From Substitute To Queen Chapter 81

The next day, Dad drove me to Blackwood Manor.

*Dad told me Victoria suddenly said she wasn't feeling well and couldn't attend tonight's dinner. She and Daisy would both stay home. But I know the real reason—Victoria is still upset about our confrontation and doesn't want to face me.*

Caelan stood waiting at the entrance, his tall frame outlined against the warm light spilling from the doorway. When his eyes found mine, that familiar warmth spread through his gaze.

He approached Dad's car as we parked, opening my door before I could reach for the handle.

"Rodrigo." He shook hands with my father, then turned to me. "Sabi."

Marcus and Katherine Blackwood - Caelan's father and mother appeared in the doorway, their smiles genuine and welcoming. Katherine hurried down the steps, her arms already extended.

"Sable, darling!" She embraced me warmly. "You look absolutely radiant."

Marcus gripped Dad's hand firmly. "Rodrigo, it's been too long."

But my attention was caught by the figure hovering behind them. Blair stood slightly to the side, her posture rigid and unnatural. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and she looked like she'd rather be anywhere else.

*Blair looks like she was forced to attend this dinner.*

I met her cold stare briefly, remembering those desperate messages she'd sent to Caelan. Despite my relationship with him being secure, I still felt wary around her.

"Come in, come in," Katherine urged, ushering us through the foyer. "Dinner is almost ready."

The long mahogany table was set with fine china and silver, but what struck me most was the food. Every dish was something I loved.

After dinner, we moved to the living room for coffee and dessert. The atmosphere had lightened somewhat, both sets of parents discussing wedding traditions and ceremony logistics.

I was starting to think we might get through the rest of the evening without incident when Caelan suddenly stood up.

"Before we go any further," he said, his voice cutting through the conversation, "there's something that needs to be addressed."

All eyes turned to him. Blair went very still.

"Blair." His tone was cold, authoritative. "Come here and apologize to Sable." 

Silence. Marcus and Katherine looked stunned. Dad frowned in confusion.

Blair's face went white as snow. She sat frozen in her chair.

"I don't understand," Katherine said slowly.

Caelan's gaze never left Blair. "Stand up. Now."

The command in his voice was unmistakable. Blair's body responded before her mind could catch up, rising automatically from her seat.

"Caelan," Marcus started, "what's this about?"

"Blair knows exactly what this is about." Caelan's voice was deadly quiet. "Tell them what happened the day when you fell off the horse."

Blair's hands trembled at her sides. "I... there was an accident—"

"Tell them the truth. All of it. If you leave out a single detail, I'll tell the story myself."

Dad leaned forward. "Caelan, why are you asking Blair to apologize to my daughter? Did she hurt Sable?"

I touched Dad's arm gently. "Let's hear what she has to say first."

Blair looked around the room desperately, seeking support that wasn't coming. When her eyes met Katherine's, she found only expectant silence.

Katherine sighed. "Blair, tell us what happened. If it was truly a misunderstanding, I'm sure Sable will forgive you."

Under the weight of everyone's stares and Caelan's implacable authority, Blair finally began to speak.

"That day," she started, her voice barely above a whisper, "I asked Sable to teach me to ride..."

Her voice grew stronger as she continued, but she was careful to paint herself as the victim.

"The horse suddenly went crazy and threw me off..." Tears started flowing down her cheeks. "I thought... I thought maybe Sable had done something to make it panic, but later I heard there was a wound on the horse's back, and maybe I accidentally scratched it or something."

She turned to me with tear-filled eyes. "I'm sorry, Sable. I was wrong to suspect you. I shouldn't have had such evil thoughts. Can you forgive me?"

Katherine shook her head disapprovingly. "Blair, I'm very disappointed in you. How could you accuse someone without proof?"

Marcus frowned deeply. "Why didn't you simply take proper riding lessons instead of creating this situation?"

But Caelan wasn't satisfied with her sanitized version.

"That's not what you said at the time," he said coldly. "You specifically told me that Sable kicked the horse, causing it to go berserk. Why aren't you mentioning that now?"

Blair's composure cracked further. "I... I was confused and in pain—"

"So you lied then, or you're lying now?" Caelan's voice cut like a blade. "Which is it?"

He turned to his parents, his expression hard. "How exactly did you two raise her? To become such a practiced liar?"

"Caelan!" Katherine gasped.

Dad's voice rose with protective anger. "My daughter has been kind and honest since childhood. She wouldn't hurt a fly—she once brought home an injured bird to nurse it back to health. She would never harm anyone without cause."

*Hearing Dad defend me so fiercely without hesitation brought tears to my eyes. No matter what misunderstandings we'd had, his faith in me never wavered.*

I met Blair's gaze directly, my voice firm but not cruel. "Blair, if you really want a fresh start, then please be honest with yourself. Stop the lies and stop pretending. That's the only way forward."

Instead of accepting responsibility, Blair tried to deflect again. She bowed deeply but continued to insist it had all been a misunderstanding, that she never meant to frame me.

Caelan had heard enough.

"Mom, Dad," he said with finality, "I'm sending Blair to the psychological treatment center in the western territory. Considering her mother saved my life, I won't revoke her pack membership, but she needs professional help. She cannot return to Blackwood until a doctor certifies she's fully recovered."

The announcement hit like a bomb. Blair let out a strangled cry.

"No! Caelan, you can't do this! I won't go!"

"This is not a discussion. It's a decision."

Katherine stepped forward, clearly torn. "Caelan, Blair has been with us since she was a child. Perhaps we could give her another chance..."

Caelan's expression grew even colder. "Mom, do you know why I'm absolutely certain she needs to leave?"

He paused, letting the tension build.

"Because Blair's feelings for me have crossed the line from sisterly affection into something inappropriate. She's obsessed with her adoptive brother. Do you really want to keep her here and risk a scandal?"

The words dropped into the room like stones into still water, creating ripples of shock.

Katherine's hand flew to her throat. Marcus's face went ashen with disgust.

Caelan looked directly at Blair, his voice ruthless. "Blair, stop deluding yourself. I will never be interested in you. Ever."

"Caelan... you..." Blair could barely form words.

*I never expected that just because I once told Caelan about Blair's infatuation, he would expose her so brutally in front of the entire family and exile her.*

Katherine's voice shook. "Blair, is what Caelan says true? Do you really have such shameful feelings for your adoptive brother?"