Mr. Walker's been in a car accident and needs to be rushed to the hospital. Please come quickly!" the assistant said urgently.
Through the phone, Abrielle could faintly hear Spencer's pained groans and Rosie's panicked sobs.
"Save... save her first..." Spencer's voice was weak, barely audible.
It was obvious who he meant by "her."