Semua Bab Beyond A Substitute: Bab 91 - Bab 100

The morning rush at the café had finally quieted down. The espresso machine hissed in the background as Katherine leaned against the counter, a dish towel slung over her shoulder, the scent of cinnamon and vanilla still lingering in the air. With a smile that refused to leave her lips, she picked up her phone and hit Carolina’s name. The line rang twice. Then— “Hey, girl!” Carolina’s voice came bright and buzzing. “How are you doing? Did you guys, you know… get each other?” Katherine laughed softly, blushing even though no one could see her. “Yes, we got each other, okay? Don’t start.” Carolina giggled wickedly. “Okay, okay—but first, spill! What happened on the dinner date? Tell me everything!” Katherine exhaled like she’d been holding in a secret too long. “Well… he asked me to be his girlfriend.” Carolina screamed so loud Katherine had to pull the phone away from her ear. The sound practically echoed through the café. “ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” Carolina shouted. “Girl, no,

The soft sound of waves kissed the edges of the overwater villa as Kingsley and Katherine returned, their bodies still tingling from the warmth of firelight and dancing flames. But it was the scent that hit them first—a slow, seductive veil of vanilla, orchids, and warm jasmine—drawing them deeper into the villa like a magnetic pull. The lights had been dimmed to a golden glow. Lanterns flickered across the floor, casting gentle shadows over the polished wood, and a quiet symphony of ocean wind and distant harp notes filled the air. The open-air stone bath waited for them beneath a canopy of stars, steam rising from its surface, petals floating like a dream in the water—orchids, rich and white, curling across the rippling heat. Katherine’s breath hitched as she stepped forward, her heels clicking softly on the stone tiles. She paused, turning her face slightly toward Kingsley with a playful glint in her eyes, but her hands already reached for the delicate gold chain straps of her

The sun had settled high and lazy in the cloudless sky, casting its gold across the vast stretch of turquoise as if the entire ocean had been brushed with sunlight. A gentle breeze licked the sea, warm and soft like a lover’s sigh. The motor of the private yacht purred low as it slowed to a stop in the middle of an impossibly blue lagoon, where a floating bamboo deck waited—tethered to nothing but a single invisible anchor, drifting in blissful solitude. Kingsley stood at the edge of the deck in linen trousers rolled up to his calves, helping Katherine step off the yacht barefoot. The deck was beautifully arranged with a low bamboo table set for two, the cushions plush and embroidered in silver thread. A white gauze canopy billowed gently in the breeze, tied to the corners of the deck with silk ribbons. On the table: charcuterie arranged on gold-rimmed trays, exotic fruits carved into intricate shapes, and crystal flutes catching light from a chilled bottle of vintage Rosé nestled

The elevator doors parted with a soft ding, and Kingsley strode into the gleaming marble lobby of Rowe Global. Everything was immaculate. Too immaculate. Staff moved with calm professionalism, not the frantic energy he’d expected. His shoes echoed as he made his way to the executive floor, heart thudding, expecting chaos. But… nothing. The air was crisp. The lights were on. Screens displayed stock tickers—steady, green. No alarms. No emergencies. No crisis. He walked through the corridors slowly, frowning. At the door to his office, he called his assistant. “Eric. What’s going on?” He looked up from her desk, startled to see him. “Sir! I—uh—I didn’t know you’d arrive this early.” “You said the company was in trouble. That I needed to get here immediately.” He hesitated, shifting in her seat. “I’m sorry, Mr. Rowe… it wasn’t actually a real emergency. Your father… he instructed us to say that. He was worried about you. He tried to reach you but your phone was off. I thin

The apartment was silent except for the low hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak from the old floorboards. The sun had already dipped behind the buildings, casting her space in a moody, amber glow. Katherine sat on the edge of her bed, arms folded around her knees. Her café apron was still draped over the back of a chair. She hadn’t had the energy to put it away. It felt like a ghost of something that might no longer exist. Her phone was on the nightstand, screen lit up, showing a text from Jordan: “Keep your head up, Kat. They don’t know the real you.” She smiled faintly—grateful, but hollow. That smile didn’t reach her heart. With a shaky breath, she picked up the phone and pressed Kingsley’s contact. It rang once. Twice. Then— “Hey, beautiful.” His voice. Warm, velvet, and immediate. She hadn’t realized until that moment how badly she needed to hear it. “Hey,” she said quietly. “How are you doing?” “I’m doing fine,” he replied gently. “Better now. Yo