Chapter 4

Hayley POV

The parking garage was so empty you could hear echoes. Only a Maybach sat in a corner.

Spencer's driver stood nearby, politely redirecting anyone who tried to approach.

Therefore, no one noticed the faint mist covering the car's rear window.

A woman's low sobs and a man's suppressed gasps drifted out intermittently.

I instantly lost all strength, leaning against a cold pillar, staring intently at the scene unfolding before me.

The car window wasn't completely closed, revealing glimpses of the interior. Mia was pressed against the window by him, the precious manuscript tossed aside, its pages crushed and distorted.

"Spencer, please... the manuscript will be ruined."

Spencer's voice was hoarse and thick, "Isn't this exactly what you wanted? Now, along with me, all of this is yours."

With that, he thrust deeper.

I clamped a hand over my mouth, turned, and fled in shame.

I don't know how long I ran, finally collapsing on the steps of the fire escape, gasping for breath, tears streaming down my face.

I thought everything at the auction had already hardened my heart, but that scene in the car completely suffocated me.

When Spencer and I first started dating, he was as innocent as a schoolboy.

The first time we held hands, his palms were slick with sweat. The first time we kissed, his lips trembled. Our first time truly being intimate was the night he successfully proposed.

I used to often tease him about his restraint, but he would just hold me tight, his voice hoarse. "Babe, no man can hold back when he's with the woman he loves. It's just that I love you too much; I wanted to wait until everything was settled, to give you the utmost respect."

He cherished me so deeply.

But now, reality had slapped me across the face with the harshest truth.

I buried my face in my knees, shaking uncontrollably as I cried.

After what felt like an eternity, I numbly got up and walked towards the restroom. My phone vibrated in my hand.

It was from Mia.

A photo. The back seat of the car was a mess, the manuscript casually tossed in a corner, its cover damaged.

"This car is filled with our scent. And, Spencer promised to give me this manuscript. Now, this unique love is mine."

I didn't look again, just turned off my phone.

By the time I'd touched up my makeup and emerged from the restroom, I ran into Spencer, who had returned to look for me.

His hands, sure enough, were empty. The next second, I was enveloped in an embrace, carrying a faint, unfamiliar perfume scent.

Just as I was about to push him away, his apologetic voice sounded above my head. "Hayley, the author's family for the manuscript changed their mind at the last minute and demanded an exorbitant price, refusing to sell. I promise I'll find you an even better one next time, okay?"

I took a deep breath, looked up, my voice carrying an almost imperceptible choke. "What if I just want that one?"

Spencer softly cajoled. "Babe, don't cry. That one actually had a lot of flaws. I won't allow my girl to own anything imperfect. I'll send people to search the world for it right now, okay?"

Hearing this, I smiled.

In the past, whatever I wanted, he would immediately place before me. Now, for another woman, he had a thousand excuses.

Just as he was about to say something more, I pushed him away, my voice weary.

"Forget it, I don't want it anymore."

I turned and walked away.

"Hayley!"

Spencer called my name from behind, his hurried footsteps following me.

I didn't stop until, at the corner of the corridor ahead, a figure slowly emerged.

It was Mia.

She was clutching the manuscript tightly, the creases on its cover clearly visible.

The footsteps behind me abruptly stopped.

I paused and glanced back.

Spencer's face instantly turned ashen. He froze, his gaze fixed on the item in Mia's arms, utterly flustered and at a loss.

I turned back around, expressionless, and walked past Mia as if I hadn't seen her.

From behind me came Spencer's low growl, filled with suppressed fury. "Are you insane? I told you not to appear in front of her!"

I didn't look back, just slowed my pace, listening to this absurd drama unfold.

Mia's voice was weak and innocent. "I'm sorry... I just wanted to say thank you to her. She didn't even notice, did she? I won't do it again..."

Immediately followed by a pained gasp.

"Spencer, I feel so dizzy... I think I have a fever again..."

The next second, I heard the rustling of fabric-the sound of a man frantically steadying a woman.

"Why are you so hot?"

Spencer's voice, the anger that had flared just moments before, instantly vanished, replaced only by undisguised urgency and concern.

He didn't chase after me.

In that long corridor, he stopped pursuing me, turning instead to embrace the "feverish" woman.

I looked at the empty exit ahead, a sarcastic curve to my lips.

No need to look back now.