All Chapters of Beyond A Substitute: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Kingsley stayed there longer than he should have. His coffee had long gone cold, untouched for the most part, just resting in his hands as he sat back in the corner of The Quiet Brew. He wasn’t trying to be invisible, but he wasn’t trying to make a scene either. He just needed to be near her. Even if she didn’t want to see him. Even if she had every reason to hate him. From where he sat, he had a quiet, steady view of her. Katherine. Moving like she always did, purposeful, elegant in that no-nonsense way. She kept her eyes on her work, didn’t glance at him once, and Kingsley respected that—though it pained him. The café began to thin. The lunch rush had died down, and the crowd that once hummed with conversation and orders was settling into scattered pockets of quiet. A few people still lingered with laptops and mugs, but the counter had no line now. And she finally looked up. Katherine stared across the café at him for a long moment, then set the rag in her hand aside, pull

Late morning sun spilled through the wide glass windows of the wellness center, glinting off the polished reception desk and soaking into the quiet hum of clients moving between therapy rooms. The scent of eucalyptus lingered in the air. Everything about the place was calm—too calm for the storm Kingsley brought through the door. He stepped in sharply, dressed in a tailored navy coat, drawing more than a few curious eyes. A receptionist looked up from her screen. “Good morning, sir. How can I help you?” “I’m here to see Carolina Marks. It’s personal.” The receptionist blinked, unsure. “Is she expecting you?” “No,” Kingsley said, tone clipped but polite. “Just tell her it’s Kingsley Rowe.” She hesitated, then picked up the phone. A few moments passed. Kingsley stood still, trying to swallow the anticipation clenching his chest. Then she came out. Carolina froze the moment she saw him. Her brown eyes narrowed, mouth pressing into a hard line. She crossed her arms, post

The café had emptied out slowly, until only the warm hum of the lights remained. Katherine was wiping down the last table, her movements slower than usual, heavy with everything the day had dragged in. Her hands paused over the damp cloth as she glanced at the door. She still felt Beth’s voice in her ear. The sharpness. The judgment. The weight of someone else’s mess suddenly thrown over her shoulders. The bell above the door jingled softly. She looked up. Jordan stepped in. Still in that same dark denim jacket, hands in his pockets, expression quiet but clear. She raised an eyebrow, forcing a little smile. “You’re back.” “I waited until you were almost done,” he said, walking toward the counter. “Didn’t want to crowd you earlier.” She nodded. “Thanks.” He looked at her for a long moment. “You weren’t okay.” “No,” she said softly. “I wasn’t.” Silence stretched between them, gentle but full. Then he shrugged a little. “So, how about that ice cream?” Katherine

The house was quiet—eerily quiet, like it had been holding its breath all night. Kingsley sat up from the guest room’s king-sized bed, a thin blanket tangled at his feet. His back ached from the mattress he wasn’t used to, and the events of the previous day weighed on him like bricks on his chest. He didn’t bother showering yet, just threw on a black T-shirt and loose joggers before stepping out into the hallway. The scent of roasted coffee, fresh croissants, and eggs drifted down the marble corridor—proof that the house was awake, even if it felt lifeless. He entered the dining room to find Beth already seated at the head of the table, in a sleek ivory robe, her tablet resting beside her plate. She was sipping orange juice, acting like the world hadn’t been set on fire just twenty-four hours ago. She didn’t look up when he stepped in. “Good morning,” Kingsley said quietly, his voice rough. Beth didn’t respond immediately. She took another sip of her juice, wiped her lips

Her name dropped from his mouth like a memory. Not loud. Not commanding. Just… real. Katherine froze, her entire body stiffening the second she heard it. Her hand was still lightly caught in his, but she wasn’t looking at him anymore—she was looking through him, like she was trying to figure out whether this was some sick trick of her tired mind. Like if she stared hard enough, he would blur away into someone else. But he didn’t. He was still standing there—Kingsley. A little older than the last time she saw him, maybe, a little more worn around the eyes. His hair was longer, not so perfectly combed back as it once was. He had on a plain gray pullover and dark pants, something unusually… normal. Stripped of polish. And still, it was unmistakably him. Katherine yanked her hand back like it burned her. “You…” Her voice was tight. Strained. “What are you doing here?” “I didn’t— I mean, I didn’t know this would happen like this,” he stammered. “Oh, don’t give me that,” s