Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 11: Unexpected Visitor

The drive home was quiet, but tension lingered in the air like an unspoken conversation.

Stefan sat with an air of contemplation, his fingers lightly tapping against the cane which was resting on his lap. Ruby could feel his subtle scrutiny, though he said nothing. It made her uneasy. He was suspecting something—she knew it. And now, she had to be more careful than ever.

As the car pulled up in front of the house, Ruby exhaled softly, trying to ease the tightness in her chest. This charade was exhausting. She had barely made it through the meeting, and now she had to play the perfect wife in front of Stefan for the rest of the evening.

The moment they stepped inside, a familiar voice rang through the air.

"Ivy Winters! Finally, you’re home!"

Ruby froze immediately she heard the voice. Though she wasn’t sure she could place who the voice belonged to, she knew she was in a hot seat since the person seemed to know Ivy on a personal level to be screaming her name that way.

A woman, dressed in a stylish emerald green jumpsuit, strode toward them with an air of confidence that demanded attention. Her wavy brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Stefan stopped beside Ruby, his lips curling slightly. He had expected something to go wrong tonight, and it seemed the moment had arrived.

"Oh, Eli! Been such a long time," Stefan said as he and Eliana, Ivy’s best friend exchanged pleasantries.

"Eliana." Ruby forced a smile, willing herself to stay calm.

Because she had been away from Zeden, she hadn’t exactly had any opportunity to be in the same space with Eliana though she knew about her from Ivy.

So this was her? Ruby thought with an inward sigh as she wondered why her sister would be friends with someone like this. But then again, what was she expecting? It was Ivy.

Eliana stopped short just a few steps away, her eyes narrowing slightly as they flicked over Ruby. A frown formed almost instantly.

"What in the world are you wearing?" she asked, disbelief evident in her tone.

Ruby blinked in surprise. "What?" she asked, confusion lacing her words.

Eliana gestured toward her feet. "Your heels. Since when do you wear anything but skyscraper heels?"

about it when she put them on earlier, but of course, Ivy’s best

to come

hand dismissively. "Oh, you know... married life. I figured I should start

crossed her arms. "Married life? Since when has that ever stopped you from looking like you stepped out of a magazine?" She

not! Just a little tired. We just got back from the company, and

like the word itself

but Ruby could feel his interest in the conversation. He was listening—carefully. Why didn’t he go upstairs? Was

going to develop a heart problem before the end of this one year with the way her heart

arm through Ruby’s. "Then let’s go to the spa. A full treatment will

barely left her mouth before Ruby instinctively shook

the words had left her mouth that she realized how fast she

stopped short, staring at her like she had just grown a second head.

tried to backtrack. "I

ever stopped you? You’d kill for a spa day.

pulse quickened. She needed to

a smile, tilting her head playfully. "What can I say? I just got married. All I want to do is

glanced at Stefan as she said

smirk ghosted over his lips. He could tell she was scrambling, but instead of calling her out, he

acting weird, Ivy. First the heels, now this sudden devotion to your husband? I

low chuckle. "I don’t think

knew Eliana wasn’t convinced. The woman wasn’t stupid, and Ruby had already slipped up

you’re suddenly too busy playing house to have a social life,

wrapped box and

explained. "Since I wasn’t around for

with a grateful smile.

hand. "Yeah, yeah. Just don’t disappear on me completely." She gave Ruby one last

out a slow breath she hadn’t realized