Chapter 6: You’ve Changed

As Ruby focused on her food, Stefan rose from the bed, stretching slightly. She watched as his fingers traced along the bedside table before he moved toward the wardrobe.

He was slow, deliberate, and yet there was something almost effortless about the way he navigated the room.

He knew where everything was, but she could tell there were moments of hesitation—pauses where he had to double-check, moments where his fingers searched for confirmation before proceeding.

Her chest tightened as he opened the wardrobe and ran his hands over the hanging clothes, feeling for textures. He eventually pulled out a button-down shirt and a pair of trousers, but when he tried to fasten the first button, his fingers fumbled slightly.

Ruby set her fork down since she was full now. "Do you need help?"

Stefan exhaled, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I can do it."

She could tell he didn’t like needing help from the look on his face and she could only wonder if he’d been the one doing it all by himself all this while.

But then, after a few more seconds of struggling, he let out a quiet sigh and muttered, "Maybe I need help. Just this once and because you offered."

Ruby’s lips curled into a smile at his tactics and then shook her head.

Ruby stood, walking toward him, and gently took the fabric in her hands. She began buttoning his shirt with careful precision, her fingers grazing his chest lightly as she worked. .com

He smelled good. Clean, masculine, with a subtle hint of cologne that made her acutely aware of how close they were.

"Are you going out?" she asked, thinking Ivy would’ve asked him same if she had been the one here.

"Yes. We. We’re going out," he said and she frowned.

"We? Where are we going and why didn’t you tell me?" she asked and he shrugged.

"Well, I’m telling you now. I had something planned for us today."

Ruby’s fingers paused on the last button before she forced herself to continue. "Planned?"

"A surprise. I had it all arranged before... well, before things changed. And I still want to give it to you."

meant it was something he had planned

step

a surprise. You should get dressed after you’re done with me," he said

away and she found her eyes tracing every of his features. She didn’t know know how long she had been

me now?" he asked abd

said, stepping back and

Though he knew what she wanted to do, he

through her chest, but

do you always wear it yourself? Why don’t you ask

know me. I don’t like depending on people too much," he said. "I have to

trying so hard to be independent, to keep control of his life despite his blindness. The realization made

on it, Stefan turned toward her, a playful smirk curving

what I was saying earlier,"

for her. It was for Ivy. Whatever Stefan

"Alright." fr.eew eb

frozen as she stared at the

rooftop of Stefan’s mansion, where a breathtaking setup awaited

set with the finest china, candles flickering

the floor, and soft music played in the background. A violinist stood at the

was straight out of

"Do you like it?" he asked and she could hear the excitement in his voice, probably as he waited for ’his Ivy’ to scream at this

would’ve but Ruby’s throat tightened. She just couldn’t do it as all she

this... for Ivy and yet, standing here, in the midst of it all, she felt overwhelmed—not with guilt this time, but with something

"It’s beautiful," she whispered.

could see your face right

him, placing a hand on his arm. "I’ll save it," she said. "For when you can finally

for the briefest moment. "You really think that’s possible?"

"What do you

if I wait a year and the doctors say it’s not possible? What if I never get my sight

voice sent a sharp

from optic nerve damage. The doctors had said that cases like his had a 90% chance of

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