From Substitute To Queen Chapter 94

Sable nodded, rising slowly from the chair. "I'll see you later, then."

When she reached the door, she paused and looked back at me with a small smile.

After the door closed behind her, I turned to face my mother. "You were rude to her."

Katherine's perfectly shaped eyebrows rose. "Rude? I was perfectly civil."

"You acted like she wasn't even in the room."

"Caelan, I'm concerned about your health, not social pleasantries." Katherine's voice carried the tone that suggested any disagreement was unreasonable. "What matters is that you're safe."

"What matters is that you're blaming the wrong person for what happened." My voice hardened. "Sable isn't responsible for my injuries."

Katherine's composure cracked slightly. "Oh really? Then who is? What's wrong with caring about my own son?"

"The person responsible is Lucian." I met her gaze steadily. "He orchestrated the entire attack."

Marcus stepped forward. "Caelan, you can't be certain—"

"I'm absolutely certain." My voice dropped to a dangerous level. "Don't worry—I'll handle him myself."

Marcus ran a hand through his graying hair. "Caelan, don't let your anger make you cruel. Whatever he's done, Lucian is still your brother."

Katherine's face went white with rage. "I wish I could kill him right now! Marcus, if you continue protecting your bastard son, I want a divorce. I mean it this time!"

I studied my father's face, watching him struggle between his misguided sense of family loyalty and the reality of what Lucian had become.

I stared at my father in cold silence, saying nothing.

How pathetic, I thought, studying the man who'd raised me. *He's never really loved me, has he? Never cared about Mother either. After all these years, the only people he truly cares about are his mistress and that illegitimate son.*

*If it weren't for his protection and indulgence, Lucian would never have gained enough power to dare strike back at me so boldly. Now I know—Lucian helped Blair escape specifically to use her to destroy my wedding. He'd arranged for those Rogues to target Sable, knowing I'd come to save her. The entire plan had been designed to either kill my future wife or force me into a situation where I might die protecting her.*

*Fine. If that's how he wants to play this game, I'll give him exactly what he's asking for.*

Another knock interrupted the tense silence.

"Caelan? May I come in?"

Blair's voice drifted through the door, soft and uncertain.

"Come in," I called.

Blair pushed the door open slowly. She wore a pale blue hospital gown, an IV tube taped to the back of her left hand. Her face was wan, her hair hanging limp around her shoulders. She moved carefully, as if every step required tremendous effort.

Katherine immediately rushed toward her. "Blair, darling! You shouldn't be walking around. You need rest."

"I'm okay," Blair said quietly. Her eyes found mine, and I saw them fill with tears. "I had to see you. I had to make sure you were all right."

She approached my bed with halting steps, her free hand pressed against her chest as if it physically hurt to breathe.

"Caelan, I'm so sorry." The tears began falling in earnest now, carving tracks down her pale cheeks. "I've been thinking about what happened since I was awake. About how selfish and stupid I've been."

"Yes, you are." I replied coldly.

She sank into the chair Sable had vacated, her shoulders shaking. "I was jealous. Insanely, irrationally jealous of what you and Sable have together. When I saw how desperately you love her, how you'd risk everything to protect her... it made me realize how foolish I've been."

Her voice broke completely. "I nearly got both of you killed with my selfish tantrum. If I hadn't jumped, you would never have been separated from Sable. Those men wouldn't have had a chance to hurt either of you."

Katherine moved to stand behind Blair's chair, placing protective hands on her shoulders. "Sweetheart, you were traumatized. No one blames you for being confused—"

"But I do blame myself," Blair interrupted, looking directly at me. "I threatened to kill myself just to manipulate your emotions. What kind of person does that? What kind of person tries to destroy someone else's happiness out of pure selfishness?"

I studied her face, seeing genuine anguish there. Blair had lost her mother when she was little. Perhaps she had mistakenly seen me as her emotional anchor, wrongly developing romantic feelings from what should have been a protective relationship.

She took a deep breath. "Sable makes you happy in a way I never could. I can see it in how you look at her, how you smile when she's near. She brings out the best parts of you."

"I'm going back to the treatment center," she said firmly. "I can't keep hurting people I care about."

The sincerity in her voice made something tight in my chest ease slightly. "That's probably for the best."

"I want you to be happy, Caelan. Truly happy." Blair stood up carefully, steadying herself against the chair. "Take care of yourself, okay? And... tell Sable I'm sorry. For everything."

I nodded. "I will."

***

**Blair's POV**

I maintained my careful, pained pace until I was certain Katherine had returned to Caelan's room and closed the door behind her.