Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 16: Rayna

Rayna’s laughter was warm, full of affection, and Ruby could hear the teasing in it. "Sure thing. I’ll text you the details. Don’t take too long though, okay? I’ve got so much to tell you. It’s been way too long since we’ve had one of our chats and you can also tell me about what is going on with you when you show up."

Ruby couldn’t stop the slight smile that tugged at her lips. It felt good to hear Rayna’s voice like this, carefree and playful. For just a moment, she could pretend everything was normal. The world outside her bedroom felt a little less heavy.

"I’ll be there soon," Ruby said, ending the call. She quickly tapped a message to Rayna, asking for the hotel and room number so that Rayna wouldn’t forget.

As she hit send, her thoughts swirled again. Rayna’s arrival was a distraction, but it was the kind of distraction Ruby needed right now.

It felt strange, though, to know that Rayna was so close, yet there was still so much Ruby had to hide. She didn’t want to burden her friend with all the things she was dealing with. But then, there was nothing she could do. Rayna was the only person she could talk to.

Ruby paced across the room, her mind still racing as she waited for the hotel name. What was she supposed to do about everything?

The blackmail, the lies, the secret she was hiding from Stefan. She felt like she was playing a dangerous game, and the stakes were getting higher with every passing day.

But for now, she had a friend to see. And maybe, just maybe, Rayna would help her figure out what to do next. At least, Ruby hoped so. .com

Immediately her phone buzzed, she sighed and glanced at it. "Thank God," she muttered out loud when she saw it was the address.

Ruby hurried out of her room, keys in hand, the weight of her thoughts still heavy on her shoulders. She didn’t want to linger too long in the house; she needed to escape, even if just for a little while. Her friend, Rayna, was waiting for her, and the idea of seeing someone who didn’t expect anything from her felt like a much-needed relief.

But before she could leave, she walked past the wine cellar, a place she knew Stefan should be since that was where she had left him.

She hesitated for a moment, half-expecting him to be there, but the cellar was empty. The shelves lined with bottles seemed untouched like he hadn’t been there at all.

he’s done

time there

working or just thinking in peace. It wouldn’t be unusual for him to seek solitude there, given how much time he spent at

open, her heart skipping a beat as she saw him sitting at his desk, one hand resting lightly on

there working? Why was he seating in front of so

down by his blindness again? Was that

the study, her eyes lingering on Stefan as he sat in his usual spot at the desk, deep in concentration while he took no

by documents and papers, struck her with an unexpected pang of guilt. He was here, as always, navigating his world without sight, trying to keep things together despite his blindness. And yet, here she was, lying

to have noticed her for this long, had to mean he was very much deep in

was quiet, unsure if she was interrupting something important, but it seemed like he hadn’t noticed her approach. She paused again, wondering how she could broach the subject of leaving without

moment, Ruby was certain he was aware of her presence before he spoke. "Baby?" His voice was calm, as though nothing was out of

tone — the way he was trying to mask something. Perhaps the same

okay? You seemed pretty much distracted by whatever you had going on in your head," she said and

Why are you here? Missing me already?" he teased and she

stepping out," she said, forcing a smile that only felt half genuine. "I’m going to see a

been expecting her to announce something else — something more urgent, perhaps. His hand paused over the stack of papers, and

asked, his voice slightly curious, yet reserved. "And who

she managed to push it out. "She’s someone I met online. We’ve been talking for a while and decided to meet up. You don’t know her." The lie felt strange in her mouth, but she continued with

to its earlier position on the desk. "I see," he murmured. "Well, don’t be

look around the study for some sort of clue as to why his mother