Chapter 2

Footsteps suddenly echoed from outside, interrupting Callie's thoughts. She lifted her head at the sound and locked eyes with Spencer. Seeing her sitting alone at the dining table, Spencer instinctively glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost 11:00 pm. A barely noticeable frown crossed his face, but he said nothing as he headed upstairs. Not a single word of greeting. He was cold and distant—like a stranger. Callie felt a sting in her chest, but she couldn't help calling out to him. "Uncle Spencer, dinner…" "I ate with Tally. I've told you many times, you don't need to wait for me," Spender replied curtly without stopping, and the loud slam of his door drowned out his words. Callie's heart jolted with it, and her eyes stung. Spencer had never spoken to her like that before. He knew how much she feared being alone after losing her family, and how she hated eating by herself. No matter how busy he had been with school or work, he had always made time to come home and have dinner with her. Even when he traveled abroad, he'd rush back, worried that she might lose her appetite and get sick. For over ten years, he had never missed a single meal with her. But after the first time she had confessed her feelings, everything had changed. He had begun distancing himself from her, working late, going on business trips to avoid seeing her, and stopped giving her any of the surprises he once showered her with. All the affection and favoritism he had used to show her had vanished. And since Talulah had entered the picture, the way Spencer looked at her had grown even colder. Callie understood why, but there was nothing she could do about it. She picked up her spoon and forced herself to eat the food that had gone cold. Yet, it tasted like sawdust in her mouth. Despite the table full of dishes, all she could taste was bitterness. After eating just enough to satisfy her hunger, Callie cleaned everything up before heading to Spencer's door and knocking lightly. Spencer opened the door with a frown, and his tone was far from friendly. "I've told you before not to bother me unless it's important." Callie bit her lip, twisting her fingers together nervously. "Uncle Spencer, I want to move to a different room." A flash of surprise crossed his face, but he didn't seem to give it much thought. "Go ahead." Callie nodded and silently went back to her room. Looking around at the large floor-to-ceiling windows, the carefully chosen furniture, and the walk-in closet filled with clothes, shoes, and bags, she felt a wave of uncertainty wash over her. This was the largest room with the best natural lighting in the entire house. It had once been Spencer's bedroom. The day Callie had moved in, he'd given it to her, ruffling her hair and claiming she was their little princess, and she deserved the best. Now that she was leaving, it wouldn't be long before Talulah moved in. Callie was only adopted by the Blairs and stayed as a guest. She didn't feel she had any right to stay in the master bedroom. Hence, she had asked to move to clear the way for Talulah and sort through her belongings. By noon the next day, Callie had packed up everything and moved into a small room at the end of the hall, which used to be Spencer's study. After tidying up, she gathered her documents and headed downstairs to apply for her visa. As she passed through the living room, she gave a small nod to greet Spencer. It lacked the warmth she had used to display toward him. Spencer found her quiet demeanor unsettling. As he watched her wordlessly walk out with her head down, he couldn't shake the feeling that she had changed a lot. He called out to her without thinking. "It's snowing hard outside. Where are you going? Do you need a ride?" Callie hadn't heard him offer to drive her anywhere in a long time. For a moment, she was stunned. "It's Christmas," she murmured softly. "Aren't you going on a date?" Spencer didn't quite catch what she said. "What?" Callie clenched her fists and looked down. "I saw on the news yesterday… You spent millions on a diamond necklace at an auction. You're planning to give it to Talulah today, right?" Spencer froze, the words slipping from his mouth before he could stop them. "That's not who I bought it for—" The doorbell rang, cutting him off. A moment later, Talulah entered. She was dressed in a chic knit dress with her long curls cascading down her back, her makeup flawless. She slid her arm through Spencer's and said playfully, "Spencer, I got you a Christmas present! Guess what it is." Everything was exactly as Callie had imagined. She lowered her head, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. Maybe because she had already made up her mind to leave, hearing about their date didn't hurt as much as it used to. She simply stepped back to let them pass. Spencer didn't dwell on their earlier conversation either. He took Talulah's hand and headed out the door but called back to Callie on the way. "Don't go wandering off. If you need to go somewhere, I'll drive you." Callie hesitated for a moment before responding obediently, "Thank you, Uncle Spencer." This time, she truly meant it. She also meant it when she addressed him as her uncle.