From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54

A few hours later, I sat cross-legged on the living room floor of my new apartment. I’d managed to unpack the essentials – clothes, toiletries, Mom’s china carefully wrapped in tissue paper.

My phone rang, Scarlett’s name lighting up the screen.

She asked me out for a drink. I agreed before she even finished the sentence.

Perfect. That’s exactly what I need right now.

The Crimson Rose sat tucked between an antique bookstore and a flower shop on Blackwood’s main street. Red velvet curtains framed tall windows, and jazz music drifted onto the sidewalk through the open door.

I found Scarlett at a corner table, two martinis already waiting.

“You look like you need this.” She pushed one of the glasses toward me.

The gin burned pleasantly as it went down. “Long day.”

“Want to talk about it?”

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I told her about the fight with Dad, about moving out, about the revelations from Mary. Scarlett listened without interruption, occasionally refilling our glasses from the pitcher she’d ordered.

“So your father’s been carrying guilt all these years, she mused when I finished. “No wonder he couldn’t stand to look at you. You reminded him of what he’d lost.

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“And what he’d betrayed.”

3

“Even with your mother’s blessing, he still feels guilty.” Scarlett swirled her olive thoughtfully. “That kind of guilt makes people do stupid things.”

*Speaking of stupid things…” I leaned back in the plush booth. “What did you think of last night’s dinner party?”

Scarlett’s expression darkened immediately. “That Blair. Her behavior was beyond inappropriate. The hostility was practically radiating off her.

‘I was hoping I’d imagined it.”

“Trust me, you didn’t.” Scarlett leaned forward conspiratorially. “I did some digging today. About Blair’s background.”

My pulse quickened. “What kind of digging?”

She glanced around the bar, ensuring we weren’t overheard, then lowered her voice.

‘Blair Sterling. Real name Blair Thorne. Her mother was Marina Thorne – used to work as a maid at Blackwood Manor.”

I set down my glass. “A maid?”

“Years ago, someone tried to assassinate Caelan. Marina threw herself between them, took a blade meant for him.” Scarlett’s voice grew somber. “She died saving his life.”

‘So Caelan’s parents adopted her daughter out of gratitude?”

“That’s where it gets interesting. Scarlett’s green eyes glittered with something between excitement and concern. “According to palace gossip, Marina’s dying wish wasn’t just for Blair to be raised as family.”

My heart started beating faster. “What else?”

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She made Katherine promise that Blair would marry Caelan when they came of age.”

The martini glass slipped in my suddenly nerveless fingers. “What?”

“No one knows if Katherine actually agreed to it, but Blair clearly believes it was a done deal.” Scarlett reached across to steady my drink. ‘In her mind, she’s not Caelan’s adopted sister. She’s his intended bride.”

The pieces clicked into place with horrifying clarity.

That’s why she looked at me like I was stealing something that belonged to her.

She wasn’t protecting a brother. She was defending her claim to a husband.

I didn’t steal Caelan from her – I stole her entire future.

“Now you understand why she hates you, Scarlett said softly. “You’re not just the king’s fiancée. You’re the woman who destroyed her dreams.

1 drained the rest of my martini in one burning gulp. “Wonderful. So I have a delusional woman living in the same house as my future husband.”

‘Delusional people are the most dangerous kind. Scarlett’s expression grew serious. “They have nothing left to lose.*

We spent the next hour dissecting every interaction from the dinner party, looking for signs I’d missed. By the time we ordered a second pitcher, the bar had filled with the late-night crowd.

“The question is, what do I do about it?”

‘Nothing yet.” Scarlett’s voice carried warning. “Don’t confront her directly. That’ll just make her more desperate.”

She leaned closer. “But watch your back. Women like Blair don’t give up easily.”

Want me to call a car?” Scarlett fumbled with her phone as a taxi pulled up to the curb.

“No, I’ll walk.” I waved her off. “My new place is only a few blocks away. Fresh air will clear my head.”

‘You sure? It’s pretty dark out there.”

‘I’ll be fine.”

Scarlett climbed into the taxi and rolled down the window. “Text me when you get home safely.”

I watched her taillights disappear around the corner, then started walking toward my apartment building.

The night air hit my flushed cheeks like a cool slap. I started walking, heels clicking against the cobblestones in a steady rhythm.

I’d made it two blocks when I realized my phone was dead. The screen remained black no matter how many times I pressed the power button.

I picked up my pace slightly, suddenly aware of how isolated I was.

That’s when I heard the footsteps.

At first, I thought it was coincidence. Another late-night walker heading in the same direction. But when I stopped to adjust my purse strap, the footsteps stopped too.

My pulse quickened.

I resumed walking, listening carefully. Sure enough, the second set of footsteps resumed as well. Same pace, same rhythm, maintaining a consistent distance behind me.

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04

Someone’s following me.

1 tested my theory by deliberately slowing down. The footsteps slowed to match. When I sped up, they sped up too.

Fear crept up my spine like cold fingers.

I glanced around, looking for potential escape routes or safe havens. Most of the shops were closed, their windows dark. The street stretched ahead in a long, straight line with nowhere to hide.

Except…

An narrow alley opened between two buildings about fifty feet ahead. Barely wide enough for two people, with high walls on both sides. If I could get there first, I might be able to turn the tables on my pursuer.

I forced myself to maintain the same casual pace until I reached the alley mouth. Then I darted sideways into the shadows, pressing my back against the brick wall.

My heart hammered so loudly I was sure it would give me away. I held my breath, listening to the approaching footsteps.

They grew closer. Closer.

A figure appeared at the alley entrance.

From Sul