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Chapter 68: What Kind Of Things

Chapter 68: What Kind Of Things

At the hospital, Stefan stood near the nurse’s station, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder. The discharge papers were finally signed, and he was cleared to go home.

The doctor offered him some final words. "Remember to limit screen exposure and don’t strain your eyes. Healing takes time."

"Understood," Stefan said quietly.

He was just about to return to his room when he noticed something that made him pause.

Across the hallway, just outside his room, his mother was standing close to Ivy, their heads bowed together, speaking in hushed tones.

They looked up briefly when they noticed him watching. Ivy offered a smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Elizabeth straightened her posture and turned away, as though nothing unusual had happened.

But Stefan wasn’t fooled. Since when were they so close? He thought.

He remembered vividly how cold things had gotten between them—especially after the incident with Richard. Elizabeth had never truly approved of Ivy since then. Their interactions were polite at best, icy at worst.

And now they were whispering like co-conspirators? Something wasn’t right.

His jaw clenched slightly. He didn’t say anything—not yet—but his mind was already working. Picking up on the tension. The strange timing. The secrets that lingered in every quiet look and unspoken word.

He walked back toward them with calm steps and a composed smile. "Is everything okay?"

Elizabeth turned quickly. "Yes, darling. Ivy and I were just... discussing the arrangements at home. Making sure everything’s ready for your return."

Ivy nodded. "We want everything to be perfect for you."

Stefan tilted his head slightly. "Thanks, baby," he said but deep down, a quiet voice whispered:

They’re hiding something.

And this time, he wasn’t going to ignore it. He’d get to the bottom of it.

Once everything was set, they all walked out of the hospital as they headed to the car, where Martin was waiting to drive Stefan home.

The car ride from the hospital had been unusually quiet. Elizabeth kept looking out the window, her hands folded tightly on her lap.

Ivy, seated beside Stefan, looking at him, her expression unreadable. Stefan, freshly discharged and feeling the weight of everything that had happened in the past few hours, leaned back in his seat, choosing silence over confrontation.

When they arrived at the mansion, the staff rushed out to welcome him home. He gave them a tired nod, appreciating their care but barely registering their words.

Inside, everything looked the same—but it didn’t feel the same especially to Stefan as he couldn’t remember how the house had been after being blind for over six months.

Stefan slowly made his way to the couch as Elizabeth gave instructions to the maid to prepare something light for him. Ivy didn’t sit beside him or offer to help him to their room as she normally would have. Instead, she walked ahead, dropped her handbag on the console table, and turned toward the hallway.

"I’m going to my room to rest. I’m really tired and having a headache," she announced without looking at either of them.

Stefan blinked. Her room?

"Ivy," he called gently. "Aren’t you coming upstairs to my room?"

She paused at the foot of the hallway stairs, her hand resting on the bannister. "I’m exhausted, Stefan. I’ll rest here for now. I’ve been taking care of you for over six months, Stefan. I need to rest at least."

He didn’t respond, just watched as she climbed the stairs and disappeared down the hallway to the room she hadn’t used once in the past six months.

He rubbed his temples. Something was definitely off. She was back to being bossy, dismissive, acting like the Ivy from before the wedding—the one who was always distant and demanding. But during the past six months, she had been kind, patient, attentive. She’d never left his side, despite everything and her difficulty.

Unless... the woman by his side for the last six months wasn’t Ivy at all.

"Is something wrong?" Elizabeth asked from behind.

He turned slightly. "She’s changed, Mother. Not just a little. Everything about her... it’s different now."

Elizabeth forced a smile. "She’s probably just tired. Give her time."

He nodded but said nothing, watching her leave toward the kitchen. Though he knew he shouldn’t have told his mother that but after a little thought, he’d decided to.

If his mom was in on whatever this was, Ivy was going to adjust and that would confirm what he already thought.

Later that evening, once he was alone in the study and the house had quieted down after his mother had left, Stefan reached for his phone and dialed the number that had tried calling earlier—Ethan.

It rang twice before his best friend picked up.

"Sup bro. I’m home now," Stefan said, voice low. "I couldn’t take your call earlier because Ivy was there."

"Why wouldn’t you take the call because she’s there? You alright?" Ethan asked.

"I am. Physically, at least," Stefan replied, eyes narrowing at the papers on his desk. "But something’s wrong. She’s not... she’s not the same, Ethan. Ivy’s doing everything differently now. It’s like all the progress we made in the past six months is gone. She’s cold again. Distant. Bossy."

"That’s what you were afraid of, wasn’t it?" Ethan asked, concern creeping into his voice.

Stefan leaned back in his chair. "It’s more than that."

"What do you mean?" Ethan asked, a confused frown creasing his brows. f\r(e)ewe.b no\vel.com

Stefan hesitated for a moment. Then he said, "There was a woman at the hospital. Her name’s Ruby. She’s Ivy’s twin, Ethan. She came into my room just after the bandages were removed. She was... emotional. And she said some things I can’t shake off."

"What kind of things?"

"She said... she loved me. That I may have gotten my sight back, but I’m still blind. That everything I know is a lie." Stefan paused. "And it wasn’t just what she said—it was how she said it. The pain in her voice, the way she spoke... it felt familiar, Ethan. Too familiar."

There was a long silence on the line before Ethan finally said, "Did you ask her what she meant?"

"No. Everyone—especially my mother and Ivy—insisted I ignore her. That she was just trying to confuse me. Her sister and mother all said that was how she was, always causing trouble but I can’t stop thinking about it. Her voice keeps playing in my head. It felt like... someone I knew. Someone who’s been close to me all along."