From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 195

Chapter 195

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I thought about Camila’s patient devotion, how she’d stood by me even when I was obviously obsessed with another woman. How unfair I’d been to her, treating her like a consolation prize when she deserved so much more.

Why am I still chasing someone who was never mine? Why am I throwing away what I actually have for a fantasy?

I moved to the window, pressing my palm against the cool glass. The city sparkled below like scattered diamonds.

Camila has been beside me this whole time, and I keep treating her like she’s second-best. That’s not fair to her. It’s not fair to me, either.

For the first time in months, I felt something like clarity. Sable was Caelan’s now-had always been his, really. Fighting that truth was only destroying my own chances at happiness.

I picked up my phone, scrolling to Camila’s contact. Tomorrow, I would call her. We’d meet for dinner, and I’d finally give our relationship the attention it deserved. Maybe even discuss marriage.

Before I could second-guess myself, my phone buzzed with an email notification.

The sender showed as “Anonymous.”

I almost deleted it without reading-who sends emails at this hour?-but curiosity got the better of me.

The subject line made my blood run cold: “A Final Gift from Beyond the Grave.”

I clicked it open immediately.

When you receive this email, I will already be dead.

My heart began hammering against my ribs.

I walked back to the desk and sank into the chair, eyes fixed on the screen.

Dear Darrell,

If you are reading this, it means my life has come to an end. This is a pre-scheduled email.

I know you’ve always wanted Sable, and I know you harbor deep resentment toward Caelan. Before I die, I want to give you one final “gift-a secret that could destroy Caelan and Sable’s relationship forever.

Do you know how Sable’s mother Isabella really died?

My breathing became shallow and rapid. Sweat broke out across my forehead.

Isabella Crawford’s death was not simply the result of enemy wolf poison. The real killer was Caelan Blackwood.

I stared at the screen, reading the sentence over and over.

The truth about that war is more complex than you imagine. That battle was originally launched by my mother Melissa to expand territory -a direct attack on Caelan’s power base. The battlefield happened to be near Rodrigo’s territory, so Rodrigo brought pack members including Isabella to join the fight, helping to resist our Rogue attacks.

Everyone believed Caelan wasn’t involved in that battle, including Rodrigo and Isabella. But the truth is, Caelan was operating alone in the border area at the time, secretly participating in the fight without anyone’s knowledge.

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Chapter 195

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During the most intense fighting, an injured Rogue warrior managed to escape back to our camp. He personally told me and my mother a shocking scene: he saw Caclan lying at the battlefield’s edge, holding a blood-stained dagger, with wounded Isabella collapsed beside him.

The Rogue warrior said Isabella was still alive then, but she’d clearly been poisoned-and from her wounds, she’d been stabbed by the very dagger in Caelan’s hand.

By the time Rodrigo found them, Caelan had already fled. So Rodrigo and Isabella always believed she’d been wounded by Rogues.

Isabella was hospitalized for a long time before dying from her injuries, never knowing that her future son-in-law was the one who killed

her.

My hands shook as I scrolled down.

Now this secret belongs to you, Darrell. Use it to reclaim the woman who should be yours. If you want my advice, I’d suggest telling Sable this truth when she and Caelan are at their happiest. That’s how you maximize the destruction of their happiness.

-Your eternal partner, Lucian Ross

I stood up, my chest heaving like I’d just run a marathon.

Outside, wind rattled the windows. Tree branches scraped against glass with soft, sinister sounds.

I began pacing the room.

If this is true… that war was Melissa’s attack on Caelan’s territory? And Caelan secretly participated, then killed Isabella? Why did he do that?

A fleeing Rogue actually witnessed Caelan with the bloody weapon… that means there was an eyewitness. But is that witness still alive?

The implications crashed over me in waves.

Sable has always believed her mother died heroically protecting their territory. If she learns the truth-that the man she loves murdered her mother in cold blood…

But if I tell her this, she’ll leave Caelan and come back to me.

No. This is too cruel. Even if I want her back, I can’t destroy her like this.

But what if it’s the truth? What if she has a right to know the man she’s planning to marry is her mother’s murderer?

I collapsed into the chair again and poured another whiskey.

I read the email again, searching for any hint that this might be fabricated.

But why would Lucian lie now? He’s dead-what benefit would false information serve him?

Unless… this is his final revenge. One last way to cause maximum damage from beyond the grave.

The whiskey burned down my throat, but it did nothing to quiet the storm in my head.

Sable’s POV

A Month Later

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Chapter 195

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The sound of car doors closing echoed through the air. I peered through the bridal suite window, watching our guests arrive at the castle grounds. A month had passed since our engagement, and today-our wedding day-had finally arrived.

“Rodrigo and Victoria are here,” I announced to Mary, who was adding final touches to my hair.

My father stepped out of his car wearing a deep navy formal suit, a white rose boutonniere pinned to his lapel. His eyes held that telltale shimmer of unshed tears, but his posture remained dignified and strong. Victoria emerged gracefully beside him, her arm linked through his. She wore an elegant lavender silk dress that caught the afternoon sunlight beautifully.

In her hands was a small velvet box-the pearl necklace she’d mentioned wanting to give me.

“Look at Sable today, so happy,” Rodrigo whispered, his hand touching the boutonniere. “I think Isabella would be proud of her. She finally found a man willing to protect her with his life.”

Victoria gently patted his arm. “Isabella has been watching over Sable all along. I believe she’s smiling right now.”

Rodrigo took a deep breath, fighting to control his emotions. “I just want everything to be perfect today. This is my daughter’s most important day.”

Before he could compose himself further, a blur of yellow came racing across the garden.

“Sabelate!” Daisy called out, practically bouncing as she ran. She wore a sunshine-yellow flower girl dress covered in tiny sequins, carrying a wicker basket filled with white and pink rose petals. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement. “You’re really going to become a real princess today!”

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