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publish date:
2026-06-26 23:55:38
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No Longer A Substitute 156
JONATHAN POVThe salty breeze swept across the beach as I stood between my boss and the woman he loved, wishing more than anything that I were somewhere else.Anywhere else.Andrew and Andrea continued laughing near the shoreline, chasing waves and throwing handfuls of sand at one another, completely oblivious to the storm brewing behind them."Jonathan," Stella said, folding her arms tightly across her chest, "take me and my children home."I looked at her.Then at my boss.This was exactly the situation I'd hoped to prevent when I rushed to the island.Keeping my voice as neutral as possible, I replied, "I can arrange the next available flight, ma'am.""I don't want the next available flight."Her tone remained calm.That worried me more than if she had screamed."I want to leave now."Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Devon take a hesitant step toward her."Stella..."She didn't even acknowledge him."I've had enough."The words were quiet, but each one struck harder than a shout.
No Longer A Substitute 155
DEVON POVJonathan stood between Stella and me, his phone still in his hand after ending the call with his wife.The ocean breeze swept across the beach, carrying the salty scent of the sea as the twins continued playing a short distance away, blissfully unaware of the tension building between the adults.Stella folded her arms tightly across her chest."Jonathan, take me and my children home."Jonathan glanced at me before looking back at her."I can arrange the next available flight, ma'am.""I don't want the next available flight."Her voice remained calm, but I knew that tone.It was far more dangerous than yelling."I want to leave now."I took a step toward her."Stella..."She didn't even look at me."I've had enough."Every word landed like a punch."I didn't ask to come here.""I know.""You drugged me."I closed my eyes briefly."I know.""You took me away from my hotel without my permission.""I know.""You separated me from my children.""They were never in danger."Her he
No Longer A Substitute 154
DEVON POVJonathan's phone suddenly rang, interrupting the peaceful sounds of the waves crashing against the shore.He glanced down at the screen and immediately sighed.The kind of sigh that came from a man who already regretted answering the call."Honey," he answered, rubbing the back of his neck, "I've told you this before. You can't call me in the middle of the day like this. I'm usually busy."He shot Stella an apologetic look."Sorry," he muttered quietly before turning his attention back to the call.Even from where I stood, I could hear his wife shouting through the speaker."Well, I just saw Rita, and she's moving into the building! She's going to be living downstairs!"Jonathan quickly pulled the phone away from his ear.I almost laughed.His wife had quite a voice.He frowned for a moment before a look of realization crossed his face.Then he slowly brought the phone back to his ear."Wait."He blinked."Did you call me because of that?""Well..." she stammered. "Um... yes
No Longer A Substitute 153
LISTENINGLuke clutched his chest as he wheezed out breaths, his vision becoming blurry. He looked up to see his parents walking away, but his younger brother, John, turned to him. “What's wrong?" John asked as he stared down at Luke, panic closely crept into his face. "call..” Luke tried to say as he reached out his hand to the direction of their parents. Luke gagged then fell to his knees, his head pounding while coughing uncontrollably, a red liquid dipping out from his mouth.“Luke!" John yelled, his voice reached the adults walking up ahead and they stopped to see what was happening.Martin's eyes widened once he saw Luke on the floor coughing, he gripped his cane tighter and rushed to him, his son, panting on the floor. He bent down to his level, "What's wrong buddy” Martin asked, his cane dropping to the floor with a loud thud. "Why are you coughing? This isn't the time to get sick, son!" his voice was laced with worry despite his scolding.John comes closer to his father a
No Longer A Substitute 152
The warm ocean breeze carried the scent of salt and seaweed across the shoreline as Devon stood ankle-deep in the sand, watching Andrew and Andrea play near the water's edge. The morning sun cast a golden glow over the beach, transforming the endless ocean into a sparkling sheet of blue crystal.Andrea sat beside a half-finished sandcastle, carefully decorating its towers with seashells she had collected along the shore. Nearby, Andrew was enthusiastically digging what he proudly referred to as a defensive moat, despite the fact that he was slowly destroying the castle in the process.The twins were laughing so hard that neither of them noticed Stella approaching from the resort.Then Andrea happened to glance up.The moment she saw her mother, her entire face lit up."Mommy!"She jumped to her feet and immediately took off running across the sand.Andrew looked up a second later.His eyes widened with excitement."Mommy!"The twins raced toward Stella as though they had been separate
No Longer A Substitute 151
DEVON POVThe warm ocean breeze carried the scent of salt and seaweed as I stood ankle-deep in the sand, watching Andrew and Andrea play near the shoreline. The morning sun hung high above us, casting golden light across the beach and turning the ocean into a glittering blue paradise.Andrea was busy decorating a sandcastle with shells she had collected, while Andrew insisted on improving the structure by digging what he proudly called a "defensive moat."I didn't have the heart to tell him he was mostly destroying his sister's work.The twins were laughing so hard that neither noticed Stella approaching at first.Then Andrea happened to glance up.The moment she saw her mother, her entire face lit up."Mommy!"She jumped to her feet and immediately sprinted across the sand.Andrew looked up a second later.His face brightened just as much."Mommy!"Both children raced toward her as though they hadn't seen her in years rather than a few hours.I turned around just in time to see Andre
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