From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79

After he toweled my hair dry, Caelan settled me on the sofa and picked up the blow dryer.

I watched his reflection in the mirror across the room. The focused expression on his face. The care he took with each section.

‘I never imagined our first time would happen like this,” I admitted quietly,

His reflection met my eyes in the glass, “How did you imagine it?”

‘I don’t know. Romantic dinner, maybe? Candles? Not me taking charge because you were drugged.”

“You saved me. He set down the dryer, hands coming to rest on my shoulders. “However it happened, you’re mine now.”

His phone buzzed insistently on the coffee table.

‘Check it for me?” He returned to sectioning my hair. ‘Password is your birthday.”

I reached for the device, then froze when I saw the lock screen. It was a photo of me from my sophomore year birthday party. I remembered Scarlett taking it-I was laughing at something, completely carefree.

Something warm unfurled in my chest as I unlocked the phone. Our text conversation was pinned at the top-the only starred contact.

Multiple pack leaders had sent status updates. I relayed the information quickly, but my attention got caught by a muted conversation thread.

Blair Sterling.

My stomach clenched with familiar jealousy, but I couldn’t stop myself from opening it.

Message after message filled the screen. All from Blair, spanning the past days.

“Please forgive me. I know I was wrong.”

‘I’m scared you’ll choose her over me.”

“My body hurts so much. I need you.”

‘She’s taking you away from me.”

“Why won’t you see me? It hurts that you’re with her instead.

The desperate, intimate tone of the messages made my chest tight with acid jealousy. There was only one response from Caelan: “This has nothing to do with

her.”

“Tomorrow evening, we’re having dinner at my family home.” Caelan’s voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts. “I want you to meet my parents. Bring your

parents too.”

I forced myself to look up from the phone. “Will Blair be at the dinner tomorrow night?”

‘Yes.’ He moved to stand in front of me. ‘Perfect timing for her to apologize to you properly in front of everyone.”

I stood abruptly. “Find someone to bring me clothes. I need to go out.”

Caelan’s hands immediately reached for me, concerned. “What’s wrong? You seem upset.”

“I’m not upset.”

His gaze dropped to the phone in my hands. Understanding dawned in his expression.

1/4

“Sabi…” He stepped closer, arms circling my waist from behind. “I have no feelings for Blair. None whatsoever.”

I remained rigid in his embrace, unwilling to admit how much those messages had affected me.

“Come on, don’t be angry, Sabi. His voice turned coaxing.

“I need clothes. I’m going out now.”

“Where are you going? I’ll drive you.”

‘I need to go home,” I said.

I need to see Dad. Need to tell him about tomorrow’s dinner with Caelan’s family.

Caelan nodded and pulled back slightly. “Wait here. Let me have someone bring you clothes.”

Caelan nodded and stepped back slightly. He made a quick phone call, speaking in low tones about bringing clothes.

Ten minutes later, Edward knocked and delivered a black shopping bag. Inside I found a simple knitted dress and comfortable flats.

Inside I found a black knitted dress, simple and elegant, paired with comfortable flats. The fabric felt soft between my fingers.

Caelan stepped into the hallway while I changed. To my surprise, the dress fit well enough.

“Thank you,” I said as he parked.

‘Call me if you need anything.” His fingers squeezed mine briefly. “Anything at all.”

I walked toward the front door, fishing my key from my purse. Behind me, I heard his car engine fade into the distance.

The house felt different as I stepped inside. Quieter.

‘Sable? You’re back?”

Victoria’s voice carried from the living room, followed by the sharp click of heels on marble. She appeared at the entryway, surprise flickering across her

features.

“Where’s Dad?” I asked, not bothering with pleasantries.

‘Pack business. He had to handle some territorial disputes.” Victoria smoothed her skirt. “Mary’s on vacation too.”

‘I see.”

“You left early last night? Daisy was looking for you.” Victoria’s tone carried that familiar note of false concern. “We were worried.”

I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message to Dad: Having dinner with Caelan’s family tomorrow evening. Will call you later.

“Where did you go?” Victoria pressed, following me as I moved toward the stairs.

Why does she need to know everything?

“Just some business to handle.

“What kind of business? Sable, you can’t just disappear without explanation, especially at Daisy’s party.”

I paused on the bottom step. “Excuse me?”

2/4

Leaving during your sister’s birthday celebration. It was quite rude.”

‘I had an emergency.”

“What emergency could possibly be more important than family?”

The question hung between us like a challenge. I turned to face her fully.

‘Sorry. Are you satisfied now?”

Victoria’s eyes flashed with something sharp. “A little courtesy goes a long way! You’re just like your mother in that regard!”

What the hell does that mean?

‘Don’t bring my mother into this.”

“Why not? You think she was some kind of saint?”

There was something in Victoria’s expression I’d never seen before. A kind of vicious satisfaction that made my skin crawl.

‘I don’t want to hear your nonsense. I turned back toward the stairs. ‘I’m leaving.”

But Victoria stepped into my path, blocking my way.

‘Your precious, perfect mother was a homewrecker! The words exploded from her throat in a shriek that echoed through the foyer.

I staggered backward. “You’re insane.”

Rodrigo and I were engaged first! She destroyed everything!”

The world tilted sideways. No. That’s impossible. Mom wouldn’t…

“You’re lying.”

Victoria’s smile turned cruel. “Ask anyone. Ask your father himself if you want proof.

‘You can verify it with anyone you choose,” Victoria continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. ‘See if I’m telling the truth.”

I pushed past her and rushed outside, my vision blurring. The air felt too thin, like I couldn’t get enough oxygen into my lungs.

A taxi was coming down the street. I flagged it desperately.

‘Where to?” the driver asked as I collapsed into the back seat.

I gave him Sarah’s address, my voice barely functioning.

This can’t be real. Mom wasn’t like that. She would never…

But Victoria’s expression had been too satisfied, too certain. Like she’d been waiting years to drop this bomb.

The taxi pulled up outside Sarah’s house twenty minutes later. I threw money at the driver and stumbled up the front walk.

“Sarah! Open the door!”

My fists pounded against the wood frantically. Please be home. Please.

The door opened to reveal Sarah in a cotton bathrobe, her gray hair mussed from sleep.

3/4

Chapter 79

“Sable? Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

Victoria said my mother was a homewrecker. Tell me it’s not true.”

Sarah’s face went completely white. Her hand gripped the doorframe for support.