From Substitute To Queen Chapter 115

He turned the screen toward me, showing what looked like a forum post. The title read: "Spotted Alpha Visiting Mysterious Woman?"

The photo was clear enough - Caelan walking toward the entrance of a building. And the location was definitely Blair's treatment center.

I stared at the photo, unable to deny that it was definitely Caelan.

"I thought he would at least tell you the truth," Darrell sighed dramatically. "I didn't expect him to hide this from you too."

"Sable, do you really think a man who truly loves you would lie about visiting his adopted sister? Or maybe..." He let the implication hang in the air. "Maybe their relationship isn't as innocent as it appears?"

"I heard he used to be quite the playboy. Never lacking female companions..."

"Enough!" I snapped, fury flooding through me. "Darrell, I won't let you talk about Caelan like that!"

"I trust Caelan completely. He's not the kind of person you're describing!"

"Don't try to use these lies to destroy our relationship!"

But even as I defended him aloud, my mind was racing back to this afternoon's phone call. The pause when I'd asked where he was. The unnatural tone in his voice.

*Why didn't he just tell me he was visiting Blair? If it's about the case, what's there to hide?*

I shook my head quickly, angry at myself for letting Darrell's poison get to me.

"Whatever the case," I said firmly, "Caelan and I have a stable relationship. We trust each other, and we don't need outsiders interfering."

I turned toward my door, fishing for my keys. This conversation was over.

The moment I turned my back to unlock the door, strong arms wrapped around me from behind. Darrell pressed against me, burying his face in my hair and breathing deeply.

"I can give you a better life than he can," he whispered against my neck. "More honest love. Come back to me, Sable."

Rage exploded through my body. I drove my elbow back hard into his stomach.

"Let go of me!"

The moment his grip loosened, I spun around and brought my knee up hard between his legs.

Darrell crumpled to the floor with a strangled groan.

"If you keep acting like some desperate loser who won't stop bugging his ex, it just makes me feel gross." I said, standing over him, "Seriously, it's totally backfiring. Here's a tip: if you actually want me to see you differently, step one—stay away from me."

I unlocked my door as quickly as possible and slammed it shut behind me, immediately turning all the locks.

Safe inside my apartment, I leaned back against the door and tried to catch my breath. My heart was pounding, and my hands were shaking.

After a few minutes, I walked to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water.

*I should call Caelan,* I thought, looking at my phone. *Ask him directly about visiting Blair.*

But then I hesitated. *What if asking makes it seem like I don't trust him? And it's so late now - I don't want to wake him up.*

I set the phone down and headed to my bedroom. *I'll wait for him to contact me first. If there's something he needs to tell me, he will.*

But as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, sleep didn't come easily that night.

***

A loud, annoying phone ringtone woke me up from my sleep.

My hair stuck up in every direction, tangled like a bird's nest from tossing and turning. Dark circles shadowed my eyes—remnants of a sleepless night that had stretched until nearly four in the morning.

I fumbled blindly across the nightstand, my fingers finally closing around the device.

Scarlett's name flashed on the screen.

"Hello?" My voice came out as a croak.

"Sable!" Scarlett's voice exploded through the speaker, sharp with fury. "Oh my God! Have you seen Blair's social media? That crazy bitch posted something absolutely vile! The photo... Jesus, Sable, I think I'm going to be sick!"

I sat up straighter, blinking away the fog of sleep. "Slow down. What happened?"

"Blair posted a sex photo! She's completely shameless!" Scarlett's words tumbled over each other in her rage. "Sable, don't get upset. You need to stay calm."

My confusion deepened. "Wait, Scarlett. I don't understand. Why would I be upset if Blair posted some sexual photo?"

A pause. Then Scarlett's voice dropped to something almost apologetic.

"Because the man in the photo... I think it's Caelan."

My heart stopped. Then started again, beating so hard I could hear it in my ears.

"You think it's Caelan?" I forced my voice to stay level. "Scarlett, that's impossible."

"Sable, I really think you should look for yourself. Maybe I'm wrong. The man's face isn't visible, but..." She trailed off uncertainly.

My hands started trembling. "You're mistaken. It can't be him."

"I hope I am," Scarlett whispered. "But Sable... please just look. And call me back when you do."

The line went dead.

I opened Blair's social media profile. The latest post sat at the top of her feed.

The photo showed Blair from her own perspective—a selfie taken from above. She was completely naked, lying on her side with flushed cheeks and damp hair clinging to her face. Every detail screamed of post-sex intimacy: the sheen of sweat on her skin, the satisfied glow in her eyes, the rumpled white sheets beneath her.

A man's hand rested on Blair's waist, long fingers splayed possessively across her bare skin. The hand was elegant, strong—exactly like Caelan's. But what made my blood turn to ice was the ring.

A black serpent band, twisted into an ouroboros. It was unmistakably Caelan's ring.

The caption beneath the photo read: "Some promises can only be expressed through the most sincere love ❤️ #TrueLoveWins #DestinedTogether"

My phone slipped from my nerveless fingers and clattered to the floor.

The room spun around me. My chest felt crushed, as if someone had placed a boulder on my ribs. I couldn't breathe properly—each attempt felt shallow and insufficient.

I knew that hand better than my own.

My hands shook as I picked up the phone and dialed his number.

Straight to voicemail.

I tried again. Still voicemail.

The third attempt confirmed what I already knew—his phone was turned off.

"Why now?" I whispered to the empty room. "Why is it off now of all times?"

I sent a text: "Caelan, we need to talk."