Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 19: You Are Ivy

By the time they pulled into the circular driveway of the mansion, the sun was beginning to dip behind the trees, casting golden shadows across the lawn.

Ruby parked around the side, away from the usual staff line of sight. She quickly unlocked the trunk and pulled out a folded shawl, draping it over Rayna’s head.

"This is ridiculous," Rayna mumbled under the fabric.

"You’re the one who insisted on sneaking in."

"I didn’t realize I’d be smuggled like contraband," she said and Ruby giggled, unable to hold it in.

"You asked for it. Hurry up," Ruby whispered, peeking around the hedges. The staff entrance by the kitchen looked clear.

They made a dash for it.

Ruby’s heart pounded with every step, adrenaline tingling in her fingers. One wrong move, one unexpected housekeeper or butler taking out trash, and everything would unravel.

Though if it happened like that, she’d just have to lie that Rayna was the new maid. She thought and almost laughed when she imagined Rayna’s response if she were to tell her anything about what she was thinking.

But luck — or sheer desperation — was on their side. They made it through the door and down the service hallway without incident.

Ruby led Rayna up the back stairs, avoiding the main hallway where voices echoed faintly. Her mother’s voice was unmistakable — low, clipped, and likely scolding someone about cutlery arrangements.

"Your mom sounds fun," Rayna whispered sarcastically.

"Welcome to my world."

Once inside her bedroom, Ruby locked the door and exhaled. "Now I can breath!"

Rayna pulled off the shawl and collapsed onto the plush chair in the corner. "Well, that was thrilling. Do I get a snack or at least a bottle of water for surviving the infiltration?"

Ruby rolled her eyes but handed her a chilled bottle from the mini fridge. "Stay put. I’ll check if anyone is near the hallway before I go down. Also, you should know I’m always in Stefan’s room. No one agreed to having me keep my space."

"Noted. That means I have this room to myself then," she said with a grin.

already drawing a rough sketch of the layout she’d seen — hallway lengths,

dine with the your mom and mother in-law," she said with a silly

Mother in-law?" Ruby asked

you supposed to have sex too with him?

look. "How

just asking

nobody sees you," Ruby said, cutting Rayna

your conversations. I need to hear it and also watch the staff to see if there’s any particular

tension, Rayna sat back in the chair, staring at the notes she’d made. There was something off about all this. Too many convenient silences. Too many things Ivy left behind — or maybe meant to leave

mansion, the truth waited. And

behind her. The soft click echoed louder than she expected, or maybe it was just the weight of what she was carrying—secrets, guilt, and

the wide hallway toward the grand staircase. The scent of roasted garlic and herbs wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the delicate aroma

from behind her and she

parlor, her expression pinched, her perfectly manicured hands

I needed to think away from everything for a few

your blind husband is upstairs by himself? Ivy, how could you be so careless? What did you need to get away to

sent his valet to him," she said quickly. "Martin—he was there

eyes darted around to ensure no one else was nearby. "That’s not something you should say. Not something Ivy would say.

caught in the invisible grip of her

that man for love," Regina continued in a hushed but scolding tone, "you would never leave his side. Especially not when he can’t even see the world around him. That’s not the Ivy Stefan knew. The Ivy he fell in love with would have walked him

knew that was a lie, she needed Ruby to be that woman for Stefan so he would be too in love and happy she was being there for him to

her dress. Her voice was tight. "I

Elizabeth who saw this," Regina hissed. "Because if it had been, she would’ve started saying things we both wouldn’t

guilt prickling hot under her

the time. The smallest change in behavior will alert her. So I need you to remember something: you’re not just pretending to be Ivy. You are Ivy.

nodded, swallowing past the tightness in her

That’s what Ivy would’ve done. That’s the only way to keep him from seeing through you," Regina said firmly. Then, with a glance down the hallway, she added, "Go.

but her mother’s hand

tone held more pressure than praise. "Don’t ruin