Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO -
Chapter 97: Fate
Chapter 97: Fate
"I’m telling you, if I see one more building with cracked windows and moldy carpets, I might scream," Rayna muttered, tugging her sunglasses off as they stepped out of yet another disappointing property.
After their discussion the previous day, Rayna had helped Ruby contact a realtor who had been taking them to check out spaces but had been unable to follow them to the last place after they’d rejected three places.
Ruby exhaled loudly, leaning against the side of Rayna’s car. "You’d think with how much rent costs in this town, we’d at least get a space with decent plumbing."
Rayna pulled her keys from her bag, shaking her head. "And they had the nerve to call that last place ’newly renovated.’ What did they renovate—the spiderwebs?"
Ruby snorted, sliding into the passenger seat with a groan. "Let’s just go back. My feet are killing me," she said and Rayna nodded as she turned on the car engine.
They rode in silence for a few minutes, the winding roads of Florittle stretching out before them in warm hues and quiet charm. Despite the unsuccessful search, there was still something soothing about the town—the way it felt untouched by chaos, distant from everything Ruby had run from.
Rayna glanced over at her, the corner of her mouth lifting. "You know... at least that woman kept sending you the money she promised. I mean, even after everything, the money came through for you."
Ruby’s smile faded slowly. She looked out the window, the green fields blurring past. "Yeah. I guess she knew she’d discard me one day," she murmured. "Maybe that’s why she kept sending it. Guilt or... foresight."
Rayna didn’t reply immediately. She kept her eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel. Neither of them wanted to say Elizabeth’s name. It always tasted bitter on their tongues.
"You’re right though," Rayna said softly. "Still... you wouldn’t have been able to start afresh like this if she hadn’t kept her end of the deal. So... silver linings, I guess."
"Maybe," Ruby whispered, not wanting to start thinking of Stefan or anything that had to do with him.
They fell into silence again, the kind that wasn’t awkward but reflective—each woman tangled in her own thoughts as they drove toward the little cottage that had become a safe haven for both of them.
"We’ll find a better space tomorrow," Rayna said, attempting some optimism. "I can feel it. Something bright, open, clean. Something that actually smells like fresh paint and not decades of secrets. And something we would happily use."
Ruby smiled, the heaviness in her chest easing slightly. "Thanks for doing this with me, Ray."
Rayna looked over and gave her a sincere, warm grin. "Always."
They turned into the narrow gravel path that led to Rayna’s cottage, the hedges swaying gently in the breeze as if welcoming them back.
As Rayna reached for the keys to unlock the front door, her phone buzzed in her bag and she frowned, wondering who it was.
She fished it out, then paused. "Oh boy," she muttered, flashing the screen to Ruby. "It’s him again."
Ruby arched a brow. "Who? Don’t tell me that’s the Ethan guy again."
Rayna laughed, rolling her eyes. "He’s just so relentless! Like, how many missed calls does it take to get the hint?"
Ruby leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms. "Or maybe you should stop hinting and just give him a straight answer. That’s what adults do. They come out straight about everything," she said with a shrug.
Rayna snorted. "You sound like a mom."
Ruby smirked. "Well, I am a mom now. Or almost."
Rayna silenced the phone, tossing it back into her bag. "He’s just... persistent. He keeps saying he wants to get to know me."
"Maybe you should let him," Ruby said thoughtfully. "It’s kind of funny, you know. You might be fated to cross paths with people named Ethan or even marry one."
Rayna narrowed her eyes. "What fate? Don’t go all spiritual on me," she said, rolling her eyes.
Ruby shrugged, lips twitching. "Think about it. It was Ethan—Stefan’s best friend—who helped you get out of that disaster back then. And now, here you are, with another Ethan guy who you obviously like but won’t give him the chance and yet, he won’t take no for an answer. That’s not fate?"
Rayna gave a short laugh. "I think you’re missing something. I never said I liked him, Rubes."
Ruby’s grin widened. "You wouldn’t have given him your number if you didn’t. I know you, Ray. You vet people harder than airport security. If you handed him your digits, you were at least interested. And you going all the way with him just goes to prove that."
Rayna scoffed, reaching for the doorknob. "Oh please, that was six months ago and I gave him my contact because I was just being polite."
"Polite, my butt," Ruby teased. "Just get to know him. Worst case? You gain a new friend. Best case? He’s your man."
"My man? I’m not ready for any of that," Rayna said, voice quieter this time.
"You don’t need to be," Ruby replied gently. "Nobody goes into a relationship ready. It just... happens. You figure it out along the way."
Rayna stood there for a beat, considering. "Maybe. I’ll think about it."
"You better," Ruby said, following her inside. "One of us has to be happily in love. We can’t both be manless. What would we teach my daughter?"
Rayna threw her head back and laughed, flicking a dish towel in Ruby’s direction. "You’re being so dramatic!"
Ruby dodged the cloth, giggling. "I’m just saying. She deserves to grow up watching one of us—you precisely living your best love story."
Rayna shook her head, grinning. "God help this child with two hopeless romantics raising her."
Ruby’s laughter was soft but full. "We’ll manage."
As they settled into the cozy space, the failures of the day didn’t feel so heavy anymore. They had each other. They had plans. And maybe—just maybe—they had room in their lives for love again, even if they didn’t quite see it yet.
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