From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

The medical team split up-some attending to Sable and loading her onto a stretcher, others coordinating with the fire department to extract Marcus from the wreckage.

Both Caelan and Darrell climbed into the ambulance with Sable. The paramedics worked frantically around her stretcher, checking vitals and administering oxygen through a clear mask over her face.

Caelan stared at Sable’s still form, his body going numb. Blood continued to seep from the gash on her forehead despite the bandage. Her skin was pale as porcelain, and she looked so fragile lying there surrounded by medical equipment.

This is my fault. The thought hammered through his skull.

He sat in silence for several minutes, watching the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest. Finally, he pulled out his phone with his good hand.

“Rodrigo?” His voice was hoarse from smoke inhalation. “You need to get to the hospital. There’s been an accident… Sable’s hurt.”

He could hear Rodrigo’s sharp intake of breath through the phone. “How bad?”

“Head injury. She’s unconscious. We’re en route to Blackwood General now.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

The line went dead. Caelan slowly lowered the phone, then lifted his head to look at Darrell sitting across from him. Something dark and violent flickered in his eyes as he suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Darrell’s collar with his uninjured hand.

“Why were you there?” His voice was deadly quiet, eyes blazing with lethal intent.

Darrell met his gaze without flinching. “Let go of me.”

“Did you plan this whole thing?” Caelan’s grip tightened. “Set up some elaborate hero rescue scenario?”

A cold smile crossed Darrell’s face. “Do I need to remind you who was driving that car? It was your father behind the wheel, not mine. You think I orchestrated this? Maybe you should ask yourself if your own family set this up.”

Darrell calmly reached up and pried Caelan’s fingers from his shirt, pushing his hand away with deliberate force.

“Why were you there in the first place?” Caelan’s voice turned glacial. “Don’t tell me it was just a coincidence.”

“You’re right, it wasn’t.” Darrell straightened his collar. “I followed Sable because I’ve been worried about her safety ever since that incident with Blair.”

Darrell’s gray eyes remained steady. “Looks like I was right to be concerned-though the danger came from a source none of us expected.”

Caelan’s POV

At the hospital, everything moved with clinical efficiency. They wheeled Sable straight into the emergency room. The doors swung shut behind her stretcher, cutting me off from her completely.

Marcus was taken to a different ward. I caught a glimpse of him being transferred-still unconscious, an IV drip attached to his arm. Two police officers flanked his hospital bed, their presence a stark reminder that my father was now a criminal suspect.

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11:53 Fri, 22 Aug

Chapter 145

How did it come to this?

A nurse led me to a treatment room where they cleaned my wounds. The laceration across my back was stitched up, and I could feel the skin knitting itself together. My right arm, which had been fractured, was set back into place.

When they finally released me, I made my way back to the emergency room and took a seat in the corridor outside. The hard plastic chair felt like punishment, which seemed appropriate.

Darrell sat directly across from me on the opposite side of the hallway. His clothes were still smoky and torn from the rescue, but he’d refused medical attention beyond basic first aid. His gray eyes would catch mine occasionally, delivering silent accusations.

My eyes stayed locked on the red emergency room doors.

Rapid footsteps echoed through the corridor. I looked up to see Rodrigo rushing toward us. His silver hair stuck up at odd angles.

He’d obviously run here.

“Caelan.” His eyes swept over my injuries before focusing on my face. “What happened? Why are both of you hurt? How is Sable?”

“She’s still in the emergency room.” My voice was still hoarse from smoke inhalation.

“Who did this?” Rodrigo’s hands clenched into fists. “Was it Lucian’s people again?”

I opened my mouth, but the words stuck in my throat like broken glass.

Darrell stood slowly, cold smile spreading across his face. “It was his father. Marcus.”

The simple statement hit the corridor like a detonated bomb.

“What?!” Rodrigo’s voice cracked with disbelief.

He spun to face Darrell, recognition flickering across his features. “You’re… why are you here?”

But Rodrigo’s attention snapped back to me almost immediately, his eyes blazing with desperate urgency. “Caelan, tell me. Who hurt my daughter?”

I finally raised my head, meeting his gaze directly. “It was my father.”

Rodrigo went absolutely still. For three heartbeats, he just stared at me. Then he strode to an empty chair and kicked it with vicious force. The plastic seat cracked against the wall with a sound like breaking bones. The impact echoed through the corridor, drawing startled looks from passing nurses.

A few seconds later, he was back in front of me, grabbing my shirt collar and hauling me to my feet despite my injuries.

“You promised me! His voice shook with rage. “Over and over, you swore you’d protect her! Is this what your promises are worth?”

Darrell let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, Caelan. Your words seem pretty worthless right about now.”

I ignored him completely, focusing only on Rodrigo. I’m sorry. I had no idea my father would

“Sorry?” Rodrigo’s grip tightened. “You’re sorry? Sable is fighting for her life in there and you think sorry covers it?”

I’ll find out why he did this. I’ll get answers-

“Answers?” Rodrigo shoved me back into my chair. “The time for answers was before my daughter got hurt! Your complicated family

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11:53 Fri, 22 Aug P

Chapter 145

relationships are putting her in danger every single day!

Darrell approached us, his voice carrying mock concern. “Rodrigo’s right. This is becoming a pattern.

The emergency room doors burst open. A nurse rushed out, her scrubs stained with blood, panic written across her Seck.

“We need support! Patient is critical! Code blue!!

Rodrigo saw the blood on her hands and completely broke down. He lunged forward, grabbing the nurse’s arm desgoresty,

“That’s my daughter in there! How is the? Is the going to be okay?”

The nurse glanced at him. “Sir, she’s experiencing severe internal bleeding, We’re doing everything we can.”

She gently pulled free from his grip. I have to get back in there.”

She called for additional doctors and specialists before disappearing back through the doors. Other medical personed sites you us into the emergency room.

Rodrigo collapsed into a nearby chair, his face crumbling. If something happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself, I can’t face ter mother like this.”

He looked at me with tears streaming down his cheeks. How many times, Caelan? How many times has she been but since you tw got together?

“Rodrigo, I’m sorry-

Author’s Note

If you were in her father’s shoes-would you make the same call?

And what about Caelan? Will he walk away to protect her… or fight to stay by her side?

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:53 Fri, 22 Aug

From Substitute To Queen