Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO
Chapter 111: Taste Of Vengeance

Chapter 111: Taste Of Vengeance

Somewhere in Zeden, the walls of the hotel room were a soft shade of cream, the curtains thick enough to keep out the morning sun, but Ivy had left them slightly parted.

A sliver of golden light slipped through and stretched across the bed, catching the edge of the white duvet where she lay.

She sat cross-legged on the plush mattress in a matching silk camisole and shorts set, her long wavy chestnut brown colored hair falling over one shoulder, and the remote balanced in one hand while her other toyed lazily with the hem of the bedsheet.

The television screen displayed a muted news anchor gesturing solemnly beside the breaking news banner at the bottom of the screen. Ivy tapped the volume up slowly, the sound filling the quiet room in soft echoes.

"...Eliana Howells, only daughter of the prestigious Howells family, was involved in a severe car accident late last night. Doctors report significant spinal injuries, and though stable, it is believed she may suffer long-term complications, possibly even permanent paralysis. Authorities have confirmed she was alone in the vehicle..."

Ivy’s lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile.

She let the remote fall beside her and leaned back on her arms, her hazel eyes still fixed on the screen. Her smile widened, her heart lifting with a strange mixture of relief and pride.

"Well, Eliana," she murmured, her voice laced with unrepentant satisfaction, "I did warn you not to mess with me."

There was no fear. No regret. No guilt. Just a deep, pulsing thrill in her chest that Eliana had finally gotten what she deserved.

All those nights Ivy had felt bad and blamed herself over the betrayal, the humiliation, over the cold way Eliana had smirked and played innocent—were now balancing themselves out. The universe, for once, had aligned with her rage. Was it really the universe? She thought with a smirk.

Waiting on the universe to deal with people was a old fashioned way that took way too long and she didn’t have that patience. So she couldn’t have been able to wait.

Let’s see how you strut around now, she thought, brushing invisible lint off her lap. Let’s see how many parties you attend with a wheelchair.

She’d been careful, meticulous. She hadn’t laid a finger on Eliana. She hadn’t needed to. A carefully worded message here, a whispered suggestion there... it hadn’t taken much to convince Eliana that a late-night escape from prying eyes was necessary.

And when Ivy had backed out of the last minute meeting, citing a "change of heart," she’d known Eliana would still go on without her. That reckless confidence had always been her downfall. She thought, thinking back to what had happened the night before.

And now look at you, Ivy thought, letting her head tilt as if she were admiring a painting. Not so perfect anymore.

Thinking about last night, she hadn’t been sure the stupid girl would even want to meet her but then she’d beat her expectations by actually going. She laughed, unable to believe her stupidity.

Just then, her phone began to buzz on the bedside table.

She leaned over lazily and picked it up, her smile already fading as she saw the name glowing on the screen: Mum.

Her grin twitched back into place as she answered.

"Hello, Mother."

There was a brief pause before Regina’s voice came through, laced with unease. "Ivy... did you see the news?"

Ivy twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers, then crossed one leg over the other. "Of course I did," she said brightly. "Why do you think I’m in such a great mood?"

Regina went silent for a moment. The air between them grew thick with quiet realization.

"You... you sound almost happy about it," she finally said. f r\eew,eb novel.c(o)(m)

Ivy shrugged, even though her mother couldn’t see it. "Maybe I am."

"But Eliana is your friend," Regina said not understanding what was going on and why Ivy could be so happy about the news.

"She was," Ivy corrected sharply. "Before she thought about spoiling me to Stefan behind my back. Before she turned me into a joke in front of Stefan, pulling the last straw that made him draft those divorce papers. She was my friend before she acted like she owned everything—including him. She tried to seduce him."

Regina didn’t respond. Ivy could hear her shifting on the other end of the line. Though she’d given Ivy a contact—someone to contact to help do the dirty work, doing that to someone she once loved and called a friend somehow scared Regina.

"That accident... Ivy, it was serious. She may never walk again," she said, trying to make Ivy see how severe the accident was.

"I know." Ivy’s tone was calm, as if they were discussing the weather. "Isn’t that poetic?"

"You didn’t... you didn’t do anything, did you?"

Ivy rolled her eyes and stood from the bed, walking over to the vanity mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, calm and controlled. "Of course not. Do you think I’m stupid enough to dirty my hands?"

Regina exhaled audibly. "Then why say something like that? You sound like this is exactly what you wanted."

Ivy tilted her head at her own reflection. Her eyes were sharper than usual. More focused.

"Because it is," she said plainly. "I don’t need to explain myself to you, Mother. Eliana was a snake. And snakes eventually slither into their own traps or ones laid by someone smarter."

Regina went quiet again. She could tell Ivy didn’t want to outrightly tell her she’d ordered it and she could understand why. She wouldn’t mind doing all the work and helping her as long as she didn’t become so heartless towards another person’s life. .com

She’d thought Ivy had wanted to just teach Eliana a small lesson, not something like this. She hoped she wouldn’t turn out, more heartless than her. Regina thought as her mind flashed to what had happened thirty years ago, just before she got pregnant with Ivy and Ruby.

For a few seconds, the only sound was Ivy opening her drawer and pulling out a simple black dress.

She tossed it on the bed and walked back to the phone.

"Anyway," she said casually, "what did you call for? I assume it wasn’t to lecture me."

Regina sighed, as Ivy drew her attention back to the call. "I called because Elizabeth Winters came to the house again," Regina said, her voice souring instantly. "With guards this time. She ransacked the entire place looking for you."

Ivy didn’t even blink. "Searched the house looking for me? Did they find anything?" she asked self-consciously.

"No," Regina snapped. "Of course not. You’re not here. But she’s out of her mind. She’s threatening to bring the media into this if you don’t sign the divorce papers."

Ivy walked back to the window and stared at the clear Zeden skyline. "Let her go crazy then."

Regina sighed, her tone now cautious. "Ivy... how long are you planning to stay hidden?"

"As long as I need to," Ivy replied simply. "I’m not signing those papers. Not yet."

"I also don’t want you signing them. Not now and not ever. Stefan is your husband."

"Of course he is," she said, her voice suddenly sharper. "I gave Stefan everything. I molded myself to fit into that ridiculous family, and just because I could no longer cope and took a few months off, he wants to drop me. For her. For Ruby."

The bitterness in her tone deepened. "And now Elizabeth wants me to hand them a clean slate with Stefan offering me money like I’m just a cheap bitch? Just like that? No. I’m not giving her the satisfaction. Or him."

There was another pause, and then Regina, in a voice quieter than usual, said, "You’re not really doing this for Stefan, are you?"

Ivy’s jaw tightened.

"You’re doing this for her," Regina continued. "You want Ruby to suffer."

"I don’t want to hurt her," Ivy lied smoothly, even as the venom coiled behind her tongue. "I just want her to remember that I and that stupid Stefan to know I still exist. That I won’t be erased so easily."

Regina was silent again. Ivy knew her mother well—she was probably trying to decide whether to scold her or quietly admire her audacity.

"Just be careful," Regina finally said. "You may think you’re in control now, but the longer this drags on, the more eyes are going to start looking. This should round up soon. I have to take care of Ruby now....."

"Have you found he" Ivy asked, a flicker of hope flashing through her eyes.

"Still on it. I’ll make sure it happens soon. Just be careful."

"Alright. I have to go, Mother." Her tone turned dismissive. "Aon’t worry. I’m safe. Also tell Elizabeth, if she wants those papers signed, she’ll have to do a whole lot more than knock on doors." fre ewebno(v)e\l.(c)om

Then she hung up.

She didn’t wait for Regina’s response. She tossed the phone onto the bed, the smile back on her face, wider than ever.

Let them chase ghosts.

Let Elizabeth burn through resources, media threats, and private investigators.

She would not be found until she chose to be.

And until then, she’d enjoy her peace. She’d enjoy the sweet taste of vengeance.