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Author: Qior-Qior
last update publish date: 2026-05-10 22:25:20

ESTELLE POV

My hands shook as I stared down at the photo on my phone.

The twins stared back at me innocently, unaware that their existence alone was enough to destroy everything I had worked for.

“How did this happen?” I muttered under my breath. “How could I have missed this?”

My chest tightened painfully.

“Damn it!”

I screamed and, in one violent motion, swept everything off my desk. Pens, files, books, and glass decorations crashed loudly onto the floor.

“This must be the secret Vanessa was
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  • No Longer A Substitute    101

    STELLA POV“Alex, what did you just say?” I asked, my heart thumping violently against my chest. “If you’re joking, this isn’t funny and—”He immediately cut me off.“Why the fuck would I joke about something like that?” he yelled.My stomach dropped.The air around me suddenly felt too thin to breathe properly. My heartbeat became so loud and frantic I was certain everyone in the office could hear it.“Where are you?” I asked quickly, already shoving papers aside on my desk.“I’m at home,” Alex replied.“Then what happened? Why are you saying the twins are missing?”“Because I went to pick them up from school, and the teacher said you already came for them.” His voice sounded strained, impatient. “She was acting weird, Stella. I came home hoping maybe you decided to bring them back here yourself, but they aren’t here.”I froze.“I know you,” he continued. “You wouldn’t be out publicly hanging around with them because you’re terrified Devon might find out.”My throat tightened painful

  • No Longer A Substitute    100

    STELLA POVThe drive to Alex’s apartment was quiet.Alex didn’t say a word to me, and I didn’t know if he was upset with me or not. I was too scared to ask because I already knew I had become a burden in one way or another.When we arrived at the apartment building, we quietly went upstairs. The hallway lights were dim, and the entire place was calm and silent compared to the chaos of the police station.I slowly pushed open the twins’ bedroom door and peeked inside.To my surprise, they were both asleep.That alone felt strange because Andrea and Andrew would have definitely taken advantage of me not being around to stay awake longer than they should have.The room was softly lit by a small night lamp near the window. There were two beds in the room, one for each of them. Andrea had kicked her blanket halfway to the floor while Andrew slept stiffly on his back with his arms crossed like a tiny old man.The customized cot beside Andrea’s bed immediately caught my attention. Chloe had

  • No Longer A Substitute    99

    ESTELLE POVMy hands shook as I stared down at the photo on my phone.The twins stared back at me innocently, unaware that their existence alone was enough to destroy everything I had worked for.“How did this happen?” I muttered under my breath. “How could I have missed this?”My chest tightened painfully.“Damn it!”I screamed and, in one violent motion, swept everything off my desk. Pens, files, books, and glass decorations crashed loudly onto the floor.“This must be the secret Vanessa was talking about, wasn’t it?” I hissed. “When did Stella get this bold?”I paced around my apartment angrily, gripping my phone tightly.My thoughts drifted back years ago. Back to the time I convinced Devon that Stella carrying a child would ruin everything for him. Back when I managed to push Stella into getting rid of their baby.At least… that was what I thought had happened.So when did she have twins with him again?“When?” I yelled furiously, pulling harshly at my curls.I should have watche

  • No Longer A Substitute    98

    ESTELLE POVI smashed the whiskey glass against the table.The sharp crack echoed through the apartment as amber liquid splattered across the marble surface and dripped onto the floor.“Damn it!” I screamed. “Damn it all!”My chest rose and fell violently as anger burned through me.The failed arrest.Devon doubting me.Grandma Susan defending Stella.Everything was spiraling out of control.I gripped the edge of the table tightly, my nails digging into the wood. Vanessa knows something. That woman knew something I didn’t, and I hated it.What exactly was she hiding from me?I didn’t know.But I needed to find out. Fast.Stella came back from Colombia acting different. Confident. Untouchable. Like she had suddenly forgotten exactly who I was and what I was capable of doing to her.A cold smile crossed my lips.No.I needed to remind her.I needed to crush that confidence and put her right back where she belonged. Beneath me.My phone suddenly rang. I snatched it up immediately and pre

  • No Longer A Substitute    97

    STELLA POV“How are my kids, Alex?” I asked quietly, exhaustion weighing heavily on my voice. “Are they eating well?”The metal bench beneath me was cold, and the fluorescent light above the police station office buzzed endlessly, drilling into my already aching head.“I’m sure Andrea must be upset with me because I didn’t come home yesterday,” I continued, rubbing my forehead. “And now I’m still not going to see them tonight.”A bitter sigh escaped my lips.“Gosh… what excuse am I even supposed to give them this time around?”Alex leaned back against the desk beside me, arms folded loosely across his chest. Despite the situation, he looked irritatingly calm.“Mi Taya,” he said gently, “will you relax?”I shot him a tired look.“You don’t have to give them any excuse because you’ll be there with them today. Mark my words.”I stared at him.His confidence almost sounded suspicious.“It doesn’t matter if Devon’s lawyers do their job or not,” he continued smoothly. “I’ll ensure you don’t

  • No Longer A Substitute    96

    STELLA POV“How are you, boss?” Michelle’s voice came through the phone. “Are they treating you well? Are the lawyers actually doing their job?”“I’m doing okay, Michelle.” I continued pacing slowly around the empty police chief’s office, one arm folded beneath the other as I spoke quietly into Alex’s phone. “Well? What did you find?”The office was silent except for the ticking clock on the wall and the muffled sounds of officers outside the door.I was supposed to be using their telephone.Instead, I was using Alex’s phone.No recordings. No tapped lines.Michelle sighed on the other end. “Your hunch was right. I hacked into their system and traced the IP address of the anonymous sender.”I stopped walking.“And?”“It leads back to Estelle’s apartment.”A cold smile almost formed on my lips.“That was sloppy of her.”“She must’ve thought you wouldn’t be able to track her down,” Michelle said. “Or that you wouldn’t have a hacker on your side.” A faint scoff followed. “She underestima

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