All Chapters of No Longer A Substitute : Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

The hall was dazzling and lively, filled with elegantly dressed people laughing and talking, glasses clinking and a soft instrumental playing in the background. It had been years since I’d been to an event like this, I thought to myself. Alejandro offered me his hand, his warm and firm hands guided me further into the hall. He stopped and I did too. “Let me take care of you as my date for tonight,” he said with a small smile. His suit accentuated his broad shoulders. “I mean — your kids wanted it so much.” he added, chuckling, his cheeks dipping inward to show his dimples. “Those little rascals!” The light caught the sharp line of his jaw and the clean shape of his nose as he laughed. I rolled my eyes, holding my breath, “Oh, come on. Please don’t tease me.” “I'm not teasing! If you'll let me I'll –” he trailed off when my smile had dropped. Was he truly asking me out? “I'm only trying to treat you as a lady and keep the kids happy, I didn't ask for your hand." He s

JENNA POVJenna stood quietly beside the twins, one hand resting lightly on Andrew's shoulder while the other remained close enough to grab Andrea should she suddenly decide to sprint across the ballroom again.She had only arrived in New York a short time ago, yet she already felt as though she had stepped into an entirely different world.Everything around her seemed impossibly grand.The ballroom stretched endlessly beneath towering crystal chandeliers that sparkled like thousands of stars suspended from the ceiling. Golden light poured across polished marble floors so smooth she could practically see her reflection beneath her feet. Elegant guests drifted from table to table carrying crystal glasses, their laughter blending seamlessly with the soft orchestra playing near the stage.Back in Colombia, Jenna had attended weddings, university events, and local celebrations.But nothing like this.Absolutely nothing.She couldn't help stealing glances around the room every few seconds.

STELLA POV "I'm here for revenge." The words left my mouth quietly, but once they were spoken, they seemed to fill the entire car. For a moment, Devon simply stared at me. The city lights outside continued flashing through the windshield while the twins slept peacefully in the backseat, completely unaware of the conversation unfolding in front of them. Devon's expression shifted from confusion to shock. "Revenge?" he repeated. I nodded. The silence stretched between us. Then something unexpected crossed his face. Not anger. Not frustration. Fear. A genuine fear I had never seen directed toward me before. "Am I your target?" he asked quietly. I blinked. "What?" His jaw tightened. "Am I the person you're planning to take revenge on?" The question sounded almost painful coming from him. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel. "Stella..." he swallowed. "Did I really hurt you so much that you've carried this for six years?" I stared at hi

STELLA POVDevon stared at me like I had suddenly grown seven heads.The soft golden light from the hotel suite lamps cast long shadows across the room, highlighting every line of confusion on his face. The luxurious suite had fallen completely silent around us. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, New York City glittered beneath the night sky like a sea of stars scattered across the earth. Traffic moved far below in streams of white and red lights, while distant sirens occasionally echoed through the city. Inside the suite, however, everything felt strangely still.The scent of fresh linen drifted from the bedroom where Andrew and Andrea slept peacefully, completely unaware that their parents were sitting only a few feet away discussing secrets capable of turning entire lives upside down.Devon sat across from me on the cream-colored sofa, his dark suit jacket folded neatly over the armrest beside him. The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled halfway up his forearms, exposing

DEVON POV“Your name is Samantha?”The moment the words left my mouth, Stella nodded slowly, and then she began telling me everything, every single thing that had happened after she left America, after she left me, after she walked out of my life carrying wounds that I had been too blind, too arrogant, and too selfish to fully understand at the time.As she spoke, I remained silent, my eyes fixed on her face, yet with every sentence she uttered I found myself looking down more and more because the weight of her story was becoming almost unbearable to listen to, and for the first time in years I felt something I rarely allowed myself to feel—shame.She told me about leaving America for the first time in her life just to escape me.Not because she wanted adventure.Not because she wanted a fresh start.But because she felt that getting as far away from me as possible was the only way she could survive.The realization struck me harder than I expected.I had spent years convincing myself