Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 18: Spy Friend

After a while, Rayna sat on the edge of the hotel bed, her expression unreadable as she stared out at the skyline of Zeden through the tall windows.

Her mind was reeling from everything Ruby had just told her. A wedding switch, a blind groom, a blackmailer lurking in the shadows — it sounded like something out of one of her blog’s most dramatic stories. But this wasn’t fiction. This was real. And her best friend was right at the center of it.

She glanced over at Ruby, who sat curled up in the armchair with a blanket draped over her lap. Her eyes looked heavier now — not from fatigue alone, but from the sheer weight of the secret she’d been carrying alone for the past three days.

Rayna had never seen her like this. Not even after her breakup with Jordan two years ago. This was a different kind of tired — the kind that comes from pretending every single moment.

Rayna’s heart twisted as she watched her friend. Ruby didn’t deserve any of this.

"I still can’t believe it," Rayna said finally, her voice low. "Three days pretending to be someone else. Pretending to be her. We all know how your sister is. That’s not just exhausting, Rub — that’s dangerous."

Ruby gave a weak nod. "I know. I keep asking myself when it’s all going to fall apart. I feel like I’m walking on a tightrope with no safety net."

Rayna pulled her knees up to the bed and hugged them. "And this blackmailer... have they said anything since the last message?"

Ruby shook her head. "Not yet. But I know they’re watching. It’s not just the messages — it’s the timing. They knew I was alone when they texted. It’s like they’re waiting for something... I don’t know what."

She had been thinking about it and she couldn’t shake off the feeling that the person knew exactly where she was staying. It couldn’t be Eliana since she’d most likely still be driving when she got the message.

It was just all a mess.

Rayna frowned, her fingers tightening around the edge of a pillow. "It’s like they want you to panic. Whoever this is, they’re enjoying the control. That’s dangerous, Rub. We need to take this seriously."

Ruby gave her a tired look. "I am taking it seriously. But what am I supposed to do? I can’t go to the police without exposing everything. And if Stefan finds out... about the deceit... if Elizabeth finds out... about the blackmail my mother and I—" Her voice cracked. "It would ruin everything."

Rayna’s protective instincts kicked in hard. She had always been the calm one in their friendship — the planner, the fixer. And now? Now she had to be the shield too.

"Okay," she said firmly, standing up. "We’re going to figure this out. First, you’re not going to respond to any more messages until we know who’s behind it. Even if he sends you something tempting, like he’s on his way to Stefan or anything. Second, I want to see those texts. I’ll check the metadata, see if anything stands out," she said going to stand in front of Ruby.

Ruby blinked, confused. "You know how to do that?"

crime blogs for a living, remember? I’ve picked up a few tricks over the years," she said and

— the first real laugh Rayna had heard from her since she walked through

Rayna said, her voice softer now. "Your laugh. Your sarcasm. The way you always eat dessert

again. "That

you’re Ivy now which means you have to do everything as she does," Rayna said with a sigh.

know but I’m not doing all that. Stefan is blind, remember? He can’t actually

wanted to run away. But you’re not alone anymore, okay? You’ve got me.

to pull you into this mess. That’s why I

I’m yours," Rayna said with a wink, trying to lift the mood. "Besides, I’m

Ray. You don’t

mansion, see if I can dig up anything. If someone knows who you are... they must be close. Maybe a maid. A staff member. Someone who

eyes widened. "Ray, that’s

she replied.

stretched between them for a moment, both girls lost in

through everything. Every detail you remember. Anything that felt off. We’re going to piece this

heart a little lighter for the first time in days. For the first time since Ivy disappeared, she didn’t feel like

Ivy too. Ruby

code and search filters filled her screen. Her phone was beside her, open to the threatening text messages

she muttered. "Masked their IP, blocked metadata, no time stamps. But everyone makes a mistake

table in the hotel room, watching her work with a mix of awe and anxiety. "Are you sure it’s

databases, cross-referencing location pings from the hotel Wi-Fi.

blackmail and sneaking into mansions, like they were in a spy movie. But this

the

to check the peephole —

back later, please!" she called through

much? We’re

you would be like this too, if you were pretending to