Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO
Chapter 89: Perfect Plan

Chapter 89: Perfect Plan

Ivy Winters or is it Quinn, paced the length of the grand living room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, lips pressed into a thin line.

The sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Winters Estate—Stefan’s house—but its warmth did nothing to ease the growing weight in her chest.

It was well into the afternoon. And still... no sign of Stefan. Not a word. Not a call. Not even a text.

Was he still mad at her and hell bent on finding Ruby wherever hole she’d crawled in? What was he doing now? Was he thinking of her or was determined to end their marriage?

If that were the case, he would have issued her divorce papers by now right? But he wasn’t doing that so what exactly did he want staying away from home this way?

He had left the night before, after that confrontation—after telling her to leave his house before he returned. His voice had been colder than she’d ever heard it. And yet, despite her mother’s warning not to leave the house on Stefan’s word, Ivy didn’t think staying was the right thing as much as leaving wasn’t either. What was she to do? Who would she obey and which one would favor her more?

Of course her mother’s advice, why would she think twice about it? Stating back would mean fighting got not just her marriage but also Stefan’s love and she was going to do just that. But why was she so scared?

He was probably at the office, she reasoned with herself for the hundredth time.

Still, her nerves were frayed. Her thoughts restless.

Stefan had never spoken to her that way. Not when they just met, not during the courtship, and certainly not since their so-called wedding. But last night... he hadn’t just been angry. He had been done.

She could feel it—see it in his eyes.

But she couldn’t let it end this way. She wouldn’t. Though she was scared of what he might do if he returned to the house to meet her, she knew she wasn’t going to leave. So what would it be?

Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she spun on her toes and walked back toward the windows, her fingers twisting around each other as her mind raced. Her mother had said it clearly: Get him to sleep with you. If she could just make that happen, everything else would fall into place. She could say she was pregnant too, spin a tale, make him feel bound to her.

But how? He was very mad and if she had forgotten that at any point in time, his absence and lack of call or text just reminded her that he wasn’t joking.

A frustrated sigh escaped her lips. Stefan barely acknowledged her presence anymore. She needed a subtle approach. Something clever. Something she could do to have him let his guard down. But would he ever let his guard down around her?

Or did she need to do something? What was it? She thought still pacing around.

Then it struck her—food.

He rarely refused the meals that came to his office especially if he ordered them or if maybe his secretary or Oliver offered him. He might be suspicious if she showed up herself, but what if someone else delivered it?

A slow smile curved her lips. His secretary. Once while they were dating, he’d talked about Noami bringing food and offering it to him because she felt bad about gifting him on his birthday so perhaps this one would work.

But she couldn’t just walked up to Noami and tell her to help her without telling Steffy about her bringing the food. She thought with a creased brows.

If she could bribe the woman to give him food she prepared—and spike—then maybe she could make him vulnerable. Get closer. And she wouldn’t even need to be there.

The secretary didn’t have to tell him where it came from. She could say it was a special order from a new caterer or whatever excuse that worked. Men didn’t ask questions about food.

Ivy nodded to herself, feeling the stirrings of control returning. Yes. That would work.

She checked the clock above the mantel—2:17 PM. Past lunch already. She’d do it tomorrow, first thing. She’d make something, lace it lightly—nothing dangerous, just enough to make him tired, relaxed. Vulnerable.

And while he was in that state, maybe she could show up—coincidentally.

That was a perfect plan, something that’d turn the strides in her favor. By the time he’d become sober again, she’d already gotten what she want. While her mother would try to make sure that bitch didn’t show up again, she’d do this to bring Stefan’s mind back to her and when he used to love her.

Though she’d thought out that perfect plan for tomorrow, she still wasn’t happy. There was still the problem of tonight. If Stefan returned and found her still in the house...

Her stomach twisted at the thought of another confrontation. No, she wouldn’t risk that. Though she didn’t know what he’d do to her, she knew she wasn’t ready to risk that. Not after all the plans she had.

What could she do now? Moving out was not an option. She thought and a smile curled her lips when another thought hit her.

She’d move to the guest room. Yes, that was what she was going to do.

If he didn’t see her, he’d think she left. And if she was careful enough, she could sneak out after he left for work in the morning and carry out her plan without anyone suspecting.

With a new sense of urgency, Ivy rushed to her room and began gathering her belongings. Not everything—just enough to make it seem like she’d packed up and left. Enough to make Stefan let his guard down. The maids wouldn’t tell Stefan anything as she’d make sure to inform them what was at stake. She thought as she continued packing what she could.

The rest she stuffed in drawers, under the bed, in the closet. She grabbed her essentials and hurried down the hall to the guest bedroom, her heels echoing against the tiles. free\we,bnovel.c o(m)

Once the door was shut behind her, she exhaled in relief. Crisis averted.

She rubbed her stomach, already growling from hunger. She’d need food for tonight and tomorrow morning—something simple, easy to hide in the guest room. She’d go to the kitchen, prepare a few things, and sneak back before anyone noticed.

But just as she stepped into the hallway and turned toward the kitchen, she heard a familiar voice drifting through the corridor.

"Eliana?" Ivy’s face lit up, her plan momentarily forgotten.

She followed the sound to the kitchen and spotted her best friend standing beside one of the maids, asking questions and sounding so bossy as if she owned the place. Her chest swelled with affection as she didn’t bother with what Eliana was asking the maid.

"Eliana!" she called out, walking in with a grin. "What are you doing here? You didn’t call."

Eliana turned with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Since when do I need to call my best friend before visiting?" she asked lightly, coming over to kiss Ivy on both cheeks. "I was worried about you after you stormed off last night. Had to make sure you were still breathing."

Ivy blinked. "Oh, yeah? That’s... very kind of you."

Eliana gave a casual shrug. "So, what about Stefan?"

Ivy stiffened. "What about him?"

"I mean," Eliana drawled, wandering over to a stool and sitting, "I hope he wasn’t mad you came back late. After that call he gave you, demanding you returned home like some brooding beast." She chuckled, waving a hand. "Where’s the present he got you, by the way? It was a present, right?"

The question made Ivy falter. "Present?" she asked, having forgotten all about yesterday.

Eliana raised a brow. "Yeah. You said he was calling because he planned a surprise or something. Guess you were wrong."

Ivy forced a tight smile. "Oh... no, there was no gift. But everything’s fine. He just... wanted to speak to me about a few things."

Eliana frowned. "Really? Because he didn’t sound like a man ready to roll out a red carpet. Honestly, thank God you didn’t rush over the way he barked at you."

Ivy’s throat went dry. "Maybe I should have rushed back."

Eliana tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Why do you sound like that?"

The words hung in the air for a beat too long. And then Ivy’s mask cracked unable to keep pretending.

Her lips trembled, and before she could stop herself, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She turned away, wiping furiously at her face, but it was too late.

"Ivy?" Eliana stood up slowly. "What’s going on?"

Ivy choked back a sob, her shoulders trembling. "He hates me, Eliana," she whispered. "He doesn’t want me here."

There was silence for a moment, and then Eliana’s voice softened, "What happened?"

Ivy shook her head, unable to find the words. "Everything’s falling apart."

Eliana stepped closer, wrapping a comforting arm around her. "Hey, don’t cry. You’re Ivy Winters. You don’t let people walk away. You win, remember?"

But Ivy only leaned into her friend’s shoulder, the weight of her own crumbling world pressing harder than ever.

And Eliana... she just held her, even as her eyes glinted with something unreadable over Ivy’s shoulder. Something sharp. Something not entirely kind.