From Substitute To Queen

Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Blair's POV That day at the hospital, after Caelan and I talked, I did exactly what I promised - I returned to the treatment center. I went back because I needed him to think I was changing. These past few days, I had been the perfect patient. Attending every therapy session with a smile. Taking my medications without complaint. The staff thought I was making remarkable progress. I know Caelan must be watching me, so I have to perform better. Let him think I'm really changing, let him lower his guard. But today, everything changed.

I was in my room, reorganizing my clothes in the small dresser, when my hidden phone buzzed with an incoming message. The burner phone I kept concealed behind the loose baseboard - the one no one knew about. James. That greedy, incompetent fool. The dresser drawer slammed shut with significant force. A picture frame on top rattled dangerously close to the edge. Damn it, James! That greedy bastard! I knew I shouldn't have trusted him!

I grabbed the frame before it could fall - a photo of Caelan and me from last Christmas, back when he still looked at me with affection instead of cold disappointment. My fingers gripped it so tightly the glass began to crack. Then I hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, sending glass fragments skittering across the floor. I began pacing frantically, my hands raking through my hair with enough force to pull several strands loose. Now Caelan is definitely interrogating him. If he says something he shouldn't... No, no, no! I can't let him ruin everything!

A knock at my door made me freeze. "Miss Sterling? Is everything alright in there?" I forced my voice to sound calm. "Yes, just dropped something. I'll clean it up." 'Do you need assistance?" 'No, thank you." Footsteps retreated down the hallway, I waited until I was certain the nurse was gone before allowing myself to truly panic. I collapsed onto my bed, clutching my head as the implications crashed over me. If Caelan pieces together that someone inside his pack orchestrated this... I forced myself to breathe deeply. Calm down, Blair. Losing your temper won't solve anything now.

O Q 1/2 M & ||| O < 90% 11:42 Fri, 22 Aug M Chapter 117 I stood and walked to the small mirror above my dresser, studying my reflection. My eyes were red-rimmed, my hair disheveled. I need to fix this before they can open their mouths. I need to make sure they stay quiet permanently. My hands were trembling as I retrieved my phone from its hiding place behind the loose baseboard near my bed. I called someone. A voice answered on the third ring - calm, professional, completely devoid of emotion. "Yes?" It's me. We have a problem." "Explain." "James was captured.

He and his father need to disappear. Completely. As soon as possible." A pause. "Both targets?" "Yes. All of them. Leave no loose ends." The line went dead. Ten minutes later, I'd cleaned up the broken glass and arranged my appearance. My hair was neat again, my eyes no longer red. I'd even applied a light layer of foundation to hide the stress-induced pallor in my cheeks. I picked up my phone again - the official one this time, the one the staff knew about. The phone rang twice before his familiar voice answered. "Blair?" He sounded tired. Exhausted, really.

Probably from interrogating James. "Caelan..." I let his name come out soft, almost whispered. "I hope I'm not bothering you." "You're supposed to be in treatment. Why are you calling?" 'I am in treatment. The doctors said I'm doing well enough to maintain family contact." I paused, letting a slight tremor enter my voice. 'I... I miss you." Silence on the other end. I could hear background noise - papers shuffling, maybe footsteps. He was probably in his office, dealing with pack business.

"You should be focusing on your recovery, not on me." Chapter Comments LIKE 2 Write Comments SHARE 2/2 11:42 Fri, 22 Aug