From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140

He held up his hands in surrender. Fine, Daisy wins this round.”

Daisy beamed triumphantly, then suprised us both by grabbing Caelan’s hand and pulling him down to her level. She planted a

quick kiss on his cheek.

There. Now we’re friends again. But remember I’m still number one!

She bounded back to me and whispered loudly, He’s not so bad. You can keep him.”

Victoria approached with a warm smile. “Sable, you look beautiful. That dress is perfect for tonight”

“Thank you. I smiled back. “You look lovely too.”

Since the incident with Daisy’s kidnapping, Victoria and I had found an unexpected common ground. She’d stopped seeing me as a threat to her position in the family and started treating me like the daughter she’d never had.

Dad emerged from his car, straightening his tie as he walked toward us. His eyes crinkled with genuine happiness as he watched our

interactions.

“She’s been talking about seeing you all week, Victoria said. “You’d think it had been months instead of a few days.”

Dad chuckled. “Well, we certainly can’t disappoint the princess.”

We made our way through the estate’s formal gardens toward an elegant outdoor dining area that had been set up on the terrace. The Blackwood family was already seated at a round table draped in white linen.

Katherine and Marcus rose from their chairs as we approached, Katherine’s smile seemed forced, but she made an effort to appear welcoming

“Good evening,” Katherine said, her tone polite but distant.

Marcus stepped forward to shake Dad’s hand warmly. “Rodrigo, good to see you again.”

Katherine’s eyes barely met mine before she turned her attention to Daisy, who was bouncing excitedly beside Victoria.

Carlan’s hand found mine, his fingers intertwining with mine in a reassuring squeeze. When I glanced at him, his eyes conveyed everything he couldn’t say aloud: I’m here. We’ll get through this together.

His thumb stroked across my knuckles, sending warmth up my arm and steadying my racing heart.

The table had been arranged strategically, with our families sitting across from each other rather than intermixed. I could see Carlan had put thought into the seating.

As we took our seats, a staff member began serving the first course. The sound of silverware against china filled the silence that stretched latween our two families

Katherine focused intently on cutting her salmon, while Dad occasionally glanced in her direction as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the right words:

The quiet grew oppressive. Even the gentle evening breeze seemed too loud.

Daisy looked around the table with wide, curious eyes. “Why is everyone so quiet? This is supposed to be a party, right?”

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Victoria reached over to smooth Daisy’s hair. “We’re all just enjoying our dinner, sweetheart.”

“But people talk at parties, Daisy insisted. “At home, we always tell stories during dinner.”

The adults exchanged uncomfortable glances. Katherine’s fork paused halfway to her mouth.

Marcus cleared his throat. “You’re absolutely right, Daisy. We should be more social.

But despite his words, the conversation didn’t flow. Each attempt at small talk felt forced and quickly faded back into awkward

silence.

Then Caelan stood up.

He raised his wine glass, his posture commanding attention from everyone at the table. “Rodrigo, I’d like to make a toast.”

Dad lifted his glass slowly, his expression cautious but respectful.

The crystal glasses met with a soft clink that seemed to echo in the evening air.

Caelan took a measured sip, then set his glass down with deliberate precision. His dark eyes held Dad’s gaze steadily.

“I want to ask for your formal blessing to marry your daughter.”

Katherine’s fork clattered against her plate.

“In fact,” Caelan continued, his voice growing stronger, “I think we should skip the engagement altogether. I want to marry Sable immediately and hold the marking ceremony at the same time.”

My breath caught in my throat. He was proposing marriage-real marriage-right here, right now, in front of both our families.

“I want to make Sable my Queen,” he said, his voice dropping to an intimate tone that made my heart race. “My partner in everything. The only woman I’ll ever want.”

Heat flooded my cheeks as his words sank in. I stared at him in shock, my mouth slightly open.

“You didn’t tell me you were going to do this,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Victoria and Daisy exchanged delighted looks. Daisy clapped her hands together silently, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

But Katherine’s face had turned to stone. Her jaw clenched tight, and her knuckles went white where they gripped her napkin.

Marcus maintained his neutral expression. He looked like a man watching a car accident unfold-interested but detached.

Dad frowned deeply, slowly lowering his wine glass to the table. “This is moving very fast, Caelan.”

His voice carried a warning undertone that made my stomach clench with anxiety.

“There’s no need to rush into anything permanent.”

‘I can assure you of Sable’s safety,” Caelan set down his wine glass.

“Blair has been officially exiled from Blackwood territory. She will never threaten Sable again. There are no longer any obstacles to our being together.”

Katherine shot to her feet so fast her chair scraped against the floor.

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Chapter 140

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“What did you say?” Her voice shook. “Blair has been exiled? When did this happen?”

I watched Katherine’s face drain of all color.

“Caelan, how could you do this to Blair?” Disbelief and fury warred in her eyes. “You made this decision without even consulting

me?

Her voice became thick with emotion. “All these years, whenever you were away on business, it was Blair who kept me company! She would have afternoon tea with me, listen to stories about when you were little, help me tend the garden… She’s like my own

daughter!”

Caelan remained seated, his posture unnaturally calm as he studied his mother. “Mom, perhaps you’ve forgotten that I am King. Do I need your permission to make decisions?”

“And I want to remind you of something-Blair is not your daughter. She’s a criminal who attempted to murder my fiancée.”

Katherine’s hands pressed flat against the table as she leaned forward. “She’s your sister! She may not share our blood, but she’s been part of this family for years!”

“Mom, please sit down and hear me out.” Caelan’s tone carried quiet authority.

Katherine reluctantly lowered herself back into her chair, but her body remained rigid with tension.

“Blair created a suicide spectacle at our engagement ceremony, nearly killing both Daisy and Sable.” Caelan’s voice stayed level, but I caught the steel underneath. “Most seriously, she conspired with outsiders to harm Sable.”

He paused deliberately on the word “outsiders,” his gaze shifting meaningfully toward Marcus.

Marcus shifted uncomfortably, taking a long drink from his wine glass.

“These actions violated our pack’s fundamental laws,” Caelan continued, his voice sharpening with anger. “Exile was the necessary punishment. And I’ve told you before-I will not allow anyone to threaten my fiancée.”