Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO
Chapter 143: Courting Rayna

Chapter 143: Courting Rayna

The soft hum of the engine and the occasional whoosh of the breeze as they sped down the Florittle countryside road were the only sounds that filled the space.

The early morning sun cast long golden rays over the fields, and a flock of birds flew across the sky, their wings cutting through the light like shadows in motion.

Rayna sat in the passenger seat, her head leaning gently against the window. Her arms were folded across her chest, and her lips were pressed into a tight line. She wasn’t speaking. She hadn’t said much since they left the airstrip. What could she say when her heart was heavy?

Ethan glanced at her from the driver’s seat. He noticed how her eyes followed the sky—distant, unfocused. Her fingers tapped gently on her thigh, and every few seconds, her lips trembled like she was fighting to hold something back.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and careful, like he didn’t want to break something fragile.

Rayna let out a slow breath and blinked quickly. She turned her face away, wiping at her cheek before the tear fully escaped.

"I’m fine," she said. Her voice cracked slightly. webn ovel(.)com

"You don’t look fine," Ethan replied gently. "Are you crying?"

Rayna gave a small, sad laugh and shook her head, but it wasn’t convincing. "No. Maybe. I don’t know."

Ethan pulled the car gently onto a quieter road, where trees lined the path and the sunlight filtered through the branches, making it look like they were driving through a golden tunnel.

"You want to talk about it? Wait, is this about Ruby leaving?" he asked, thinking that could be the only thing to make Rayna cry or be this sad.

Rayna swallowed, then nodded slowly.

"I miss her," she said finally. "I know it’s silly. I should be happy for her. I am happy for her. But..." she paused, struggling with the words. "I just got so used to having her around. Living with her. Laughing, fighting, cooking together, bickering about her not folding laundry right or her taking her routine drugs or not drinking coffee. And now... it’s just me."

Ethan didn’t say anything for a moment. He let the silence sit, his hand gripping the steering wheel while he thought.

"I get it," he said. "I’ve been friends with Stefan for years. I know how close you and Ruby are too. You’re not just best friends. You’re like sisters."

Rayna gave a watery smile and looked down at her lap.

"And yeah, she’s going to be happy," Ethan continued. "But that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to feel sad she’s gone. It doesn’t make you selfish. It makes you human."

Rayna sighed. "I just didn’t think I’d feel it this fast. Like, the moment she waved goodbye and climbed into that shiny jet, it hit me. She’s really going back. Starting a new life. And I’m happy for her, but..."

Ethan glanced sideways, watching her with kind eyes.

"...But it feels like she’s taking a piece of you with her?" he finished for her.

Rayna looked at him then, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Yeah. Exactly."

Ethan reached over and gently touched her hand where it rested on her lap. His touch was warm, and steady.

"She’s not really leaving you, you know. She’s just starting a new Chapter. And you’ll always be a part of it."

Rayna nodded, but her throat tightened again. "Still hurts," she whispered.

"I know," he said. "But think about it this way—she’s not going to Zeden to suffer. Stefan loves her. Truly. You saw it yourself. The guy nearly lost his mind when he was looking for her and when she almost lost their baby and was unconscious."

Rayna chuckled through her tears. "Yeah. That man was a wreck."

"And now he’s whole again because of her. So you’re not losing her. You’re just... giving her to someone who’s going to take care of her the way you did and in ways you could never have for the baby."

Rayna stared out the window again. The clouds moved slowly overhead, and the sun was warmer now, casting a soft glow across her face.

"I guess," she murmured.

Ethan smiled. "Still doesn’t help?"

"Not really."

There was a moment of silence again.

Then Ethan added, "What about the thought of us focusing on ourselves? Doesn’t that help?"

Rayna blinked, turning her head slowly to look at him in amusement. "What do you mean ourselves?"

Ethan gave a slow, teasing smile. "You know. Us. You and me."

Rayna tilted her head, her heart skipping a little. "What about us?"

Ethan glanced quickly at her, then back at the road. "I like you, Rayna. A lot. And I want us to become a couple."

Rayna’s breath caught. Her cheeks turned pink, and she looked away, trying to hide her smile. "Is... is that how you court someone you love?" she asked, a playful note in her voice.

How could he be talking about that when she was crying moments ago?

Ethan laughed, enjoying her reaction. "Are you saying you want me to court you properly?"

She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "Maybe."

"Alright," he said, nodding like it was a deal. "Then I’ll officially begin the courtship of Rayna Hart. Don’t say I didn’t warn you."

She burst into laughter, finally relaxing a little, the tension easing from her face. "We’ll see about that," she murmured.

Ethan grinned. But he meant it.

He was going to court her. For real.

He wasn’t the type to beat around the bush. He liked her, had liked her for a while now. But with Ruby in the middle of everything, timing had never been right. Now that Ruby was on her own journey, maybe it was finally his turn. Their turn.

The air in the car felt different now—lighter, warmer. The ache in Rayna’s chest hadn’t disappeared, but it had softened. And maybe, just maybe, it was being replaced with something new. Something exciting.

She looked at Ethan again. His hand was still on the steering wheel, his other resting on the center console. His profile was strong and calm, and his smile lingered like sunlight.

As they drove through the winding road back to town, a quiet peace settled between them.

Rayna didn’t know what the future held. But at least, she knew she wasn’t alone in it.

*******

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