From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166

I threw off the covers and stumbled toward the bathroom, desperate to wash away this feeling of self-loathing. He’s already forgotten you exist. He’s with someone else now, someone better, and here you are having wet dreams about him.

The shower spray hit my face, mercifully cold. I closed my eyes and let the water run over me, trying to scrub away not just the physical reminder of my humiliation but the emotions underneath.

“You really are enough, Sable Crawford. He’s already broken up with you, moved on completely, and you’re still here making a fool of yourself. He doesn’t want you anymore. When are you going to accept that?”

Twenty minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom wrapped in my terry cloth robe, my hair still dripping. The hot shower had helped clear my head.

I needed coffee. Strong coffee. And maybe a conversation with Scarlett about what exactly she’d put in those cocktails.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and settled onto the couch with my steaming mug, dialing Scarlett’s number. The least I could do was thank her for taking care of me last night, even if I couldn’t remember most of it.

The phone rang. And rang. And rang some more.

I was about to hang up when the call connected on what must have been the very last ring.

“Hi Sable, good morning.”

I nearly dropped my coffee mug. That was definitely not Scarlett’s voice answering her phone. The voice was deep, masculine, and heavy with sleep.

“You… you’re Peter?” I stammered, my brain struggling to process this development.

In the background, I could hear the unmistakable sound of bed sheets rustling and Scarlett’s muffled, irritated voice: “Peter, why the hell are you answering my phone?”

Before Peter could respond, there was a scuffling sound and then Scarlett’s voice came through clearly, though she was obviously talking to Peter, not me.

“Give me that! You can’t just answer people’s calls without asking!”

Peter’s voice drifted from farther away now, defensive and slightly whiny: “You were sleeping so peacefully. I didn’t want the ringing to wake you up, so I thought I’d just…”

Oh my God. They slept together.

My mind reeled as I tried to process this unexpected development. Scarlett and Peter? When had that happened? How had that happened?

“Hey, babe, Good morning Scarlett’s voice was suddenly warm and concerned as she spoke directly into the phone. “How are you feeling? You had way too much to drink last night. Do you have a headache?

I managed to find my voice. Tm… I’m okay. Just a little fuzzy around the edges. I paused, unable to contain my curiosity any longer. “Scarlett, what’s going on with you and Peter? Why is he there?”

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. I could practically hear Scarlett’s internal debate about how much to reveal.

“Um… well… how do I put this…” She sounded uncharacteristically flustered.

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Chapter 166

Than kay using changet, becoming sliment defunt. You know what? Screw it. We’re all adults here. I slept with Peter last night

Desgita erything I confide’s twig but longt • gemine sound of margine and delight Scarlet That s wow Congratulations,

Thow got any as Scarlatt saut quirky, her tome defensive. anything dramaties that

just sex. We’re trot suddenly boyfriend and girlfriend or

Patay’s unica rose indignantly in the background: Test sex? Are you kidding me? I gave you my virginity! That has to count for

You how to take responsibility for me now! his voice grew louder as he apparently moved closer to the phone. At the very least, you crabid try dating me and see how it goest

The sounds that followed were pure chaos – laughter, protesting voices, and what sounded like a full-scale pillow fight. I could hear them wrestling for control of the phone, Peters voice alternating between outrage and laughter.

“Sable, I have to gut Scarlett called out breathlessly. Ill call you later

The line went best

I sat there staring at my phone, a genuine smile tugging at my lips.

But the smile faded as I got dressed for work. I envied Scarlett’s ability to throw caution to the wind, to take what she wanted without overthinking every possible consequence. She’d always been braver than me, more willing to take risks with her heart.

Here I was, barely functional after one failed relationship, while she was out there embracing new possibilities with characteristic

boldness,

Life is too short to waste on regrets.

The thought hit me with unexpected clarity. I was successful in my career, surrounded by people who cared about me. I couldn’t spend the rest of my life mourning what I’d lost with Caelan.

Come on, Sable, I said to my reflection as I applied concealer under my eyes. “Time to stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

The morning at the hospital passed in its usual blur of patients and paperwork. Medical emergencies had a way of forcing everything else into the background, which I was grateful for. It wasn’t until my lunch break that the routine was disrupted.

“Dr. Crawford? The front desk nurse approached with a small bag. “You have a delivery.”

I accepted the bay with curiosity, immediately noticing how perfectly prepared everything was. Inside was a complete lunch – grilled salmon with lemon, roasted vegetables, wild rice, even a small container of fresh fruit salad. The presentation was restaurant- quality, with a cute smiley face drawn in sriracha sauce on the plate lid

My heart started beating faster despite my attempt to stay rational. The cooking style, the attention to detail, even the specific combination of foods-it was exactly like something Caelan would prepare.

I took a careful bite of the salmon. The seasoning was perfect, familiar, exactly the way be used to cook for me,

It has to be him.

I searched through the bag more thoroughly and found a small white card tucked beneath the napkin in neat handwriting, it simply said: “Make sure you eat properly.”

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From Substitute To Queen