Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO
Chapter 114: Your Choice

Chapter 114: Your Choice

The early morning sunlight filtered through the windows as Ruby fastened the buttons on her cardigan, glancing at the clock on the wall. They were right on time. She told herself but as her eyes remained on the clock, her mind drifted of it’s own volition to a place she didn’t want it to.

It had been exactly seven days since she left Zeden, seven days since her entire world collapsed in front of her. Yet the ache in her chest hadn’t dulled. Not even for a second.

She’d thought the distance would help. That maybe the sound of the sea and the peaceful quiet of this small coastal town would silence the memories. But the silence only made them louder.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Stefan—broken, angry, accusing. Not once had he let her speak. Not once had he seen her pain. She sighed, pushing the thoughts aside. This shouldn’t be what she should be thinking on a day like this. Why was he even on her mind today?

"You’ve got everything?" she asked, turning toward Rayna, who was standing by the hallway mirror, fluffing her curly black hair and checking her reflection for the third time.

"Phone, keys, lip balm," Rayna counted off, then looked over her shoulder. "Check, check, and check. You know, we might actually pull this off, Rubes."

Ruby smiled faintly and adjusted the strap of her handbag. Her nerves danced just beneath the surface. This wasn’t just any appointment—they were finally going to see another space that could be their own. Something she could to help herself through this phase. Something that can actually get her busy and keep her mind off Stefan.

They were almost at the door when Rayna spoke again, her voice casual but pointed.

"Hey, by the way, why didn’t you invest in that stock you helped your mom with? You know, the one you also mentioned to me about last month? You know we’re hitting it big from that investment?"

Ruby paused, her fingers grazing the doorknob. She drew in a slow breath, her gaze flickering to Rayna’s curious face.

"I was going to," she started, her tone quiet, "but—"

She was still saying when she swung the door open.

And there he was.

Stefan.

Standing just inches away, his hand raised, frozen mid-knock.

Silence fell over everything.

The birds outside? Quiet.

Rayna? Even she was still.

Ruby’s heart slammed in her chest as she stared at him—his expression unreadable, his presence so sudden it felt like the air had been punched out of her lungs.

Her thoughts scattered like leaves in a storm. Words failed her. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t think.

She had no idea what he’d heard. fr\eewe.bn(o)v\el.c(o)m

And she couldn’t even begin to imagine why he was there. She took a look at him. A really good look at him.

He looked like a ghost pulled from her dreams—or maybe her nightmares. He hadn’t shaved. His hair was messier than usual and he was also looking at her with those stormy gray eyes she’d somehow gotten used to looking into even though as at that time, those eyes couldn’t see her.

He had chosen Ivy that day so why was he standing in front of her now? Looking all messed up.

Ruby’s heart pounded so hard, she felt it echo in her ears. Her hands instinctively clenched at her sides.

The more she looked at him, the more she couldn’t breathe.

He found me. How did he find me?

All she’d wanted was peace. A place to fall apart in private. She didn’t want to feel again. She didn’t want to hope.

And yet here he was. Standing in front of her like the last seven days had meant nothing and he hadn’t broken her.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "You shouldn’t be here," she said, her voice surprisingly calm.

Stefan took a hesitant step forward. "Ruby—"

"No," she cut in sharply. "I said you shouldn’t be here."

He flinched at the coldness in her tone, but she didn’t care. He’d crushed her without listening. He’d chosen to believe Ivy—the one who had run away. The one who had left him for her.

Stefan’s brows furrowed slightly. "I know the truth now. I know it was you all along."

Ruby laughed, bitterly. "Good for you," she said, folding her arms. "Now you can take that truth and leave. I have somewhere to be."

"Please—just let me talk—"

"I let you talk, Stefan," she said, her voice rising slightly. "I let you talk and accuse and humiliate me in front of your mother and everyone else. I stood there while you looked at me like I was the worst kind of liar. Like I was some stranger even when I know you felt the familiarity between us. You believed everyone but me. You even believed her. You believed Ivy and everyone else when they said I was a troublemaker. You thought all I had come to do on the day you regained your sight was to cause chaos and trouble because I was jealous. And now, what? You want a second chance? With a troublemaker? You can’t be serious."

"I made a mistake—"

She shook her head. "No, Stefan. You didn’t make a mistake. You made a choice. You chose not to listen. It was your choice! Your choice, Stefan so live with it."

Ruby turned and started walking toward the car parked nearby. Rayna moved with her, but Stefan reached out, trying to stop her.

"Ruby, wait—"

Before his hand could touch Ruby’s, Rayna stepped in between them, her brown eyes fierce.

"Don’t you dare," Rayna said sharply, holding up a hand. "Don’t touch her."

Stefan froze. He could understand their pain, the reason they were being this way. But the truth was he was also a victim. Just like Ruby. He was a victim. He thought, looking at Rayna who was looking at him.

"She told you to leave. Do you have any idea what she’s been through this past week? Do you know what it’s like to cry yourself to sleep every night because the one person you trusted most treated you like dirt?"

"Rayna—" Ruby whispered, her throat tightening.

"No, Ruby," Rayna said firmly, glaring at Stefan. "He doesn’t get to show up here and pretend to care now. He had his chance, and he threw it away."