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2025-04-16 14:37:43
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Beyond A Substitute 4
**** The city was quiet that night. Not silent, no—but the kind of quiet that made headlights feel too bright and made even the softest footsteps echo a little louder than usual. The streets were mostly empty, bathed in the dim orange hue of the streetlamps that flickered like they were tired. It was past midnight, and the world was resting. Katherine had just closed up the small coffee shop where she worked part-time. She pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders as the cool wind tugged at her hair. Her boots clicked softly on the pavement as she walked the same path she always did. There was nothing unusual about the night—until she saw something on the side of the road. Someone. She slowed down, eyes narrowing as she stepped cautiously closer. A man was lying there, half on the sidewalk, half in the grass. His expensive jacket was crumpled and stained with spilled liquor. One of his shoes had come off. His head was turned slightly to the side, and even from a distance, K
Last Updated : 2025-05-02Beyond A Substitute 5
Kingsley was discharged from the hospital two later He didn’t say much during his stay. The doctors asked questions, and he gave short answers. Nurses poked and prodded, monitored vitals, and adjusted IV fluids. Through it all, Kingsley said very little. But every time Katherine visited—twice a day, without fail—his eyes would soften like the tight coil of pain in his chest loosened a little. It was her presence that grounded him. Not the medicine, not the sterile sheets, not the therapist that popped in briefly. Just her. When he was discharged, he didn’t return to his towering penthouse, Instead, he requested to be dropped off at a quiet, inconspicuous street on the edge of the city. That’s where he wanted to be. A small, two-bedroom apartment tucked between a florist and a closed-down laundromat. It had peeling gray paint, creaky floorboards, and a door that stuck when you tried to close it all the way. To anyone else, it was just another forgotten space on a forgotte
Last Updated : 2025-05-02Beyond A Substitute 6
The weeks had passed like a strange dream—slow, foggy, and tangled in quiet moments that seemed both too fragile to touch and too powerful to ignore. Kingsley was no longer the shattered man Katherine had found that night on the roadside. He wasn’t whole either. But there was… stillness in him now. A kind of calm that unnerved her. It was a Saturday morning when she arrived again. The sun was barely up, but she’d already cooked his favorite—sweet potato hash with grilled turkey sausage and a sunny-side egg. She was humming when she stepped out of her car, Cap in tow, her Labrador bounding ahead with excitement. But something was off. As soon as she turned into the driveway of the apartment complex, her smile faded. There were cars. Not just ordinary ones—sleek, black SUVs with dark-tinted windows, lined up perfectly like chess pieces across the front lot. Five of them, engines idling, quiet but imposing. Cap stopped too, his ears perked and body tense. “What the hell…?” Ka
Last Updated : 2025-05-02Beyond A Substitute 7
The sun dipped low outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting an amber glow across the marble floor. The skyline glittered beyond, but inside the penthouse, the air was heavy, tight, filled with a silence that felt like it might crack at any second. Kingsley sat on the edge of the leather couch, elbows on his knees, staring at the untouched glass of water on the coffee table. He heard the elevator chime. He didn’t look up. He knew who it was. The click of expensive heels entered first — his mother. Soft perfume, delicate, elegant. Then the sharp, heavy footsteps of his father, leather shoes striking the floor like a judge’s gavel. They were here. And they were angry. “Kingsley,” his father’s voice cut through the room, cold and precise. “We need to talk.” His mother’s voice followed, softer, trembling, “Sweetheart… why didn’t you answer our calls?” Kingsley rubbed his face roughly, forcing himself to sit up straighter. His eyes flicked up, meeting theirs for the first time
Last Updated : 2025-05-08Beyond A Substitute 8
The boardroom buzzed with tension. Kingsley stood at the head of the long polished table, twenty faces staring at him — some skeptical, some angry, some calculating. Kingsley sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his fingers steepled under his chin, his sharp blue eyes flicking over the faces of the board members. To his left, Michael Rowe — his father — sat with his arms crossed, jaw tight. To his right, Anna Rowe watched him anxiously, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Across the table, the board members whispered among themselves. Men and women in expensive suits, some old, some young, all staring at Kingsley with thinly veiled doubt. “Let’s begin,” Kingsley said, his voice steady. For a moment, there was silence. Then, one of the senior board members — an older man with silver hair and sharp glasses — leaned forward. “Mr. Rowe,” he began carefully, “you understand the situation you’ve put us in.” Kingsley gave a slight nod. “I do.” “The media fallout f
Last Updated : 2025-05-08Beyond A Substitute 9
Katherine stood framed in the doorway, dressed casually, her hair slightly messy, her eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, she didn’t speak — she just stared at him, as if trying to process the fact that he was really standing there. Kingsley’s gaze swept over her, drinking her in like a man starved. His eyes locked onto hers — those beautiful, striking eyes that had haunted his dreams for months. Aqua blue. Clear, deep, endless. The kind of eyes that, long ago, had first reminded him of Beth — but now, standing here, looking into Katherine’s face, he realized they had become so much more than that. These weren’t Beth’s eyes. These were Katherine’s. And he loved them. He loved the way they softened when she smiled, the way they sharpened when she was angry, the way they seemed to see straight through all his defenses, all his walls. His throat tightened painfully. “Katherine,” he breathed. For a long moment, they just stood there, staring at each other. Neither spoke
Last Updated : 2025-05-08Beyond A Substitute 10
After that night — after that kiss — things didn’t immediately return to how they had been before. Katherine was cautious. She didn’t throw herself back into Kingsley’s arms without hesitation. And Kingsley — well, Kingsley was patient. For the first time in a long time, he understood that rushing her, or trying to force things, would only push her away. So they started slowly. At first, it was just quiet messages. A text here. A check-in there. Kingsley would send a short, careful note: How’s your day going? or Did you eat today? or I’m thinking about you. Katherine would reply — sometimes quickly, sometimes after hours — her responses simple but warm. A few days later, Kingsley sent a car. Come out for coffee with me, he’d texted. Katherine hesitated — but after a long, thoughtful pause, she finally texted back: Okay. The car pulled up outside her apartment, sleek and black, the chauffeur politely opening the door for her. Katherine felt her heart flutter nervously a
Last Updated : 2025-05-08Beyond A Substitute 11
The night after the proposal, Kingsley sat alone in his study, staring into the fireplace. The flames danced quietly, casting golden light across the room, but his mind was racing too fast to notice. His fingers drummed nervously on the armrest. His heart pounded, not with excitement this time — but with dread. He had to tell them. He had to tell his parents. For a long moment, he sat frozen, trying to gather the right words, the right explanations. And then — with a deep, shaky breath — he stood, smoothing a hand down his shirt and heading toward the grand, double doors at the end of the hall. Behind those doors, he knew, his parents were waiting. The family’s kitchen was nothing like a normal home kitchen. It was enormous — polished marble counters, gleaming brass fixtures, long wooden shelves filled with expensive spices and rare ingredients. Chefs usually worked here during the day, preparing elaborate meals for the family and guests. But tonight, the room was empty
Last Updated : 2025-05-08
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Beyond A Substitute 13
It was late afternoon when the sleek black car pulled up outside the quiet house. Katherine stood at the window, her heart clenching the moment she saw who stepped out. Kingsley’s mother. Tall, graceful, dressed in an elegant cream coat, sunglasses shielding her sharp eyes. Two assistants followed behind, one carrying a delicate handbag, the other holding a tablet. Katherine’s pulse spiked. She hadn’t expected this — not today, not like this. She hurried to smooth her hair, pressing her hands to her chest to steady her racing heart as the doorbell rang. Moments later, she opened the door. “Mrs. Adewale,” Katherine whispered softly. Kingsley’s mother removed her sunglasses slowly, her perfectly arched brows lifting slightly. “Katherine.” Her voice was smooth, polite — but cool. “May I come in?” Katherine stepped aside, her throat dry. “Yes, of course.” Inside, the atmosphere was stiff, uncomfortable. Kingsley’s mother moved gracefully through the living room, he
Beyond A Substitute 12
Katherine’s hand hovered over the paper, the pen trembling between her fingers. She stared down at the divorce papers — the final, sharp end to everything they had once built. Her breath came shaky. Her chest tightened. And then — Her hand froze. Slowly, she pulled the pen back and let it fall onto the table with a soft clink. Kingsley’s head shot up from where he sat, his eyes narrowing. “Katherine?” She pressed her hands hard against her face, letting out a broken, shaky breath. “I… I can’t,” she whispered. “What do you mean you can’t?” Kingsley’s voice tightened. “You promised, Katherine. You said if I told you everything — if I answered your questions — you’d sign.” Katherine let her hands drop, her tear-streaked face lifting to meet his. Her eyes were raw, pained, full of a storm he hadn’t expected. “Yeah,” she said softly, her voice cracking. “And you promised me forever.” Kingsley flinched, just slightly. “You promised me,” Katherine went on, her voi
Beyond A Substitute 11
The night after the proposal, Kingsley sat alone in his study, staring into the fireplace. The flames danced quietly, casting golden light across the room, but his mind was racing too fast to notice. His fingers drummed nervously on the armrest. His heart pounded, not with excitement this time — but with dread. He had to tell them. He had to tell his parents. For a long moment, he sat frozen, trying to gather the right words, the right explanations. And then — with a deep, shaky breath — he stood, smoothing a hand down his shirt and heading toward the grand, double doors at the end of the hall. Behind those doors, he knew, his parents were waiting. The family’s kitchen was nothing like a normal home kitchen. It was enormous — polished marble counters, gleaming brass fixtures, long wooden shelves filled with expensive spices and rare ingredients. Chefs usually worked here during the day, preparing elaborate meals for the family and guests. But tonight, the room was empty
Beyond A Substitute 10
After that night — after that kiss — things didn’t immediately return to how they had been before. Katherine was cautious. She didn’t throw herself back into Kingsley’s arms without hesitation. And Kingsley — well, Kingsley was patient. For the first time in a long time, he understood that rushing her, or trying to force things, would only push her away. So they started slowly. At first, it was just quiet messages. A text here. A check-in there. Kingsley would send a short, careful note: How’s your day going? or Did you eat today? or I’m thinking about you. Katherine would reply — sometimes quickly, sometimes after hours — her responses simple but warm. A few days later, Kingsley sent a car. Come out for coffee with me, he’d texted. Katherine hesitated — but after a long, thoughtful pause, she finally texted back: Okay. The car pulled up outside her apartment, sleek and black, the chauffeur politely opening the door for her. Katherine felt her heart flutter nervously a
Beyond A Substitute 9
Katherine stood framed in the doorway, dressed casually, her hair slightly messy, her eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, she didn’t speak — she just stared at him, as if trying to process the fact that he was really standing there. Kingsley’s gaze swept over her, drinking her in like a man starved. His eyes locked onto hers — those beautiful, striking eyes that had haunted his dreams for months. Aqua blue. Clear, deep, endless. The kind of eyes that, long ago, had first reminded him of Beth — but now, standing here, looking into Katherine’s face, he realized they had become so much more than that. These weren’t Beth’s eyes. These were Katherine’s. And he loved them. He loved the way they softened when she smiled, the way they sharpened when she was angry, the way they seemed to see straight through all his defenses, all his walls. His throat tightened painfully. “Katherine,” he breathed. For a long moment, they just stood there, staring at each other. Neither spoke
Beyond A Substitute 8
The boardroom buzzed with tension. Kingsley stood at the head of the long polished table, twenty faces staring at him — some skeptical, some angry, some calculating. Kingsley sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his fingers steepled under his chin, his sharp blue eyes flicking over the faces of the board members. To his left, Michael Rowe — his father — sat with his arms crossed, jaw tight. To his right, Anna Rowe watched him anxiously, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Across the table, the board members whispered among themselves. Men and women in expensive suits, some old, some young, all staring at Kingsley with thinly veiled doubt. “Let’s begin,” Kingsley said, his voice steady. For a moment, there was silence. Then, one of the senior board members — an older man with silver hair and sharp glasses — leaned forward. “Mr. Rowe,” he began carefully, “you understand the situation you’ve put us in.” Kingsley gave a slight nod. “I do.” “The media fallout f
Beyond A Substitute 7
The sun dipped low outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting an amber glow across the marble floor. The skyline glittered beyond, but inside the penthouse, the air was heavy, tight, filled with a silence that felt like it might crack at any second. Kingsley sat on the edge of the leather couch, elbows on his knees, staring at the untouched glass of water on the coffee table. He heard the elevator chime. He didn’t look up. He knew who it was. The click of expensive heels entered first — his mother. Soft perfume, delicate, elegant. Then the sharp, heavy footsteps of his father, leather shoes striking the floor like a judge’s gavel. They were here. And they were angry. “Kingsley,” his father’s voice cut through the room, cold and precise. “We need to talk.” His mother’s voice followed, softer, trembling, “Sweetheart… why didn’t you answer our calls?” Kingsley rubbed his face roughly, forcing himself to sit up straighter. His eyes flicked up, meeting theirs for the first time
Beyond A Substitute 6
The weeks had passed like a strange dream—slow, foggy, and tangled in quiet moments that seemed both too fragile to touch and too powerful to ignore. Kingsley was no longer the shattered man Katherine had found that night on the roadside. He wasn’t whole either. But there was… stillness in him now. A kind of calm that unnerved her. It was a Saturday morning when she arrived again. The sun was barely up, but she’d already cooked his favorite—sweet potato hash with grilled turkey sausage and a sunny-side egg. She was humming when she stepped out of her car, Cap in tow, her Labrador bounding ahead with excitement. But something was off. As soon as she turned into the driveway of the apartment complex, her smile faded. There were cars. Not just ordinary ones—sleek, black SUVs with dark-tinted windows, lined up perfectly like chess pieces across the front lot. Five of them, engines idling, quiet but imposing. Cap stopped too, his ears perked and body tense. “What the hell…?” Ka
Beyond A Substitute 5
Kingsley was discharged from the hospital two later He didn’t say much during his stay. The doctors asked questions, and he gave short answers. Nurses poked and prodded, monitored vitals, and adjusted IV fluids. Through it all, Kingsley said very little. But every time Katherine visited—twice a day, without fail—his eyes would soften like the tight coil of pain in his chest loosened a little. It was her presence that grounded him. Not the medicine, not the sterile sheets, not the therapist that popped in briefly. Just her. When he was discharged, he didn’t return to his towering penthouse, Instead, he requested to be dropped off at a quiet, inconspicuous street on the edge of the city. That’s where he wanted to be. A small, two-bedroom apartment tucked between a florist and a closed-down laundromat. It had peeling gray paint, creaky floorboards, and a door that stuck when you tried to close it all the way. To anyone else, it was just another forgotten space on a forgotte
