Semua Bab Beyond A Substitute: Bab 81 - Bab 90

Kingsley slammed the door behind him as he entered the mansion. The echo bounced off the tall glass walls like the thunder inside his chest. He didn’t hesitate. He moved quickly, pulling out his suitcase from the hallway closet. Every motion felt purposeful. Final. He packed methodically—clothes, charger, toiletries—his hands shaking with urgency. He barely paused to think, except for one brief moment when his fingers touched a folded photograph of him and Katherine, once taken in secret at the retreat. She had been laughing. He had been staring at her like she was his entire future. She still is. He zipped up the bag and grabbed his phone. “Call Aaron,” he commanded, dialing his assistant. Aaron picked up immediately. “Sir?” “I need a flight to Brooklyn. Book it immediately.” There was a short pause. “Sir… all commercial flights to Brooklyn today are either full or delayed until tomorrow night. There’s no available seat until then.” Kingsley shut his eyes, jaw tig

A faint clink of porcelain stirred Kingsley from sleep. He blinked groggily, adjusting to the golden slant of morning light spilling through unfamiliar blinds. For a disoriented moment, he didn’t know where he was. The couch beneath him was lumpy. The air smelled faintly of lavender and coffee. And the blanket wrapped around him wasn’t his. Then he remembered—Katherine. Brooklyn. The long night on her doorstep. The way she’d finally opened the door around 2:30 a.m. and ushered him inside without a word. Her eyes were still guarded. Her voice clipped. Her heart was clearly locked away. He sat up slowly. The throw blanket slipped off his shoulders as he turned, his muscles aching from the awkward position. His eyes swept the small space of her apartment. It was warm. Lived-in. But undeniably modest. He took it all in: the worn couch, the faded curtains, the dining chairs with a slight wobble, the chipped edge of her coffee table. Functional. Frugal. Far beneath the kind of elega

The last fork clinked against an empty plate, and Katherine stood up, gathering the dishes into a quiet stack. Kingsley made a motion to rise as well, but she cut him off with a soft, quick shake of her head. “I’ve got it,” she said, not looking at him. “Katherine… let me help,” he said gently, already starting to rise. “I said it’s okay,” she repeated, sharper this time, moving toward the sink. “I know it’s okay,” he insisted, standing up fully now. “But I want to help.” She whirled around, the stack of plates trembling slightly in her hands. “I said no. Can you just listen? Why can’t you ever just listen to me?” He blinked, stunned by the sudden fire in her voice. “I’ve heard everything you said tonight, Kingsley,” she continued, her voice quieter now, but trembling with restrained emotion. “I’ve heard it all. And I’m not saying it’s your fault—none of this is your fault entirely. But Beth is still in the picture. She’s still fighting, still manipulating, still pulling

The soft jazz humming through the café speakers was barely audible beneath the gentle hiss of the espresso machine. The morning rush had passed, and a tranquil lull had taken over. Katherine stood behind the counter, wiping down the bar with a fresh cloth, her apron tied snug at the waist, hair loosely pinned up. Her café—her little kingdom—smelled of vanilla, cinnamon, and ground espresso beans. But today, she was distracted.She leaned her elbows against the countertop and unlocked her phone with a smirk curling on her lips. One ring. Two. Carolina picked up on the third.“Hey, girl!” Katherine chirped.“Kaaat!” Carolina’s voice was sunlit and warm. “You beat me to it—I was just about to call you!”“Mmhmm,” Katherine said playfully. “You better. I need all the updates. First of all—how are you? How’s my girl doing?”Carolina sighed dramatically. “Girl… I am glowing. Literally. Devon? He’s… he’s something else.”Katherine grinned. “Okay, okay, hold up! Glowing? Don’t tease me, what’s

The room was dim, quiet—just the soft hum of the city far below the windows and the occasional sigh of night breeze against the glass. The lights were low, warm and golden, casting a subtle glow across the sheets. Kingsley and Katherine lay tangled together in the middle of the bed, skin to skin beneath the covers, their breaths synchronized in the silence. She rested her head on his chest, fingers idly tracing small circles over the muscles there, her legs lightly twined with his. He had one arm tucked behind his head, the other wrapped around her waist, holding her close like she was the center of his world—and maybe she was. Katherine gave a small, contented sigh, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you for today,” she said, nuzzling into his chest. “The dinner… the gifts… everything. It was magical. Like, literally perfect. I loved every moment of it.” Kingsley smiled, turning slightly so he could look down at her. He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, brushi