Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO
Chapter 64: Too Late Now

Chapter 64: Too Late Now

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. .com

"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.

While Ivy was doing all she could to convince Stefan, Ruby sat alone on a bench just outside the hospital, her arms tightly wrapped around herself as if she could keep the pain from spilling out.

Her heart felt like it had been torn open, its raw edges throbbing with betrayal. The world moved around her—cars passed, nurses walked in and out, strangers chatted nearby—but to her, it was all just a blur.

Her hands trembled as she pulled her phone out of her bag. For a long time, she just stared at the screen, her eyes unfocused, the sting of Stefan’s words playing again and again in her mind.

He threw me away... he didn’t even give her the chance to speak but just threw her away.

Despite all the hints she gave, he didn’t even ask her to explain. One minute, he was the man who reached for her, who made her feel like his world, and the next—he believed Ivy. Someone that was now a stranger to him.

One act. One performance. And everything they’d shared was dismissed like it meant nothing. Where had Ivy been?

How had she been able to return at this crucial time? What happened? What did she want? If she didn’t love Stefan, then why come back because he has his sight now? Ivy could be that mean to her but what about her mother? Her very own mother?

Ruby let out a bitter laugh through her tears. Regina hadn’t defended her. She had called her a destroyer. A disgrace. A bad sister. She’d sided with Ivy once again.

She should’ve known? Her mother had always taken Ivy’s side so she should’ve known. She’d been the one to tell Ivy about Stefan’s sight. Perhaps her mother had always been in touch with Ivy. How could she not have known? How could she have fallen for something like this?

She didn’t want to feel the pain of betrayal by her mother and sister but no matter how hard she tried, her heart felt like it was being cut into tiny pieces and the tiny pieces were being smashed and trampled on.

Ruby closed her eyes. Ivy’s tears had always worked like magic, but today they were weapons. She had used them so skillfully that Stefan had believed her lies without hesitation.

Even though he knew Ruby... Even though they’d spent nights whispering dreams, even though he kissed her like she was the air he breathed—he still threw her away without even a second thought.

The phone vibrated in her hand, and only then did she realize she had dialed Rayna’s number unknowingly.

"Ruby?" Rayna’s voice came through, breathless. "What happened? You okay? Did you tell him?"

Hearing that, Ruby burst into an uncontrollable sob. How was she supposed to tell her friend that the man she’d thought could recognize her even without his sight had cast her out without a second thought?

How was she supposed to tell her friend that Stefan whom she’d thought saw her even without eyes had been totally blind to her even with his eyes? What about her baby?

If she was finding it this difficult to explain to her friend, then how would she be able to explain it to her baby?

"Rubes? Say something. What’s going on? Are you crying? What happened? He didn’t listen to you? Did he say he couldn’t forgive you?" Rayna asked pacing around her office now. free\we\bnov(e)(l).com

"No," Ruby whispered, the word catching in her throat. "I’m not okay. I... I didn’t do it. I didn’t get to tell him the truth."

Rayna was silent for a beat. "You didn’t? Why Rubes? You said today so why not? Do you want him to find out on his own—"

"It’s too late now. He wouldn’t find out the truth because he refused to see it," Ruby cut in, wiping the tears off her face.