Chapter 31
Spencer’s throat moved with a quiet swallow. “Don’t cry,” he said gently. “It doesn’t even hurt.”
Spencer curled his fingers over his palm, covering the scar as he spoke in a low, almost coaxing voice.
“I’m sorry. I’ll take responsibility.” Estela’s eyes reddened even more.
Sidney could barely contain his inner commentary.
Sidney thought, ‘Unbelievable. Mr. Rangel’s actually using a decade- old scar to scam a girl? He’s officially crossed into wild–animal territory.’
Honestly, he should’ve dragged Callie back from her dentist appointment just to witness this Oscar–worthy performance.‘
“And how exactly do you plan to take responsibility?” Spencer asked with a faint smirk, lifting his hand to brush away the tear hanging on the corner of her eye.
Estela turned her head, quickly wiping it away with her sleeve, completely dodging his touch.
“I’ll save up and hire the best plastic surgeon for you,” she said seriously.
Spencer thought, ‘What?‘
Sidney thought, ‘Apologies to professional decorum–I just can’t help it.‘
Estela, oblivious to how dark Spencer’s face had turned, went on
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carnestly, “Cosmetic surgery’s come a long way. I remember reading that there are excellent specialists for hand scar removal right here in Trurgh I’ll make sure you get the best.”
Spencer forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Ms. Warren, you sure know how to spend money. I appreciate your generosity.”
‘So eager to draw a line. So quick to move on. The little heartless thing really has forgotten me cleanly, hasn’t she?‘ he thought.
“I don’t have a lot,” Estela said, misunderstanding completely. “But I’ll work hard. You won’t have to wait long.”
Once the divorce from Vance was finalized, she wouldn’t touch a single cent of his money.
She’d have to start earning fast–scars like that only got harder to treat with time.
Spencer caught the seriousness in her face, and his throat tightened inexplicably. “.Alright. I’ll wait.”
“And-” she hesitated, as if worried about a misunderstanding, “I won’t use my husband’s money. I want to keep things clean.”
Spencer glanced over, lifted the soup bowl, and stirred it slowly with the spoon. “No rush.”
‘She isn’t even willing to use Vance’s money anymore. Must’ve been well and truly disappointed with him,‘ he thought.
That thought pleased him more than he cared to admit–but of course, he kept his expression/neutral.
Sidney, however, didn’t miss a thing.
He was stunned. ‘Who is this Ms. Warren? A few words in and she
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Chapter 31
already has Mr. Rangel fallen for her.‘
Suddenly-
“Spencer! I’m telling Dad on you! You said getting a tooth pulled wouldn’t hurt–you lied!”
A teary, nasally little voice burst into the room, full of grievance.
Callie stormed in, clutching her swollen cheeks. Her pigtails were a wild mess, and her big eyes practically sparked with fury.
“Callie?” Spencer called.
Callie paused mid–tantrum, blinking at Estela. “Estela? What are you doing with Spencer?”
She quickly corrected herself, her speech slightly slurred from the missing front tooth.
Only then did Estela connect the dots.
So Callie–the one going on about her impossibly handsome, marriage- phobic uncle–had been talking about Spencer all along.
Her eyes widened in mild shock.
Spencer ignored his niece’s dramatic entrance and introduced her smoothly. “This is my niece, Callie.”
Not his daughter.
The clarification wasn’t lost on Estela. She suddenly remembered what Callie had said back at the hospital–that Spencer once barked at a dog and he cried after not being able to win.
Now, picturing that story with Spencer’s aloof, untouchable face–she
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couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up.
The image was just too ridiculous.
Spencer noticed the quick flicker of amusement on her face–and just like that, his mood lifted.
But a second later, he let his guard down, and Callic struck.
She snatched up the extra bowl of soup Estela had brought and downed it like a tiny food bandit.
After finishing, she licked her lips and gave Spencer a sly look, clearly scheming. “Spencer! Estela gave us soup–that means it’s your turn now! You know what the old saying says: more gifts never hurt anyone!”
Spencer sighed. “It’s courtesy demands reciprocity, not whatever you just said.”
Estela couldn’t help it–she laughed again.
Spencer turned to her, his tone lighter now. “Ms. Warren, would you join us for dinner?”
Callie nodded enthusiastically, her big round eyes practically sparkling with hope.
Estela hesitated, but the combination of the two of them was impossible to resist.
She smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
While waiting for Spencer to change, Estela took a moment to check her phone.
She noticed a new message from Vance, sent not long ago.
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Vance: [Estela, come back to the marital home. We need to talk.]
Vance: [That agreement–there’s a time limit.]
Her fingers tightened around the phone, knuckles whitening.
‘So he’s received it. Good. At least it hasn’t gotten lost.‘ She let out a quiet breath.
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