All Chapters of No Longer A Substitute : Chapter 141 - Chapter 150

DEVON POV“So tell me about this revenge,” I asked, my voice steadier than I actually felt, though my eyes stayed fixed on her face with an unsettling mix of curiosity, concern, and something closer to dread, because I already suspected whatever she was about to say would not be simple, not be clean, and not be something I could easily rationalize away afterward.She didn’t answer immediately.Instead, she turned away from me, her gaze drifting toward the wide glass window that stretched across the room, where the city lights shimmered like scattered fragments of a broken mirror against the deep black of the night sky, while below, the constant movement of cars and distant horns created a low, restless hum that made the silence between us feel even heavier, and for a moment I wondered if she was using that view to hold herself together.When she finally turned back to me, her eyes were steady, but I could already sense the weight behind them.“It was my mother’s dying wish.”The words

DEVON POV "So tell me, how did it go with the kids, Devon?" Jonathan's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I realized several seconds had passed without me answering him. The call was still connected, but my mind was somewhere else entirely. Still standing outside Stella's apartment. Still replaying every word she had said. Still hearing her tell me she wanted me to become a good father. Not a husband. A father. The distinction bothered me more than I wanted to admit. I sighed heavily and began walking down the hallway toward the elevator. The expensive carpeting beneath my shoes muffled my footsteps, while the lights overhead cast long shadows across the empty corridor. "Let's meet up," I finally said. There was a brief pause. "Now?" Jonathan asked. "Now." An hour later, we were sitting side by side at a small food stand near the edge of the city. The night air was cool, carrying the scent of spices, grilled meat, and traffic fumes. Steam rose from the large metal p

DEVON POV"No, no, no, no, no."Jonathan's horrified voice exploded through my phone."Devon, tell me you're joking."I had to pull the device slightly away from my ear.For a man who claimed he wasn't dramatic, Jonathan certainly had a talent for sounding like the world was ending.From the other end of the call, I could hear crashing noises, hurried footsteps, and what sounded suspiciously like something falling over.I frowned."Are you okay?"In reality, I was avoiding the question.Mostly because his panic was amusing.Partly because I wanted to see how far he would go before completely losing his mind."Devon!"His voice rose another octave.I couldn't help smiling.The longer he spoke, the louder he became."Answer me right now, Devon!"I heard more shuffling in the background.Then something clattered loudly against the floor.Honestly, it sounded like he had launched himself out of bed."If someone didn't know any better," I said lazily, "they'd think I worked for you instead

STELLA POV"Hello, beautiful."The familiar voice dragged me out of sleep.My eyes fluttered open slowly, and for several seconds I simply stared ahead in confusion, trying to understand why the room looked unfamiliar.Bright sunlight poured through massive floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding the room with golden light.I blinked several times.Then my gaze landed on the man sitting comfortably on a couch nearby."Devon?"My brows immediately furrowed.What was he doing here?I pushed myself upright so quickly that the blankets slid down into my lap."What are you doing here?"My voice came out rough and sleepy.Devon looked entirely too relaxed for someone who had no business being in my room.Something felt wrong.Very wrong.I glanced around.The confusion I initially felt quickly turned into alarm.This wasn't my hotel room.The furniture was different.The layout was different.Everything was different."Devon..."I threw the blankets aside and climbed out of bed.My heart started

STELLA POV "She's right, Boss." A familiar voice suddenly spoke from behind us. I turned toward the doorway and found Jonathan standing there, bent over slightly with his hands on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath. His shirt was wrinkled, his hair was a mess, and he looked as though he had run a marathon just to get here. For the first time since waking up, I felt a tiny bit relieved. "Jonathan?" "Why did you rush over here?" Devon demanded. "I didn't want you here. That's why I only told you this morning!" Jonathan straightened up and pointed accusingly at him. "Well, you shouldn't have told me at all! Heck, you shouldn't have hired me as your secretary! My life would have been so much better!" Despite my anger, I almost laughed. Almost. Devon folded his arms. "You think I make your life difficult?" "I don't think so, Boss. It's a fact." I could practically see Devon grinding his teeth. "Well, why don't I make it easier? You're fired." Jon