Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 24: If This Was Love....

Nathan let out a breath. "Has she forgotten anything about you? Any major detail? Something Ivy would’ve never missed? I just want to understand you better."

"No. She remembers everything," Stefan said, voice quiet. "That’s the thing. Her memory’s sharp. Her routine’s nearly the same. Her scent, the way she walks—those haven’t changed or so I think."

"Then quit stressing, bro," Nathan said. "You’re driving yourself mad over something that might just be her heart growing up. It happens."

There was a silence that stretched long between them before Stefan broke it.

"Yeah. I guess I know that now. When are you coming back?"

"Two days," Nathan replied. "Flight lands in the afternoon. You want me to stop by first thing?"

"I’d like that," Stefan said with a smile. "It’ll be good to have you around again."

"You miss my annoying ass, don’t you?"

Stefan laughed. "Maybe."

"Don’t worry," Nathan said, teasing. "When I get there, we’ll figure out what to do if she turns out to be an alien shapeshifter. But for now, just let yourself feel, man. You’ve got something real in front of you. Don’t ruin it because you’re scared."

Stefan ended the call after a few more pleasantries, setting the phone down gently on the nightstand.

He stood alone in the dimly lit room, the quiet humming in his ears blending with the ticking of the antique clock on the wall. A part of him still held onto the uncertainty, but the bigger part—the one that felt Ruby’s touch, heard the tremble in her voice when she said his name—that part wanted to believe.

Maybe he had tested her.

But now, he wasn’t sure if he had done it to expose her... or to reassure himself that someone could truly change, and still love him anyway.

He turned as he heard footsteps in the hallway and walked slowly back to the bed.

And for the first time since his accident, he was ready to trust her and be relaxed around her again, knowing she wouldn’t leave him in his condition.

Ruby quietly closed the door behind her as she slipped out of her room, her heart still pounding from the tense whispers exchanged with Rayna.

She pressed a hand to her chest, exhaling slowly before making her way back down the hallway.

She paused outside the bedroom door she now shared with Stefan, taking a second to compose herself. The hallway was dim, lit only by the faint nightlight at the corner, casting long shadows across the floor.

She opened the door softly, expecting to find the room dark, Stefan asleep, since they’d both had a pretty long day.

still on and instead of being fast asleep, Stefan

asked before she could stop herself and then her eyes narrowed as she thought about what Rayna had said. Could it be? Maybe the person had called him

sound of her voice. "I was waiting for you," he said and Ruby resisted the urge to

made her pause. It wasn’t demanding or accusing. Just... gentle. Calm. Was he really

at the thought of it since he had also said he’d been waiting

was the soft ticking of the clock and the faint buzz of

wait," she said, stepping further

Stefan replied. "Still... I didn’t want to fall asleep until

him. She busied herself

said something that caught her off guard. In the

beside him, stealing a glance in his direction. He looked relaxed, one arm resting on the pillow behind him, his face tilted slightly

her bottom

a little. To know what he really saw when

her voice soft, tentative.

"Of course."

me? I mean, since after our wedding, you’ve been hinting at that.

tilted his head.

the hem of her sleeve. "Like you’d observed, I’ve changed. A lot. Since... the accident. Do you ever wonder if I’m... not the Ivy you

enough to make her heart

places with my sister or something? ’cause

his expression shifted, thoughtful. Ruby held her breath, half cussing herself for losing her

then she’d know

did," he admitted

incredulously since that would likely mean he had pulled

he continued. "You were different. Softer. Warmer.

listened to him talk. If he didn’t feel all of

"maybe you didn’t change into someone else.

She should’ve felt relieved. Or proud. But instead, something tugged painfully at her

she loved that he had at least thought she was

trying to keep her voice steady. "So... do you want me to go back to the way I

in the air between them, fragile and

didn’t hesitate. "No.

him, heart pounding. "I like you better this

Ruby looked down, her hands gripping the fabric of her nightgown. She

like me? Or does he like the idea of