Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 23: I’ve Got My Answers

With trembling fingers, Ruby took her phone from Rayna. She opened the anonymous chat thread, stared at it for a long moment, then began to type:

"Stay the hell out of my life. You know nothing. If you ever text me again, I’ll get my husband involved and make sure you’re caught. This is your final warning. And you should know I have nothing to worry about so you can spill whatever trash you have in your mouth, fool."

She stared at the message, hesitating for just one second more before hitting send.

The message was delivered. The typing indicator blinked for a few seconds.

Then a single response came through:

"Fuck you."

Nothing else. No threats. No taunts. Just two words, sharp and vicious.

Ruby stared at the screen, breath caught in her throat.

Rayna leaned over and read it. "Well. That’s not creepy at all."

"He didn’t deny it," Ruby whispered.

"Yeah," Rayna said slowly. "But he also didn’t say anything else. That might mean he’s rattled. You just showed him you’re not the scared little puppet he thought you were."

Ruby leaned back in the chair, feeling a cold chill run down her spine. "Or I just pissed him off."

Rayna gave a half-smile. "Same difference."

They sat in silence for a while, the tray now mostly empty between them.

"I’m scared, Rayna," Ruby admitted softly.

"I know," Rayna said. "But you’re doing good. And I’m not going anywhere."

Ruby nodded, her eyes falling once more to the phone.

blackmailer was. Or if Stefan truly trusted her or was the one behind the stunt.

because now, she’d do all she can to get the

from the lamp on the nightstand. Stefan sat on the edge of the bed, his cane resting against the wall

into every creak of the house. Ruby hadn’t returned yet, and though she’d said she’d be right back, the silence seemed to

The evening replayed in his mind—the conversation in the wine cellar, the way Ruby had stepped in at the company, and the warmth in her touch

there before.

the most. She

hated himself for even entertaining it. Ivy was his wife. The woman he’d promised to spend his life with. But something had shifted

why he’d asked Nathan to test

chance that Ivy wasn’t who she claimed to be, Stefan needed to know. He couldn’t see her, couldn’t study her expressions or pick up on subtle physical cues. All he had were instincts. And right

vibrated once

secure line, encrypted and reserved only for a few people in his

the moment the call

"Nat," Stefan said calmly.

not going to believe this," Nathan’s voice came through, amusement

straightened subtly. "She

’stay the hell out of her life’ and called me a fool. Then threatened to get her husband involved. Can you believe that? I wonder what she’d think if

his wedding, Nathan had thought it was absurd having to test his

best friend after all and

before Stefan let out a low exhale. His chest tightened, though he wasn’t entirely sure

enough," Stefan said quietly. "No more texts.

on the other end before Nathan responded. "What answer?

Ivy," Stefan replied simply. "I now believe she’s Ivy. But like she said,

from the tone in her message, I’d say it’s her too. Only

smiled faintly. "Exactly," he said wishing he could see her face again, see her smile, get angry over little things and have him take

the first place? Why did you think she’s her twin? Have

the chance to be in her company," he admitted. "And thinking about why I even did that—it sounds ridiculous now. But then when after our wedding, infact from the church... she was different. She sounded warmer. Kinder. She touched me with more care. Ivy was never cruel but... she wasn’t

turned slightly, facing the faint echo of the hallway outside the room. "But now, she laughs easier. She pauses to listen. She

second. "So let me get this straight. Because she started treating you better and is more considerate

rubbing a hand over his face. "It sounds stupid when you

those changed, your brain screamed foul