Losing to My Substitute (Katerina and Joshu)
Substitute 38

Chapter 9

Ivan.

Never again.

Linda was gone.

All she left behind was a single message-

[Ivan, I don't want you anymore.]

And a signed divorce agreement.

Ivan searched everywhere she might have gone, but he found nothing.

He couldn't find her at the company, the hospital-nowhere.

His hands trembled as they gripped the steering wheel, and a surge of overwhelming fear gripped

his heart. Every beat felt like a tolling alarm.

"Linda, where are you..."

"Answer the phone! Why aren't you answering? Please, answer!"

His brows furrowed as he shakily pressed redial over and over.

But each time, he was met with the cold, mechanical voice-

"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently unavailable..."

After countless attempts, Ivan's composure finally began to break. Staring at the congested road

ahead, he slammed his fists on the steering wheel, sounding the horn loudly.

The blaring sound didn't alleviate his anxiety; instead, his panic only intensified.

His breathing grew rapid, each inhale shuddering slightly.

He grabbed his phone, opened WeChat, and began recording a series of voice messages in the chat with his only pinned contact. "Linda, where did you go? Why won't you answer my calls?"

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pidn't you promise me I'd never lose track of you again?"

Linda, please... please tell me where you are."

"Today's your blood transfusion day. Even if I made you angry, you can't... you can't punish me like

this..."

"...Linda, don't leave me. I'm begging you."

Ivan let his head fall heavily against the steering wheel, his forehead soon swelling red.

He should have known. He should have seen the signs.

From the moment he found that unsigned divorce agreement, he should have known. He should have stayed by Linda's side without a single step away. But now, it was too late.

He couldn't find her anymore.

Denmark.

After a long flight of several hours, Linda felt exhausted.

Her head spun slightly as she leaned on the railing by the airport's floor-to-ceiling windows and slowly crouched down.

Suddenly, a large shadow fell over her.

Linda looked up.

An elderly woman, over six feet tall and with snow-white hair, gazed at her with a look of deep concern, speaking in fluent Danish. Denmark, a small country near the Arctic Circle with its own language, was one Linda had prepared for by learning the basics. She understood that the elderly woman was saying-

"Sweet little one, are you here alone? Did you lose your family?"

Realizing the misunderstanding, Linda quickly stood up, gripping the railing as she waved her

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Sands in explanation.

No, ma'am, I'm an adult. I'm just a little tired and needed a break"

Before she could finish, a familiar burst of laughter echoed from behind her.

"Hahaha. Who would have thought that even here in Denmark, our Linda would be mistaken for a

Linda turned around in surprise to see her long lost friend, Rachel, standing there. ""Rachel!"

Her petite frame, standing next to the head of the Danish sanatorium, made her look even younger.

Seeing her friend, the darkness in Linda's heart seemed to dissipate.

She quickly ran over and hugged her tightly.

Rachel patted Linda's back, a soft smile on her lips, and with a sigh of relief, she comforted her, "It's okay now, Linda. It's all in the past. Here, we can both start over." Losing to My Substitute