The Substitute Bride Is Reborn and Loves Her Husband No more - Chapter 138

Chapter 138: caught
What was she going to do?

Rose panicked, stumbling backward with a wild, fighting expression—as if she’d seen a ghost.

What was she going to do now?

She had been caught. She wanted to escape, obviously, but she couldn’t just blurt it out like it was no big deal. And now—now she’d been seen. Caught red-handed.

Rolan glared at her, voice low and dangerous.

“What were you doing? Did you try to—?”

Rose flinched.

He asked again, harsher this time.

“Rose.”

She bit her lip, panic twisting in her chest. In her mind, she screamed at Yuna.

“Yuna, hurry up! What am I supposed to say to him? Am I seriously going to tell him I was trying to run away? He came out of nowhere, and then I saw the electric shock in the fence—now I can’t even escape! What do I do, Yuna? I’m so cooked right now!”

Rolan Stepped closer.

“What are you doing here, Rose?”

Rose flinched again.

She smiled as she stood, forcing a shaky smile after quickly deciding on the dumbest possible excuse.

“I… I just wanted to look at the wall. It’s a nice wall, right? I’ve never seen such pretty walls in my life. They’re the first beautiful walls I’ve ever seen.”

There was silence. Even Yuna couldn’t help the sarcasm in her thoughts.

“Yeah, that’s a very dumb excuse.”

“It’s better than nothing!” Rose snapped at her wolf in frustration.

Rolan Stepped forward, his movement heavy, his energy dark and suffocating. She could feel his presence nearing—like thunder right before the lightning strikes.

“Rose,” he said, lowering himself to meet her eye level.

“Then what were you planning to do? Huh? If you weren’t planning to escape?”

Her heart dropped. She was caught.

And yet, she couldn’t spit out the truth. She should be able to just admit it—say “Yes, I tried to run.” But Rolan’s energy had her completely thrown off. Something in his vibe had her spiraling, nervous in a way she couldn’t explain.

“Hey Rolan, calm down. I wasn’t trying to escape,” Rose said, forcing a fake sweet tone. “I just came out to enjoy the nice weather.”

She tried to speak gently, like she was having a peaceful little walk under the stars. But in her heart, all she wanted to scream was:

“There’s no damn breeze, no peace, just that giant creepy moon staring down at me while I pretend I’m not caught!”

Rolan narrowed his eyes.

“Rose, my love…” he said slowly, voice dropping into dangerous territory. “You don’t get to question me like this. Mister Rolan,” he mocked, “I have the right to my own movement—even if you’ve locked me inside this damn house?”

“Yes,” Rose replied, still trying to play it off with a smile. “I have the right to go wherever I want. It’s not like I was trying to jump the fence or anything.”

“Oh, so you have rights now?” Rolan Scoffed, stepping closer. “All this crap you’re saying—means you were trying to escape. You had the intention, and the moment you saw me, you switched it up.” He pointed at her accusingly, his tone sharp and cold.

“No,” Rose insisted shamelessly. “I was just looking at the beautiful night sky.”

She crossed her arms. “If you had guards posted here, they would’ve caught me if I was actually trying to run. I didn’t even make a move! I was just standing and looking around. Don’t say I’m lying when I’m not. Do you get that?”

“Oh yes, Rose.” Rolan’s voice was chillingly calm now. “You’re totally not lying. Come on then—let’s go back inside.”

His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Our plan failed. Everything failed.”

Inside, Rose cursed.

“Why me?” she screamed in her head. “I need to get away from this crazy bastard. And the worst part? Every damn day he proves I was right to call him that.”

“You’ll be a good girl and come back inside with me, okay?” he said. “Don’t disobey me right now, dear devil.”

“Cause I’m not in the mood,” Rose muttered under her breath, clearly pissed off.

She plopped down on the floor, arms crossed, refusing to move.

Rolan glared, one brow twitching with fury.

“Are you seriously going to sit there all night?”

Rose shook her head slowly.

“Nope. I’m still enjoying the night sky,” she said coldly.

In truth, she had definitely been trying to escape.

But she’d rather die than admit it.

….

The woman—Zara—was pulled back immediately, slammed against the wall by the taller frame of a man. Caleb.

He looked down at her with a low smirk.

Zara stared right back, unshaken. Her lips pouted slightly as she tried to act calm.

“Caleb, what are you doing? Let me go right now. I need to find my friend.”

But Caleb’s smirk deepened.

“You haven’t been giving me any attention lately. You need to focus on me. I’m the one you’re dating. Not Rose.”

Zara didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Was he seriously jealous of her best friend?

His possessiveness was exhausting—jealous of everything and everyone around her.

“Rose is my friend! I’m not fucking gay. She’s missing, Caleb! Let me go,” she snapped.

Caleb’s expression didn’t change.

“No, you’ve been distant. Just stop and take a breath. Have a moment of peace with me, yes?”

Zara raised an eyebrow at him.

“A moment of peace?”

She knew exactly what that meant—and it wasn’t peace.

“I need to find my best friend. She’s missing. Don’t be an obstacle, Caleb. Move.”

She was pissed at herself too—pissed that she still hadn’t found Rose. Everything was hidden, blurry, and she hadn’t heard a single word from Damien. She was sure by now that he might’ve found something—anything—about Rose’s whereabouts. But no call. No meeting. Nothing.

Maybe if she had pushed harder, maybe if she had gone to him directly—

Maybe she’d have found out something by now.

Caleb’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“I’m not asking for too much, Zara. Just your time—as your partner.”

His tone wasn’t angry. It was low, hurried… almost broken.

And just like that, guilt hit her.

She had been ignoring him lately. A lot.

If he were any other man, he’d have probably already cheated by now.

But Caleb wasn’t like that.

Zara’s eyes drifted away from his.

“Caleb…”

He gently cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“Zara, don’t do this to me,” he whispered, stepping close—his breath brushing her face.

His lips hovered near hers, the tension thick.

Then, finally, their lips met.

And the kiss deepened.