From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 148

Chapter 148

Sable’s POV

The dull throbbing in my head felt like someone was taking a sledgehammer to my skull. I blinked slowly, trying to clear the haze from my vision. White ceiling tiles came into focus above me.

My mouth felt like I’d been eating sand for hours. I tried to swallow, but my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.

When I attempted to shift my position, I felt the tug of the IV line in my right arm and the weight of monitoring cables wrapped around my left wrist. The beeping of machines filled the sterile silence,

I turned my head carefully to the left. Dad sat slumped in the uncomfortable hospital chair beside my bed, his chin resting on his palm. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and stubble covered his jaw. His breathing was steady and deep.

The slight rustle of hospital sheets must have reached him because his head snapped up immediately.

“My darling…” His hand found my cheek. “You’re awake. Thank God, you’re finally awake.”

I leaned into his touch.

“How long was I out?” I struggled to sit up, but dizziness forced me back against the pillows.

His palm pressed gently against my shoulder. “Slow down, Sabi. You’ve been unconscious for ten hours.”

My fingers found the bandages wrapped around my head. Fragments of memory started piecing themselves together like a broken puzzle.

“The explosion… that car…” My breathing quickened.

Dad’s hand tightened around mine. “Don’t think about it now. You’re safe.”

“Caelan! Is he okay? The blast-was he hurt?”

I tried to push myself upright again, ignoring how my head spun. “I need to see him. Which room is he in?”

Something flickered across Dad’s expression-pain, maybe guilt-before he smoothed his features back into careful neutrality. “He’s fine, Sabi. Safe.”

“Really?’ I searched his face for any hint of deception. “You’re sure he wasn’t injured?”

Dad’s gaze shifted toward the window, avoiding my eyes. ‘Yes.’

A cold finger of dread traced down my spine. ‘Dad, you look strange. What happened?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Then why isn’t he here? The words tumbled out faster now. He knows I’m awake, doesn’t he?

Dad remained silent, his fingers drumming nervously against the chair’s armrest

I closed my eyes and tried to min-link him.

Nothing.

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Chapter 148

My eyes flew open, panic flooding my system. The connection’s gone. He’s blocked our mind-link.”

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I stared at Dad in growing horror. “Something’s wrong. Caelan never shuts me out unless…” I couldn’t finish the thought.

“Unless what?” Dad’s voice was barely audible.

“Unless he doesn’t want me to feel what he’s feeling.” My voice cracked. “Dad, what aren’t you telling me?”

He stood and began pacing to the window, running his hands through his disheveled hair. “Sabi, some things are more complicated

than they seem.”

My phone sat on the bedside table. I reached for it. “I’m calling him.”

“Sabi, wait…Maybe you should listen to me first.”

“Listen to what?”

He stopped at the window, shoulders sagging. “I talked to Caelan last night. About your relationship, about what’s best for your

future…”

Dread settled in my stomach like a stone. “What did you two discuss?”

Dad turned back to face me, and I saw tears gathering in his eyes. “He said maybe being together isn’t the right choice for either of

you.”

“What does that mean?” My voice rose despite my efforts to stay calm.

“Sabi, look at yourself.” He gestured toward my bandaged head. “You’re lying in a hospital bed because of the danger that follows

him-

“I don’t care about the risks-”

“But I do!” The words exploded from him with raw emotion.

Dad’s face crumpled as he fought for control. “Sometimes loving someone means knowing when to let them go.”

“No.” I shook my head violently, ignoring the spike of pain it caused. “I’m calling him.”

I unlocked my phone and found his number. “Dad, I need you to leave. This conversation is private.”

He looked like he wanted to argue, but something in my expression must have convinced him. With a heavy sigh, he walked out.

The phone rang once. Twice. Three times.

My heart hammered against my ribs, each ring feeling like an eternity. Sweat dampened my palmis.

On the sixth ring, someone picked up. But they said nothing

“Caelan? Is that you?”

“Hello, Sable. His voice was like winter wind cold and cutting

Not “Sabi.” Not the warm, loving tone I was used to. Just my formal name delivered with arctic indifference.

Relief flooded through me despite his cold tone. Caelan, thank God! I was so worried about you! Are you hurt? The explosion—”

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“I’m fine.” He cut me off with brutal efficiency.

You sound different. What’s going on?”

Silence stretched between us for several heartbeats before he spoke again. “We need to talk.”

“Okay. I gripped the phone tighter. I’m listening.”

“I think we should end this relationship.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t process what I’d just heard.

“What? What do you mean?”

“I want to break up with you. And dissolve our engagement.”

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I felt like I was falling through space. “Break up? Dissolve the engagement? But why? Is this about yesterday? Are you afraid I’ll get hurt again because of you?”

“This has nothing to do with yesterday.”

“Then what?” Tears started burning behind my eyes. “Caelan, talk to me. Whatever this is, we can work through it together.”

“If you’re worried about my safety, I can get stronger!” The words poured out in a desperate rush. “I can learn better self-defense. I’m not afraid of Lucian’s threats or anyone else’s.”

“We can face everything as a team!”

“I’m tougher than I look, I promise. You don’t need to protect me by pushing me away-

“Stop.”

“This isn’t about your safety, Sable.”

“Then what is it?” I was begging now, and I didn’t care.

Another endless pause. Then came the words that shattered my world completely.

‘I never loved you.”

My heart stopped.

“You’re lying..

“Everything was just an act. A game. His voice held no emotion whatsoever. “When you ran away from our wedding three years ago, you humiliated me in front of everyone.

So i decided to get my revenge. Make you fall in love with me, then leave you.”

Each word was a dagger to my heart. Tears began streaming down my face, hot and unstoppable.

That’s not true… I subbed into the phone

All fake. The cruelty in his voice was worse than any physical pain. I’m a very good actor, apparently.”

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“The game’s over now. I got my revenge, and frankly, I’m bored. I thought you’d be harder to win over, but you fell for it so easily. I’m done playing with you.”

I doubled over as if he’d punched me in the stomach. “Caelan, you’re lying. I know you are.”

“And my mother was right-since we’ve been together, my family’s been in chaos. You’re not suitable to be my Queen anyway.”

“I already have someone else in mind for marriage. The official announcement dissolving our engagement will be released soon.”

“No…” The word came out broken. “Please, don’t do this…”

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From Substitute To Queen