Page 92 of The Substitute Fiancée

Once inside the apartment, Alexander turns to me.

“Would you rather settle on the couch or in the bedroom?”

“The couch, if that’s okay.”

“On the contrary,” he replies. “That way I can keep an eye on you. Get comfortable. I’ll be right back.”

He disappears for a moment, then returns with a pillow and a thick comforter, arranging them carefully until the couch becomes a small cocoon.

“Would you like something hot to drink?”

“An herbal tea… but I can make it.”

“Not today. Let me take care of you, okay?”

His firm tone leaves no room for argument.

I nod. There’s no point resisting.

Once he sees I’m settled, wrapped up in the comforter, he takes my phone, plugs it into a charger, and hands it back to me.

“Thank you.”

A fragile smile curves his lips before he sits down at the dining table with his laptop.

I wait for the battery to recharge enough before checking my messages. One from Emelyne, sent that morning, immediately catches my eye.

Emelyne: Alexander and Matthieu told us everything. Oh my God, Sam, I hope you’re okay. We’re taking the night train tomorrow evening. We’ll stop by the police station first, then the apartment to assess the damage. We should arrive the day after tomorrow in the early afternoon. We’ll stay at Matthieu’s place. It’s time I finally meet my “brother-in-law.” I wonder what a police inspector’s apartment looks like. Are there handcuffs everywhere… Oh God, I’ve just had terrible images pop into my head! I need to bleach my eyes immediately! We love you. See you in two days.

I laugh at her nonsense.

I must have fallen asleep at some point. When I wake up, Alexander is still working.

Sensing my gaze, he looks up.

“Do you need anything?” he asks, attentive.

I smile and shake my head.

He’s making an effort to be available — I can see it.

I’ll admit I don’t really know how I feel. I’m still upset that he didn’t answer his phone when I needed him. It feels like a betrayal I’m not ready to forgive, because if the situation had been reversed, I would have picked up.

That’s how I see love: the other person becomes my priority.

And I’m not even talking about the fact that he compared me to Kristel.

Does he really see me that way?

I don’t know what hurts the most.

That he thinks I’m capricious and overbearing, like my sister.

Or that he still has feelings for her.

The questions I had been refusing to ask myself start rushing in.

Did I make a mistake by getting into a relationship with him so quickly?