From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 210

Chapter 210

Sable’s POV

85%

I sat in the departure lounge, scrolling through my phone, deleting everything related to Caelan.

I lingered on our wedding photo when the boarding announcement came on.

I stood slowly and walked toward the gate. At the last moment, I pressed delete.

One by one, I erased every trace of him from my phone. Our selfies, our couple shots, the candid pictures he’d taken of me when I wasn’t looking.

All of it vanished into digital oblivion.

When the last photo was gone, I turned off my phone and followed the other passengers down the jetway.

Caelan’s POV

The next day

I sat in my black sedan outside Crawford Manor, engine running.

Just get out of the car. Walk to the door. Face whatever she throws at you.

But every time I reached for the door handle, images flashed through my mind. Sable’s face when she’d seen the truth. The way she’d looked at me like I was a monster. The sound of our mate bond snapping.

She hates me. She’ll always hate me now.

I killed the engine, then started it again. Killed it. Started it.

Fucking coward.

I’d been circling this block for forty minutes, working up the courage to face the consequences of my sins.

Finally, I forced myself out of the car. My legs felt unsteady as I walked up the stone path.

I raised my fist to knock, hesitated, then forced myself to rap against the heavy wooden door.

Footsteps approached from inside. The lock turned.

The door swung open, revealing Rodrigo. For a moment, he just stared at me. His amber eyes took in my appearance— hollow cheeks, the dark circles under my eyes that spoke of sleepless nights.

Something flickered across his face, Sympathy, maybe. But it vanished quickly, replaced by cold reserve.

“What are you doing here?” His voice was flat.

“Rodrigo, I…” My throat felt raw. “I want to see Sable.”

“I miss her.” The words tore out of me, pathetic and desperate.

12:14 Fri, 22 Aug PM

Chapter 210

85%

Rodrigo didn’t step aside to let me in. Instead, he positioned himself in the doorway, his large frame forming a barrier between me

and the house.

“She doesn’t want to see you.”

I bit down on my lower lip, tasting blood. I understand. I just… is she upstairs? I could wait outside until she’s ready. However long

it takes.”

His silence stretched between us, heavy and oppressive. Something about his expression made my chest tighten with dread,

My breathing quickened. “She… she’s okay, isn’t she?”

“Is she home?”

The silence dragged on until I couldn’t bear it anymore. I looked down at my feet, shame burning through me like acid.

“Rodrigo, I know I have no right to stand here.” My voice cracked. “I know I’m a sinner.”

I started beating my chest with my fist, each impact a punctuation of self-hatred. “I’m a coward. A complete and utter coward.”

“After I committed that unforgivable mistake all those years ago, I chose to run away.”

*I should have taken responsibility. Should have faced the consequences. But I ran like the fucking coward I am.”

Tears started sliding down my cheeks. “Isabella’s death is on me. No matter what happened that day, no matter if it was intentional or not, the fact remains-I killed her.”

“These past years, I’ve lived with this guilt every single day. Every night I’m tortured by nightmares.” My voice grew hoarser. “I know I can never make up for this mistake. I can never bring Isabella back to life.”

“Sable has every right to hate me.”

“I don’t deserve her forgiveness. I don’t deserve her love. I sure as hell don’t deserve to be that baby’s father.”

I looked up at Rodrigo through my tears. “I’m sorry, Rodrigo. I failed your trust.”

“I know I have no right to ask for anything. But please-just let me know she’s safe. That’s all I need.”

‘I can move far away. I can change my identity. I can do anything, as long as she and the baby are safe and happy.”

Rodrigo’s POV

Watching Caelan break down before me stirred emotions I wasn’t prepared for. Anger, pain, sympathy, helplessness-they all warred across my face,

This man who’d become like a son to me. Now standing here destroyed by guilt and grief.

After a long moment, I turned away slowly. “Wait here.”

I walked to my study and opened the desk drawer. The letter lay there. I lifted it carefully.

This letter was as painful for me as it would be for him.

I hesitated, holding the envelope.

212

12:14 Fri, 22 Aug PM

Chapter 210

Maybe this is mercy. Maybe knowing the truth will finally give him peace.

I returned to the front door where Caelan waited, his face a mask of desperate hope.

“You’re too late. My voice came out low and rough.

I held out the letter. She left last night.”

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