Page 115 of The Substitute Fiancée

“Hey, Sam. How are you feeling about tomorrow?”

“I’m okay.”

“Oh yeah? You don’t sound very convinced.”

“I’ll admit I’m not feeling very confident this time,” I tell him. “I barely have anything to show.”

“You don’t need to worry. Your work is amazing,” he says, slipping an arm around my shoulders. “The jury will see it. And in five years, you’ll be famous, exhibiting all over the world, making millions!”

I laugh and rise up on my toes to kiss him on the cheek.

“Thanks for the support, Dorian.”

“Anytime, sweetheart,” he replies, pulling me into a hug.

Suddenly, a car door slams.

Alexander steps out of the vehicle.

He’s here.

My heart leaps with joy.

Then I meet his gaze.

The fury burning there sends a chill through me.

“So he’s the reason you didn’t even bother sending me a message to wish me good luck?” he snaps, his voice hard. “You were so wrapped up in him that you couldn’t even take two minutes to send me a text, on one of the most important days of my life? Since when do you not give a damn about me?”

“What?” I panic. “No, Alexander, it’s not what you think,” I protest, panic flooding me.

But he refuses to listen. His words fall, venomous.

“And I thought you were different from your sister.”

I stiffen as if he’s just slapped me.

“Alexander… please… let me explain,” I whisper, pleading.

“Nothing you have to say interests me,” he cuts me off. “It’s over.”

No.

He didn’t just say that.

But his expression leaves no room for doubt and my heart cracks in my chest.

He condemned me and ended our relationship without even letting me explain.

He compared me to my sister, the person I despise the most in the world.

And he claims to have feelings for me?

“I think I’m falling in love with you,” he had said.

Is that what his love is worth?

Fine. He can keep it. I don’t want it.