Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO
Chapter 63: A Means To An End

Chapter 63: A Means To An End

Away from there, the atmosphere in the hospital lounge was heavy with tension, even though the surgery had been a success as Regina, Elizabeth and Ivy paced back and forth, brainstorming on what they could do about the situation.

"We need to act," Elizabeth said in a hushed but firm voice, pulling the two women closer into a corner of the room. "Before she gets another chance to come back. I don’t think she’d give up on Stefan just like that after spending the last six months with him."

Regina looked visibly stressed, her fingers nervously clutching her purse. "I knew she’d cause trouble. That was why I didn’t want her to continue staying by Stefan’s side. She knew very well he was never hers to start with so why would she want to do this? You saw how she spoke in there. It’s like she’s obsessed."

"No," Ivy said quietly, straightening her back and wiping her eyes with a new surge of determination. "She’s not obsessed. She’s dangerous. She’s threatening everything we’ve worked for."

"Exactly," Elizabeth agreed, eyes hardening. "That’s why we can’t afford to let her near Stefan again. Not now. Not ever."

Regina swallowed. "Then what do we do?"

Elizabeth lowered her voice, her tone growing cold and calculated. "We send her away." f\r(e)ewe.b no\vel.com

Ivy’s head snapped toward her. "Send her away? How?"

"How else? Offer her money to leave. All this started because of me.... No. Because of you Ivy. If you hadn’t left that day, none of this would be happening now. I don’t even know why you decided to come back—"

"If you blame me so much then why didn’t you let Ruby reveal the truth? Why did you help me?" Ivy cut in, clearly irritated by Elizabeth trying to turn everything on her.

How could they even think of blaming her for leaving? Why would they think she’d happily and willingly marry a blind man? They must be fools.

"Because I don’t Stefan to be disappointed in me. If the truth comes out, he’d be as much angry at me as he’d be with you so I couldn’t have let Ruby tell him. I’m doing this for myself not because I’m helping you. You don’t deserve my support after what you did to my son," Elizabeth said and Ivy rolled her eyes.

"Please, how you feel right now isn’t important. What’s important is what’s at hand. Everything you fear could happen in a second if Ruby as much as gets close to Stefan. We have to think of what to do to keep her away," Ivy said again and her mom sighed.

"I already said we could offer her money. That should get her to close her mouth——"

"Not my daughter, Ruby. If not that I coerced her, despite all your threats and money, she still wouldn’t have done it in the first place," Regina cut in, causing Elizabeth to frown.

"So what do you suggest we do, mom?" Ivy asked, taking the question off Elizabeth’s mouth.

Regina hesitated. "I say we get her to leave on her own," she said and Elizabeth’s frown deepened as confusion clouded her mind.

"Make her leave on her own? You mean... forcefully?"

"We won’t have to, not if we’re smart," Regina said. "If we get Stefan on our side completely, she won’t have a place here anymore. She’ll be forced to leave when Stefan constantly says hurtful words to her."

"But he’s already suspicious," Ivy said anxiously. "He asked to be alone earlier. That’s not like him. I bet he’s already trying to understand the situation right now," she said thinking about his face and how quiet he’d gone after Ruby left.

"He’s just confused," Reginasnapped. "And confusion can be turned into doubt. Doubt, my dear, can be wiped away with enough affection and cleverness."

"But what if he brings up things I don’t know?" Ivy asked, lowering her voice. "You know... stuff she shared with him and him with her."

"I guess this is where we’d get to use the card I laid there wanting to have some sort of control over the situation back then," Elizabeth said with a smile.

"Card? What card?" Ivy asked curiously. She needed to succeed in being with Stefan and she didn’t mind doing anything to see it through.

Elizabeth smirked. "Well, there’s a maid who worked closely in the house while Ruby was pretending to be you. I had her there on purpose—to keep an eye on things. She knows every detail about how Ruby interacted with Stefan— maybe not every detail but enough to help you. You’ll learn from her. She’ll teach you how to mimic Ruby’s behavior, her gestures, her responses. It’ll be as though nothing changed."

Ivy blinked. "You... you kept a maid in there to spy on Ruby?"

"Of course," Elizabeth said coolly. "You think I trusted her with my son without protection? She played her role well, but now it’s our turn."

Regina nodded in agreement. "We’ve come too far to let this all crumble now. Ivy, sweetheart, you’re the one Stefan knows. You’re the one he’s seen by his side since the accident. Not her. You’re his wife now. It’s even your name on the certificate so you’re his wife and nothing can refute that. All you need to do is make sure he stays convinced of that."

"Yeah. I think you should go to him now. We shouldn’t give him the chance or time to figure things out. You have to he with him every time," Elizabeth said and Ivy sighed.

Ivy bit her lower lip before asking,"So... what do I say if he starts doubting? Or if he asks something I can’t answer? What am I supposed to do?"

Regina leaned in. "Use the sympathy card. Make him feel guilty for doubting you. Tell him how much you love him, how much you stood by him when everyone else left. Make him feel like a monster for questioning you."

Elizabeth nodded before chiming in, "He’s still fragile. Emotionally and physically. He won’t want to hurt the woman who’s shown him so much care. That’s your power."

Ivy nodded slowly, determination returning to her eyes. "Okay. I’ll do it. I’ll go in there now."

Elizabeth reached out and gently patted her hand. "That’s my girl. Go remind him who he belongs to."

"Before you go," Regina added quickly, "don’t forget—you’re the wife. Speak like one. Act like one. Smile even when you’re unsure. The moment he senses hesitation, he’ll start to question everything. He’s no longer blind, Ivy."

Ivy inhaled deeply, squared her shoulders, and gave them both a nod before turning and walking toward Stefan’s hospital room.

The moment she was out of sight, Regina turned to Elizabeth. "What if it doesn’t work?"

Elizabeth’s expression darkened. "Then we escalate. But for now, let’s give Ivy the chance to seal this deal. Stefan’s heart is still vulnerable. And we can use that. Even though I don’t know why she came back, I really hope she succeeds. The last thing I want is causing my son pain moments after regaining his sight."

Ivy took a deep breath before pushing Stefan’s room door open.

Stefan looked up when Ivy walked in, his expression unreadable. He was sitting by the window, sunlight touching his face, lost in thought. He had trued reaching Ethan but it had been a futile attempt.

Ivy remembering all she’d been told, smiled gently. "Hey, you okay?"

He gave a small nod. "I’ve just been thinking."

Ivy crossed the room slowly and took a seat beside him, reaching for his hand. "About Ruby?"

He glanced at her, clearly surprised. "Yeah... how’d you know?"

"How would I not? I mean I saw the way you looked at her when she left," she said, her voice soft but cautious. "I saw the confusion... the pain. It gelt like you were buying it."

Stefan stayed silent, and she continued. "Stefan... I know you’re confused. I know she said things that probably didn’t make sense. But please... don’t let her twist what we have."

"Ivy, I’m just trying to understand," he said, looking at her closely. "She said things that made me question... everything. Just like I did back then too."

Though Ivy couldn’t help but wonder when Stefan had those doubts, she continued, knowing she couldn’t possibly ask him anything.

"I should have known. She’s always been that way," Ivy said quickly, blinking fast to summon the tears. "Always needing attention. Always wanting what wasn’t hers. I thought she’d changed. That’s why I invited her. But I guess I was wrong."

Stefan looked down at their joined hands. Pictures flashing before his eyes.

"I gave you everything, Stefan," Ivy whispered. "I stayed by your side when you couldn’t see. I took care of you. I handled meetings, helped you manage your work... I was your eyes."

Stefan’s chest tightened. He couldn’t deny that. At least she’d said that to him then and she’d kept to it.

"So now you’re going to doubt me?" she added in a voice that cracked perfectly. "After all I did... are you really going to believe her over me? Someone you only just met today?"

"Ivy..." he started.

But she shook her head, brushing away a tear. "You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know... that it hurts. I loved you through your darkness, and now that you have light, it feels like I’m the one being left behind."

Stefan exhaled slowly, guilt creeping into his chest. He didn’t know what the truth was anymore but for now... Ivy’s pain felt real.

He couldn’t keep hurting her especially if all Ruby said was just a means to an end. Though he wouldn’t know that if he didn’t find it out.

*****

I’m so sorry about the mix up earlier. My baby was sick so I guess I got disoriented and copied the wrong Chapters. Please, in case something like this happens again, though I’m hoping it wouldn’t, do well to bring it to my notice early.

I wouldn’t have realized had I not seen your comments.

Thank you all for your patience. I love you and I’m sorry. Posted two Chapters as compensation. Hope I’m forgiven.