Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO
Chapter 104: Something Like Love

Chapter 104: Something Like Love

Rayna stood in front of the mirror, her eyes scanning the reflection that stared back at her. She had tried on three different outfits already, and none of them felt right fir the dinner date.

The pink floral dress was too casual, the black one too serious, and the navy blue one too boring. Her room was now littered with rejected clothes—some tossed on the bed, others draped over the chair. f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m

She turned to where Ruby was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed, nibbling on a piece of biscuit with a thoughtful look on her face.

"I don’t know what to wear," Rayna said with a frustrated sigh. "Everything just feels... wrong. Like I’m trying too hard."

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "You are trying too hard. That’s the problem."

Rayna gave her a mock glare. "Gee, thanks. That helps."

Ruby laughed softly and stood, brushing crumbs from her lap. She walked over to her room and straight to the closet. She pulled it open, her fingers moving through the hangers like she was searching for treasure.

Rayna, who had followed her, curious as to why she was leaving the room that way, tilted her head, her curiosity written clearly on her face.

"What are you doing?" .com

"I’m helping you fix this fashion disaster," Ruby said lightly, then suddenly stopped. Her fingers froze on a plastic-covered hanger and slowly pulled it out. "Wear this."

Rayna blinked. "That’s new. I’ve never seen you wear that before."

Ruby didn’t answer right away. Her eyes lingered on the dress—a deep emerald green gown that shimmered slightly under the light. It was sleeveless, with delicate embroidery at the waist and a soft, flowing skirt that looked like something out of a dream. Elegant but not too formal. Feminine but not loud. It was beautiful.

"I kept it for a special day," Ruby said quietly, still looking at the dress. "Stefan got it for me... back when I thought someday he’d see me. I wanted to wear it to the first dinner date we’ve have after he got his sight back."

Rayna’s breath caught, and she stepped closer. "You never told me that."

Ruby smiled faintly. "There wasn’t much to say. I just kept hoping. I wanted the moment to be perfect, you know? But now..." she gave a soft shrug, "he has Ivy. He doesn’t need to see me anymore. I’ve let go of the past and decided to move on so maybe it’s time I let go of this too."

Rayna’s eyes widened, her voice gentle. "Rubes... are you sure? You could still keep it. For later. Maybe not Stefan, but someone else."

Ruby shook her head. "There won’t be a ’later’ for me, Ray. Not for a long time. I’m pregnant. I’ll have a baby to raise. I don’t think love fits in that picture anymore."

Rayna opened her mouth, wanting to say something comforting, but the words caught in her throat. Because deep down, she knew Ruby believed it. And maybe part of her did too.

"Take the dress," Ruby said softly, holding it out to her. "You still have your chance. Use it. Get your true love."

Rayna hesitated, her heart aching. "I can’t wear this, Ruby. This... this meant something to you. You should be the one wearing it."

Ruby smiled and stepped forward, placing the dress in Rayna’s arms. "Then consider it a blessing. Wear it tonight. If anything, at least one of us gets the happy ending we dreamed of."

Rayna looked down at the gown in her arms, her fingers gently brushing the silky fabric. It felt heavier than she expected, like it carried not just threads and stitches, but hopes, memories, and everything Ruby had once dreamed for herself.

Though she didn’t exactly like Ethan or the fact that Ruby had totally written love off her book, she decided to take the gown and wear it. Not fir Ethan, but to give Ruby something else to be hopeful about. Her life. Ruby would be too interested in getting her to date Ethan to have time to think about Stefan and that, would do Ruby and her unborn child a lot of good.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Thank you," she whispered.

An hour later, Rayna stepped out of the bathroom, and Ruby gasped.

The dress fit perfectly, hugging Rayna’s waist gently and flaring out into a soft wave of elegance around her legs. The emerald color made her brown eyes glow, and her black hair, loosely curled, rested just above her shoulders like a halo. She had on light makeup—just enough to highlight her features without making her look unlike herself. She looked radiant.

"You look like someone straight out of a fairy tale," Ruby whispered, staring at her best friend in awe.

Rayna turned in front of the mirror, unsure of how to feel. "Are you sure this doesn’t look like I’m doing too much?"

Ruby rolled her eyes. "You’re doing just enough. Trust me. Ethan won’t know what hit him."

Rayna laughed nervously, smoothing the front of the gown. "You know what still bothers me though?"

"What?"

"That I didn’t let him pick me up. I mean, it’s our first real date and all..."

Ruby stood and walked over, resting a gentle hand on Rayna’s shoulder. "Why didn’t you let him, though?"

Rayna paused, looking down at her fingers. "Well, I don’t really know him yet. Not like that. And honestly..." she looked up, locking eyes with Ruby, "I didn’t want to put you in an awkward position. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to see anyone yet."

Ruby gave her a surprised look, then smiled softly. "That’s sweet, but you don’t need to worry about me. I want you to go. I want to meet him too—just maybe not yet. When you are ready. Tonight is yours, Rayna. Don’t worry about me."

Rayna nodded, feeling a strange mixture of relief and guilt. She didn’t want to leave Ruby behind, especially knowing what she was carrying on her shoulders—and in her womb—but a part of her also needed this night. Not for Ethan, not even for love. But for herself. To believe again. To hope again.

Her phone buzzed on the dresser. She picked it up and smiled at the text.

[Dinner’s booked. Sending you the address now. I’ll be waiting.]

Rayna showed Ruby the text, who gave a thumbs-up.

"I guess this is it," Rayna said, grabbing her purse and keys.

"You’ve got this," Ruby said, walking her to the door.

Rayna turned just before stepping out. "You sure you’ll be okay alone?"

Ruby nodded. "I’m not alone. I’ve got a little ninja for company." She smiled, placing her hand on her still flat belly. "Go. Be happy. You deserve this."

Rayna gave her a quick hug, her heart aching a little. "So do you."

And with that, she stepped out into the evening light, her heels clicking softly against the pavement as she made her way to her car.

As she pulled out of the driveway and turned into the quiet Florittle street, she glanced at the dress again in the mirror. For a second, she imagined Stefan’s voice telling Ruby how beautiful she looked in it. She smiled faintly, then refocused on the road ahead. fr\eewebno vel .c(o)m

Tonight wasn’t about what could’ve been. Tonight was about what could still be.

And deep in her chest, something warm bloomed quietly—something like possibility.

Something like... love. But she wasn’t sure yet.