From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 187

Chapter 187

I remained silent. Then he stood. “Well, my job here is done. Now it’s your turn, baby girl.”

I watched him walk toward the door. At the threshold, he paused and looked back.

“Don’t wait too long, Sable.”

The door clicked shut behind him.

*

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I leaned back in my office chair, tilting my head toward the ceiling. The fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead. My mind felt like a storm-relief, anger, love, and confusion swirling together until I couldn’t tell one emotion from another.

Caelan, you stubborn fool.

I reached for my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I found his name. My finger hovered over the call button.

What am I going to say? “Hey, I know you’ve been lying to me, but want to grab coffee?”

I tapped the screen before I could lose my nerve.

It rang once. Twice.

“Edward, I am Sable.” My voice came out colder than Antarctica. “Tell me where Caelan is. Now.”

Silence stretched across the line. I could practically hear him scrambling.

“S…Sable? How did you… why are you-”

“I don’t have time for your stammering.” My tone sharpened to a blade. “Where is he? Right now. Immediately.”

“He… he’s at 152 Cherry Street, penthouse level, unit P1…”

“Why is he there?”

Edward hesitated. “Since you two… broke up… His Majesty hasn’t returned to Blackwood Manor. He bought that place. It’s in the building right next to your complex…”

Next door. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought it might crack them.

He’s been watching my windows. Living close enough to see my lights turn on and off every night, but unable to come to me.

Fury and heartbreak crashed together in my chest.

“Edward.” My voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Listen very carefully. If you tell Caelan I made this call…”

I let the silence build, counting three full seconds.

Til strap you to my operating table and perform an appendectomy with the dullest scalpel I can find. Anesthesia? What’s that? You’ll be wide awake for every single cut

My tone suddenly turned sickeningly sweet. ‘Do you understand me, dear Edward?”

‘T… I absolutely won’t say anything! You have my word! I swear!

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12:07 Fri, 22 Aug

Chapter 187

“Good. Satisfaction dripped from my voice. “Remember what you promised.”

I hung up.

Edward’s POV

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I stared at my phone like it had just transformed into a venomous snake.

Jesus Christ. When did Sable become so terrifying?

But honestly? Good for her. Someone needed to shake His Majesty out of his pathetic funk.

These past days had been torture to watch. Last board meeting was a disaster-Caelan spent the entire time staring at the conference table while Leon asked about fiscal reports three times before he snapped out of it. And what was the first thing he said? “Did Sable eat lunch today?”

Yesterday was even worse. He signed an important territorial agreement as “Sable Blackwood” and didn’t realize until I pointed it out. His face went deadly pale and he tore up the document, rewriting it five times.

And don’t get me started on the 3 AM text messages. I’d wake up to find: “She spilled some of her soup today. Do you think the seasoning was too strong? Should I make it milder?”

Your Majesty, she spilled it because she was clumsy, not because of the taste.

I’ve been dying to tie those two together just so His Majesty stops turning into a zombie.

Sable’s POV

I stormed out of my office, my heels clicking sharply against the linoleum. The nurses at the station scattered like startled birds when they saw my expression. Smart girls.

The elevator couldn’t come fast enough. I jabbed the down button repeatedly, arms crossed tightly over my chest.

When the doors finally opened, someone was already inside. I barreled forward without looking and crashed into them.

“Sorry!” I muttered, spinning around to hit the ground floor button.

My finger hammered the close door button like my life depended on it. As if pressing it faster would make the elevator obey.

The doors slid shut with maddening slowness.

The ride down felt like an eternity.

The elevator dinged at the ground floor. I burst out, half jogging toward the parking garage.

My car started with a satisfying roar. I peeled out of the parking spot so fast the tires squealed against the concrete.

Caelan, you magnificent bastard. When I get my hands on you, I’m going to reward you properly.

I ran three yellow lights on the way there, gunning it through each intersection just as the light turned red.

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12:07 Fri, 22 Aug PM

Chapter 187

Cherry Street appeared ahead.

I parked at the curb and strode toward the entrance. A security guard stepped forward.

“Excuse me, miss. I need to log all visitors-

“I’m Caelan Blackwood’s wife.”

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The guard blinked. “I haven’t heard about the King getting married.”

“Cut the crap.” I fixed him with my most withering stare. “Do I look like I’m here to rob the place? If you don’t believe me, come up with me and verify it yourself.”

Something in my expression made him step aside immediately. “My apologies. Please go ahead.”

The elevator ride to the penthouse felt endless. I counted each floor as we climbed-fifteen, sixteen, seventeen-my heartbeat accelerating with every number.

The soft ding when we reached the top floor echoed through the quiet hallway.

I found his door, staring at the electronic keypad’s blue glow.

Without hesitation, I punched in eight digits: my birthday.

Each number made my heart contract a little more. What if it’s not my birthday? What if I’m completely wrong about everything?

A soft beep. The light turned green. The lock clicked open.

Oh god. Tears sprang to my eyes. This idiot really did use my birthday.

I pushed the door open slowly.

The smell hit me first-alcohol mixed with Caelan’s familiar scent.

The penthouse was nearly black. Only a single floor lamp in the corner cast weak yellow light across the massive space. Heavy curtains blocked every window, shutting out the city lights.

I looked around. A dark silhouette curled on the carpet in the middle of the living room, back pressed against the sofa. A half-empty bottle of whiskey dangled from his fingers.

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12:08 Fri, 22 Aug PM.

From Substitute To Queen