The sharp sound of my phone's ringtone jolts me awake while it buzzes away in my pocket.

Groaning, I shift and pull out the phone, squinting as the morning sunlight seeps in through the drawn curtain.

With a grunt, I push myself off the desk's side and sit taller.

"Saff?" I answer hesitantly, sounding hoarse.

"Were you sleeping?" she asks with surprise.

I sigh and rub my brows. "Why did you call?"

"I- um... have you... Uh... heard about..." her voice trails down. A faint rustling noise remains as the only sound.

"About Gracie?" I finish her question.

She blows a relieved breath. "Yeah... you okay?"

I rake my fingers through my hair. "How did you find out?"

"So you're not going to answer my question, okay, noted. Dad called this morning, apparently when he went to the office and no one knew why she hadn't shown up, he got curious and called Aunt Kathy and she told him. Anyway, I think Dad, Kris, and Amanda are already there. I'm going for Aunt Kathy though, and I thought it would be nice if Julia joins me, I thought this might be a good way of returning to Dad and Amanda's good graces... you don't have to come though if you don't want to."

With effort I push myself to my feet, my body stiff and aching as a headache picks apart my brain. I plop down on the chair and plant my elbows on the desk.

The shuffling noise from her end continues as I rest my head on my hand. "Where are you?"

She huffs. "Seriously? You think you can distract me with your questions? Unbelievable. Anyway, I got back from Paris last night, the galleries were a success, but man do I regret missing Julia and Gracie's fight. Everyone's been talking about it even in Paris." She laughs at herself and I roll my eyes.

"Anyway, Spencer, you didn't answer me, want me to come and pick up Julia on my way to the hospital?"

I clear my throat and lean back to my seat. "There's no need for that."

"Are you sure? I mean-"

"I said no," I snap.

"Okay, sheesh, chill." She sighs and a faint sound of a door shutting follows. "You don't have to act all tough and unbothered, you know? I get it... with your past, it must be really... difficult. But if you're worried about her, which is totally normal, I'm sure Aunt Kathy won't mind if you show up too."

I ignore her comment and close my eyes, inhaling deeply. "Is she okay?" I ask quietly.

The whooshing sound of her sharp inhale sends a jolt of panic down my spine. "Truthfully... Dad said she's in ICU... and things are not looking good. Why don't you come by yourself? I know you and Kathryn had a fight or something, was it that bad? I'm sure she'll let you visit Gracie."

I pull the collar of my shirt, even though I know it has nothing to do with my sudden sense of suffocation. Raw fear scraps my veins. What if she doesn't make out of it?

What if- no no no. She has to stay alive.

"What did you do, anyway? Aunt Kathy never gets mad at either of us."

I grip the phone, shifting on my chair, trying desperately to keep my breathing even.

Things are not looking good, but how bad are they?

"Spencer? You there?"

"Y-yeah."

"How did you find out about Gracie's accident if you were sleeping until I called you?"

I shake my head. "Saff, please stop." I pinch the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes shut as my stomach churns from fear.

"What's wrong? If you're worried about her, a lot of people get into ICUs and come out fully recovered. You know what, maybe if you see it for yourself, you'll feel better? And there's nothing wrong about being worried about your ex, so don't beat yourself up for it. Do you want me to come and pick you up? We'll make it quick if you don't want to stay for long," she speaks quickly, not giving me a chance to say anything.

"No."

"But why not? I'm sure Aunt Kathy will be happy to-"

I cut her off, "She kicked me out of the hospital last night, Saff."

"W-wait, what?"

Inhaling a deep shaky breath and picking my bottom lip, I manage to say, "I cheated on Julia-"

"What!" she exclaims.

"With Gracie," I add.

"Holy shit!"

"And Kathryn found out. A-and." My voice breaks and a fresh wave of tears burns my eyes.

"There's more? Oh my God, when did this all happen! I thought-"

"Saff," I plead and she stops instantly. "We had a fight last night. I-I said something stupid, and... Gracie... then the accident- I found her. And now she's dying... and it's just like with Mom all over again." My voice wavers, my hands trembling as I try to keep the pain in check.

"Oh... yeah maybe don't come... and she's not dying dying. She's more alive, just not stable. The following... I don't twenty-four hours, or maybe forty-eight hours are critical or something, if she makes it through, she's fine as ever. And don't worry, it's not going to be like that time, she's a bad bitch. She'll probably go and slap death and come back." She forces a half-hearted laugh before sighing. "Spencer-"

"Can you keep me updated?"

"Yeah sure... uh, I know it's not my place, but is something going on between you two? Like-"

"Savannah," I warn her.

"Fine. I'll stay out of it, but maybe you should tell Dad to cancel their deal."

"No, and I have to go, keep me updated." I hang up, not waiting for her answer. I'll put up with her later.

I rub my face and stand up, putting on my glasses as I trudge and stumble to the door, I let myself out of my study.

"Look who decided to grace me with his presence," Julia sarcastically says and trots from the dining table to the middle of the living room, planting her hands on her hips.

Fuck. I thought she would've left for work by now.

I rub the back of my neck. "You're still home," I dryly mumble.

"Of course, I'm home! What the hell!" She throws her arms up.

I tilt my head as I watch her. She's dressed up like her usual self, like nothing's wrong at all. Her make-up is on spot and her hair is done.

Suddenly I can't bear to stand her here in the middle of my apartment. The only place I have pure, happy memories with Gracie.

It's about time to start correcting my mistakes and wrong choices.

I draw myself to my full height and inhale sharply. "Good, we need to talk."

"Oh, so now you're feeling like talking? Thank fucking God."

I clench my jaw and purse my mouth. She crosses her arms in front of her chest.

"Things have been quite rocky between us," I start hesitantly.

She scoffs and rolls her eyes.

"And I'm not saying it's your fault, in fact, it's mine. I've been shutting you out and pushing you away."

She presses her mouth into a thin line and nods. "I'm glad at least you're self-aware."

I close my eyes and inhale deeply, ignoring her snide remarks. "I've been thinking, and..." I look away and push my glasses up. "I can't keep on going like this."

Her brows knit together and she eyes me with suspicion.

I tangle my fingers together and announce, "We need to break up."

She gasps. "What!" Violently shaking her head to strides to me and I back away. "Are you serious!"

"I'm sorry for wasting your time, but I can't make you happy and I can't continue this. I'm sorry. In fact, you should be breaking up with me."

"What are you even talking about! We're engaged, we're about to get married, it doesn't make sense-"

"I cheated on you," I blurt.

She halts and gawks at me.

"I cheated on you with my ex."

Julia stares at me for a long moment, retreats a step, and shakes her head. "You're lying."

"I'm not. I'm sorry."

Her gaze sweeps across the place before landing on me again. "You cheated on me, and now you're dumping me?"

"Not exactly. I'm telling you the truth, so we can end this together."

"Are you even hearing yourself!" she screeches.

I wince from the sound. "I'm sorry."

She pushes her fingers through her hair, messing it up. "You're sorry!" she echoes with disbelieve. Pacing up and down the room, she flumps down on the sofa and presses her palms to either side of her face. "Three years, Spencer. We are less than six months away from our wedding."

"Were," I correct her quietly.

She shoots me a death glare and jumps to her feet. "Let's work this out. It can't end just like this," she pleads.

I release a long exhale from exasperation. "There's nothing left to fix. I cheated on you, and it wasn't a one-time thing or something that happened at the moment. I was completely aware of what I was doing and I'm sorry, but... we both don't love each other. At first, I thought it can work out, but now I don't."

"Who?" She taps her foot on the floor expectantly.

I purse my mouth and look away.

"Who is this ex? The one that you cheated on me with. I think I deserve to know."

I thrust my hand into my hair and nod. It takes me a long moment to work up the courage and answer her. "Gracie." I glance up at Julia.

Shock, disbelief, and anger flit past her face. Her nostrils flare and her eyes widen, a deep flush coloring her cheeks. "Gracie fucking Stewart!" she screams at top of her lungs. She shakes her head again and paces the living room. "But she was your student-" she halts and spins to face me.

"It started back then when she was my student, and it ended after she finished her college."

"You're leaving me because of her!"

I scowl and glare at her. "Not her, because we are not working out. Because I thought I can make it work, but I was wrong, and because I thought I'm ready, but I'm not. Don't drag her into this."

"Oh," she scoffs. "I will fucking drag her into this. She's the reason you're breaking up with me."

"No! I'm telling you, we are not compatible as a couple and I don't want to marry you. I'm sorry for misleading you and everything, but I can't keep up with this." I wave my hand at the space between us, indicating our relationship. "It has nothing to do with Gracie."

Instantly her eyes fill up with tears. "You're leaving me. Just like that!"

"I'm sorry."

"This is not fair to me," she snarls and stomps her foot, standing taller. "We've known each other for years. We dated for three years, not counting the years before our break, and you're calling it off all because-"

I interrupt her, "I can't spend the rest of my life with you."

With protruding eyes, she opens her mouth to fire back something but I'm quicker to speak.

"I understand you feel betrayed and I'm sorry. I never intended to hurt you. But the longer I think about us, it becomes more evident we're not fit for each other, and it's better for both of us to end this sooner rather than later."

"So you can run back to that bitch," she spits.

"Julia," I warn her, holding up an index finger.

"What? Did you forget she's marrying your brother? Or that won't stop you from-"

"That's enough," I yell, cutting her off and making her back away. "I'm being civil with you. We both know you're with me because of my money and William's status. So stop acting like our relationship was anything beyond a financial convenience for you."

She freezes, her arms falling at her sides. "That's it? You're ending things and throwing me out?"

I close my eyes and inhale deeply, to keep my annoyance in check and not lash out.

"You used me as your distraction and now that she's back, you're tossing me away." She barrels towards me and halts a foot away. "That's it. Is breaking up with me your final decision?"

"It is," I say and hold stare her down.

She nods. "Fine." Retreating a step, she pushes her hair behind her shoulder. "You're going to regret this. If you think I'm going to let you live in peace, you're dead wrong." She snatches her phone and keys. "I'll make your life, and Gracie's, a living hell." Julia marches to the door and yanks it open. Before stepping out she turns to me. "Fuck you, asshole" she shouts and leaves, slamming the door behind herself.

The sudden quiet enveloping the house is oddly refreshing. I scratch my brow before surveying the place. I have to tell someone to pack Julia's stuff and send it back to her place.

The first item on my checklist is done.

A tremendous wave of relief washes over me and I heave a sigh, sitting down on the nearest sofa. Yet, it's at the worst time possible. I should've done this weeks ago, maybe even months. While I still had a chance with Gracie. 

I shake my head. I didn't end things between us only because of Gracie, I did it for me too, and Julia. It was wrong, and it was suffocating me and wasting Julia's time and life. Better late than never. Even though now it won't have the best outcome, it's still better than being stuck with someone I can't stand to be with for the rest of my life.

Now it's time to proceed to work on the second task.

❦ ♥︎ ❦

So... who saw that coming! =))

Spencer finally broke up with Julia! Do you guys think she's going to be problematic in the future or not? 

And Gracie is still alive, so that's good, hehe 

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts.

The next chapter will be up in about 12-15 hrs from now ^.^

Thank you for reading <3

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading ♡