Chapter 6

Spencer stepped onto the balcony to take the call once Sara disappeared into the shower. "You finally picked up, Spence. I hate staying in hotels. I get scared being alone at night. Will you come stay with me?" Clementine asked. "I can't leave tonight. I'm at the Tiernan residence. I'll have Luke find you an apartment tomorrow. You can move in right after," Spencer replied. He wasn't sure if he still had feelings for Clementine, but he couldn't just abandon her either. Still, he would never betray Sara—not while they were still married. That was a line he wouldn't cross. It was why he'd asked Luke to handle finding an apartment for Clementine. "Okay, Spence. Thank you. I know I shouldn't be calling. You're married, after all. But I can't help it. I think about you all the time—" "Get some sleep," Spencer interrupted her. He was afraid his feelings might change too quickly. He wouldn't hurt Sara—not before their marriage was truly over. Until then, keeping his distance was the safest choice. "Okay, Spence. I'll wait for you—however long it takes." Clementine clutched her phone after the call disconnected. She was sure Spencer didn't love Sara. They didn't even have a proper wedding, and he was only staying with her because of Oswin. Whatever it took, Clementine would get him back. After Spencer ended the call, he immediately called Luke. "Spencer? Why are you calling this late?" Luke's voice came through light and unconcerned. "I need you to find an apartment for Clementine tomorrow." "What the hell, Spencer? Are you actually planning to cheat? Set up a side piece and become a piece of shit? I thought better of you." "Just handle it tomorrow and come by the office after." Spencer hung up without another word, but Luke's words stuck with him. He didn't know what he wanted anymore. Indecision wasn't like him. He'd always been decisive. But for now, he'd leave things exactly as they were. … "Should I tell Sara what I found out? How can I even look into her innocent eyes if I don't? Spencer's so damn clever—he always makes me out to be the bad guy." Luke lay on his bed, sighing in frustration as he muttered to himself. … At the same time, Sara had stepped out of the shower and saw Spencer still on the balcony. The call had ended, but he still hadn't come back inside. "I'm done. Are you going to shower?" she asked. She wondered if he was planning to leave. If that were the case, he wouldn't bother showering or staying the night at the Tiernan residence. "I can't just go to bed like this—not covered in sweat. You'd be fine with that?" Spencer looked at her, a half-smile lingering on his lips. Sara stood before him in a simple cotton nightgown, with her long hair flowing freely. Her delicate brows framed her petite face, and her clear eyes held a quiet sense of serenity. A faint smile always seemed to play on her lips when she spoke. It was as if she never got upset. Suddenly, Sara became aware that she was in nothing but her pajamas when she saw Spencer watching her. Flustered, she hurried to bed and yanked the blankets up to her chin. Spencer watched her reaction with quiet amusement. Did she really find him so intimidating? It wasn't as if he hadn't seen her like this before. She looked like a frightened rabbit, with him as the wolf on her heels. Earlier, Spencer had ignored every call from Clementine while watching TV with Sara. Something inside him resisted telling her about Clementine, though he couldn't pinpoint why. He especially didn't want her to know that Clementine had returned, which was why he'd told her to shower first after they'd entered the room. He'd been subconsciously avoiding Sara while handling Clementine's calls. When Spencer emerged from the shower, he found Sara lying in bed, curled up. Her breathing was soft, and her eyes were shut in peaceful sleep, her lashes casting faint shadows beneath them. Soundlessly, he slipped into bed on the opposite side, careful not to disturb her. Sara felt Spencer lie down next to her. She waited until his breathing steadied before slowly opening her eyes. She had only been pretending to sleep. Now that she was pregnant, she feared Spencer might expect intimacy. But the doctor had warned against it during the first trimester, so she had to be careful. But that wasn't the only reason she'd kept her eyes shut. The other reason was because the thoughts swirling in her mind wouldn't let her rest. She wondered if Spencer had stayed because leaving the Tiernan residence was inconvenient, or if there was something more to it. Maybe this was her chance to secure a future for herself and the baby. After all, Oswin had said that the child might soften Spencer and even potentially be a blessing for their marriage. … Spencer woke up before Sara the next morning and left for the office without disturbing her. His schedule was packed with project meetings and left him no time for breakfast. In the CEO's office on the top floor of Jetstream Kriton Group's headquarters, the company's founders were gathered to discuss business. There, Spencer sat behind the expansive desk, listening as each person gave their progress report. "The local team overseeing the Teravic continent joint project has lost control, Spencer. The Lawrence family just appointed a new patriarch. Someone named Keen Lawrence, I believe. He clearly has no idea how things work. "He's demanding an extra five percent. He's trying to take advantage of the chaos. But he hasn't shown up in person. He's just sending his subordinates to stir things up." "Fly to Teravic tomorrow and negotiate directly with the former patriarch, Zayn. Either they sign the deal, or we walk away. "Hans, reach out to the folks in the Namzura region. There are plenty of others who'd jump at this opportunity. "We'll give the Lawrence family one last chance out of respect for our long-standing partnership. But if they keep pushing, they walk away with nothing," Spencer decisively said. "Understood, Spencer," Zayn and Hans replied and left after receiving their tasks. Meanwhile, Finn oversaw the company's entertainment division. He was a daily fixture in the tabloids, with rumors of starlet flings swirling nonstop. He had a reputation as Jeritho's most infamous playboy. Still, every former lover spoke fondly of him, charmed by his charisma and the luxury handbags and properties he'd lavished on them. "You're heading out already? Not waiting for Luke?" Finn asked. "You can wait. We've got work to do." Without another word, Zayn and Hans grabbed their files and walked out. After they left, Finn stayed sprawled on the couch, lost in his game. Before long, Luke barged into the office and flopped onto the couch too. "Man, I'm dead tired. Finally dealt with Spencer's side piece." Spencer looked up from the stack of files on his desk and shot him an icy glare. "Luke, keep your nonsense to yourself." Luke zipped his lips and shut up. "Wait, Luke. Spencer's really cheating on Sara?" Finn ditched his game and set down his phone, eyeing Luke with open curiosity. It was no surprise that someone overseeing the entertainment division would be attuned to gossip, and this particular scandal involved Spencer, of all people. Spencer had only ever been in one serious relationship, and it had wrecked him when it ended. Now that he'd pulled himself together and finally gotten married, everyone assumed it would last forever, given his nature. Yet, here he was—embroiled in an affair, and carefully hiding it too. He always had a way of shaking things up when people least expected it. "Ask Spencer yourself, Finn. I'm not about to talk behind his back," Luke said. Spencer's temper was legendary, and Luke wasn't about to risk exile to some remote outpost as punishment. "How is that talking behind his back? It's just stating the facts to his face." Finn scooted closer. "Now, spill it."