Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO
Chapter 70: Fate Or Coincidence?

Chapter 70: Fate Or Coincidence?

Just before 8 a.m., Rayna’s phone buzzed on the kitchen counter just as she was finishing her second cup of tea, knowing Ruby would be in Florittle any moment after flying for eighteen hours.

She’d woken up early, too restless to sleep in, but now, as the soft morning light filtered through the curtains of the little bungalow in Florittle, the reason behind her racing heart became clear.

She had been worried sick about Ruby. She grabbed her phone and slid her finger across the screen to answer.

"Ray," Ruby’s voice came through, soft but tired, "I just got to the airport. I’ll find a cab and head straight to you. Are you home?"

Rayna’s heart flipped with relief immediately. She’d thought Ruby wouldn’t be arriving until an hour later. .com

"Oh, thank God. I’ve been worried sick! Are you okay? How was the trip? Did anyone follow you? You’re not dizzy or hungry or—"

"Breathe, Ray," Ruby interrupted with a chuckle, the kind that sounded like home. "I’m fine. Really. Just exhausted. We’ll talk about any other thing when I get to you. Where are you now?"

"Alright, alright," Rayna said, already rising from the stool and grabbing her car keys. "I’m coming to get you. Don’t argue. You’re not wandering around with swollen feet and a baby bump."

Before Ruby could protest, Rayna had ended the call, already shrugging into a light jacket over her simple white tee and leggings.

Her long black curls were still a mess from sleep, but she didn’t care. Her best friend—her sister in every way that counted—was finally here.

She was halfway to the car when a thought struck her. "Food," she muttered to herself. Ruby probably hadn’t eaten anything. She probably hadn’t had a proper meal in hours, and knowing her, she’d be too emotional or overwhelmed to ask for anything.

Rayna veered toward the corner store she used to grab quick stuff. The small local grocer was quaint, stocked with essentials and a few homemade snacks the town was proud of.

She parked quickly and walked in, scanning the aisles for anything Ruby might crave. She grabbed a box of crackers, a couple of juice boxes, some fruit, and a small tub of chocolate pudding—just in case. Pregnant cravings were unpredictable. Thinking about looking after a pregnant Ruby, a soft chuckle escaped her lips.

Though she knew she shouldn’t be happy about any of what Ruby was going through, she couldn’t help it. The idea of looking after her friend, and her unborn child sent waves of excitement through and she couldn’t help but wonder how Stefan would’ve felt if he’d known about the baby.

She thought as she shook her head, telling herself to focus on what she was doing.

As she turned into the next aisle for bottled water, her cart almost collided with another.

"Whoa—sorry," she said, stepping back.

"It’s alright." The voice was deep and unmistakably familiar.

She blinked as she looked at the face, wanting to place where she had seen it. He was tall, broad shouldered and a well defined jawline. Messy brown hair adorning his face. She squinted her eyes and the way he raised his brows playfully at her made her heart skip and just then, it clicked.

"Ethan?" she asked uncertainly.

His smile was slow and amused. "Rayna. Fancy running into you here," he said, glad she’d recognized him pretty fast unlike some other one night stands that would pretend not to know him even if they recognized him.

He naturally wouldn’t have recognized her given it’s been a long time but how couldn’t he when he’d been dreaming and wishing to see her again?

Rayna smiled as she looked him over. He looked every bit the city man lost in a small town—jeans too clean, shirt crisp, and sunglasses hanging on his collar like a forgotten accessory. Yet, there was something about his easy confidence that made Rayna’s heart do a tiny, inconvenient somersault.

She raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here? Wait, don’t tell me you followed me here and waited till after six months to approach me so it doesn’t feel creepy," she said and he burst into laughter.

"What man would have that patience?" he asked with a teasing smirk and she shrugged.

"Maybe you?" she said with a cocky smile and he shook his head.

"Hell no, I didn’t. Just in town to... check on some things. Besides, I work here," he said and she smiled.

"Same," she said vaguely, not planning to spill anything about her work or where she stayed.

Ethan looked into her cart, chuckling softly. "Juice boxes and pudding? Don’t tell me you’ve got a secret toddler stashed away somewhere."

Rayna laughed, brushing a curl out of her face. "No toddler. Just... taking care of someone. Someone who needs rest, comfort food, and zero stress."

He nodded slowly, eyes not leaving her face. "That sounds like someone lucky."

Rayna shifted, suddenly aware of the heat rising to her cheeks. She didn’t like how easily he could unnerve her with one sentence. That was why she had refused giving him her number that day after all. Because she didn’t like how she felt around him. Who knew she’d run into him again after six long months?

Ethan leaned slightly closer, breaking into her thoughts. "You know, I think you and I share same fate seeing as we’ve met again after... what? Six months, right?"

She arched a brow. "Fate or coincidence? Don’t tell me you believe things about fate, Ethan."

Ethan chuckled. "Either way," he said, pulling his phone out and unlocking the screen, "Can I have your number?" .com

"You promised to give me when next we saw and that’s now," he said when he sensed she was probably looking for another excuse not to give him.

She hesitated only a moment before taking his phone and typing it in. "Don’t make me regret it," she muttered, handing it back.

"No promises," he said with a grin. "But I’ll try."

Rayna rolled her eyes, unable to hide her smile. She glanced at the time and then her bag of groceries. "I have to go. Someone’s waiting."

Ethan gave her a knowing look. "I’m sure they are."

She didn’t respond to the implication, just turned her cart and began walking away.

"Rayna," he called after her and she paused.

"Don’t wait too long before texting me back."

With a playful shake of her head, she left the store, her thoughts a little less focused than they’d been earlier. She loaded the groceries into her car and slid into the driver’s seat, her mind drifting to Ruby, but Ethan’s voice lingered too.

He had that way about him—of slipping into moments you hadn’t prepared for and making you question if maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t all random after all.

She drove toward the airport, her thoughts dancing between her best friend and the man she’d only just met twice—but couldn’t seem to shake.