Losing to My Substitute (Katerina and Joshu)
Substitute 37

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Chapter 8

Countdown to Departure: Day One

Linda called a moving company to clear out her belongings from the house.

Workers moved in and out, and the house grew emptier by the minute.

Ding!

Her phone chimed with a message-a photo from Katherine showing her and Ivan locked in an

embrace.

Linda typed a response, her first time answering Katherine's provocations.

[You'll get what you want soon enough.]

She placed the signed divorce papers on the coffee table.

Glancing around this house, where every corner held memories with Ivan, she realized each one had been carefully erased by her own hand.

Ivan, one can't have everything.

Gaining something means bearing the cost of losing something else.

Linda closed the door, pulling her suitcase behind her as she left the home she'd once lovingly

tended.

After settling into an airport hotel, Linda slept peacefully.

The next morning, she sent Ivan a deliberate message: [Didn't you say your flight back from your business trip was at 8 a.m. today? I'm waiting for you just outside the airport to surprise you.] Then she waited near the airport exit. Within half an hour, she spotted Ivan hurrying in from the

entrance.

He wore only a shirt, and Linda chuckled at the sight. "Didn't sleep last night? You're usually so put

together. Today, no tie, and even your hair's a mess."

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Most likely, he'd just crawled out of Katherine's bed.

Ivan froze, then awkwardly continued his act. "Yeah, it was a busy night. You must not have had breakfast coming so early. Remember that fried chicken place we used to go to? It's still around. Let's get some."

Linda agreed.

At the restaurant, Ivan ordered with practiced ease. "Two fried chickens, no ketchup, no chili."

Linda was the one who couldn't cat spicy food, while Ivan usually loved it.

This man had always treated her well.

If he hadn't cheated, they really would have been the main couple of a romance novel-loving together, sharing a lifetime of happiness.

As they waited, Linda brought up the past.

"Remember when we first started the company? We'd sunk every penny into it and were flat broke. After getting off the plane, you bought one serving of fried chicken and tried to convince me you'd already eaten." Ivan relaxed, smiling as he remembered. "I was going to wait until you were done and then have

some soup, but... you see right through everything."

Linda picked up a small bowl and, as she used to, divided the fried chicken piece by piece, pushing half to Ivan.

Calmly, she replied, "Yes, you never could fool me."

Ivan missed the double meaning and simply held her hand, reassuring her.

"Those days are behind us. We'll never have to go through that again."

Just then, his phone rang.

Ivan glanced at Linda, then didn't hang up but instead offered an apology. "Sorry, it's work. I need to handle this."

Linda nodded, her gaze calm and warm.

She knew exactly where he was going, who he'd see, and what he'd do, but she didn't stop him. 13:14

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She simply pulled the plate of fried chicken back to herself.

Ivan didn't think twice, kissed her on the forehead, and left in a hurry,

She watched as his figure slowly disappeared.

Only when he was out of sight did she lower her eyes, taking a piece of fried chicken and chewing slowly.

After a long while, she set down her fork, took out a napkin, and wiped her mouth.

"Pity. It doesn't taste the same anymore."

Linda took out her phone and sent Ivan one final message: [Ivan, I don't want you anymore.]

After sending it, she pulled out her SIM card, snapped it in half, and tossed it in the trash.

Then, she rose, dragging her suitcase toward the boarding gate, never looking back.