Chapter 2 Not A Substitute For Anyone

• In the quiet hours of the early morning, Wrenley returned to her apartment. As she turned the key in the lock, a stale, musty smell assaulted her senses. She clenched her teeth and swiftly straightened her bed in silence before reaching for her phone.
• With a heavy heart, she gazed at the dark silhouette of a profile picture. Her thumb hovered over the screen momentarily, hesitating before finally pressing the "block" button. It was a small action, but one that carried immense weight as she erased every digital trace of Spencer from her life. Tears fell on the screen as she wiped away the remnants of their shared memories.
• Her gaze shifted to the coffee table, where a cup of water and some medicine lay. Without a flicker of emotion, she reached for them and swallowed the pills before lying down in bed.
• As the morning sun painted the sky anew, Wrenley vowed to reclaim her life. No longer would she be bound by the desires and expectations of another; it was time to prioritize her own happiness.
• …
• A month later, within the walls of the Pearson Group!
• Liam found himself the recipient of a package from the CEO's office. To his surprise, the signee was Spencer.
• Unwrapping the package, his hands trembled slightly as he absorbed the contents within. He flipped through the pages, and his eyes lingered on a familiar name. Hence triggering a sigh of resignation.
• Having handled numerous documents before, this one stood out as particularly challenging. He noted how, despite Spencer's usually calm demeanor, he appeared unusually glum early in the day. Even his typically handsome face seemed to exude an extreme coldness. Hence signaling something amiss beneath the surface.
• In the office, Spencer sat in his swivel chair while holding something in his hand. At the intrusion of sound, his gaze flickered upward, and with practiced ease, he discreetly tucked away the item. Thus veiling the object from Liam's prying eyes.
• "Mr. Pearson, I have a document here that requires your signature," Liam informed him.
• Upon hearing this, Spencer's hand reached for a pen, yet he hesitated as his eyes fell upon the document laid before him. With a steely resolve, he scrutinized the bold letters, then shifted his gaze to the signature at the bottom bearing her name before speaking calmly, "Where is she?"
• To be honest, although he served as Spencer's assistant, he was also his junior from school, and the two shared a strong bond akin to brothers. In private, they were close friends. At this moment, he longed to discern some hint of emotion on Spencer's usually inscrutable face. However, much to his disappointment, there was nothing to be gleaned. Thus leaving him feeling utterly bored by the lack of insight.
• "I didn't see anyone. It was just a delivery," he replied, masking his curiosity.
• Even though it was during office hours, he couldn't shake his curiosity about how Wrenley could have mustered the resolve to go through with divorcing Spencer.
• "But what did you do to make her agree to divorce you?" he prodded further, his curiosity getting the better of him.
• Spencer's gaze turned cold as he stared at the elegant and beautiful words that spelled out "Wrenley Mitchell." The words seemed to reflect her graceful persona, but he couldn't find any pleasure in admiring them. A slight furrow appeared on his forehead. Hence, he was hinting at the underlying irritation and frustration he felt.
• Liam found himself truly astounded. Apart from the time when Yalena wanted to break up with Spencer, he hadn't encountered anyone who displayed such pronounced emotional swings over a situation or individual. Even amidst negotiations and transactions involving staggering sums of money, Spencer maintained an air of composure and detachment. While some might perceive him as composed and mature, the reality was that he often exuded an aura of aloofness and indifference, as if shielded by an impenetrable emotional barrier.
• "Are you taking it out on her?" Liam cautiously suggested, attempting to decipher the situation.
• Spencer's lips tightened into a thin line as he wordlessly reached for a cigarette. He ignited the tip and drew in a slow, steadying breath. Hence exhaling a plume of smoke.
• "She had gone through the trouble of preparing dinner," he finally murmured, his voice carrying a detached edge as if the words were spoken from a distance. "And she waited into the late hours of the night for my return.
• Liam's understanding deepened as he mentally assembled the fragments of the situation. "So, while your loyal wife patiently waited for you in the comfort of your home, you were out rendezvousing with a former flame…"
• Spencer shot a chilling glare toward Liam, causing him to reluctantly seal his lips. The latter cast a fleeting glance at the divorce papers lying on the table and tapped them lightly. "So, what's the deal? Are you taken aback by her desire for a divorce, or did it never even cross your mind?"
• After a long pause, Spencer finally brought the cigarette to his lips before exhaling a puff of smoke that swirled gently around him. He spoke softly, "I never gave it a thought."
• But which response was he referring to?
• …
• In the evening, at Nottingdale Hitz Studio, in the recording studio for the nighttime radio program.
• "Dear host, I just discovered today that my boyfriend is only with me because of someone else. He can't seem to get over his ex-girlfriend, and he settled for me because I resemble her. Do you think I should end things with him?"
• Upon hearing the caller's plight, Wrenley was struck speechless, her mind reeling. The studio crew urgently gestured to her to respond when she was struggling to gather her thoughts.
• When she finally snapped back to reality, she moistened her red lips before delivering her response slowly and thoughtfully into the microphone.
• "Love ought to be pure and genuine. Relationships are like sipping water. Only you can feel its warmth or chill. If it were me, I'd opt to be true to myself rather than being a mere substitute for someone else."
• On the other end of the line, the caller's voice trembled with emotion. Sensing her distress, Wrenley didn't rush her but chose to comfort her by playing a heartfelt, soothing melody.
• "Thank you, host. I believe I've finally sorted out my thoughts," the caller expressed, her tone tinged with gratitude.
• "I hope you encounter someone in the future who genuinely cherishes you," Wrenley murmured, her words carrying a heartfelt sincerity, before bringing the call to an end. "Well, that concludes tonight's requests. Until tomorrow then."
• After removing her headphones, she exited the recording studio. Her phone displayed two missed calls, devoid of any labels, but the sequence of numbers remained etched in her memory. She made a mental note of them, silently acknowledging their significance, before simply deleting the call logs and grabbing her coat.
• Outside the television station, she exchanged farewells with her colleagues. As she stood alone, a black Maybach pulled to a gentle halt before her, and its window rolled down to reveal a sharply defined silhouette.
• The two of them exchanged a meaningful glance, with him sporting impeccably styled jet-black hair that framed his face just right. His appearance exuded a sense of sharpness and cleanliness, especially with his neatly trimmed temples. His dark eyes seemed to pierce through her, focusing intently on her features.
• "Get in," he commanded in a concise yet authoritative voice.