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.

and instead of being fast asleep, Stefan was sitting up in

she asked before she could stop herself and then her eyes narrowed as she thought about what Rayna had said. Could

of her voice. "I was waiting for you," he said and

something in his tone made her pause. It wasn’t demanding or accusing. Just... gentle. Calm. Was

thought of it since he had also

was the soft ticking of the clock and the faint buzz of the night air slipping through the barely

said, stepping further into the room. "I wasn’t

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

expected that. Not from him. She busied herself with smoothing out the edge of the blanket on

that caught her off guard. In the beginning, she’d assumed

looked relaxed, one arm resting on the pillow behind

bit her bottom

push, just a little. To know what he really

her voice soft, tentative. "Can I ask

"Of course."

really me? I mean, since after our wedding, you’ve been hinting

tilted his head.

fidgeting with 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 remember

long enough to make her heart beat a little

me be direct. Do you think I’m Ruby? That I switched places with my sister or something? ’cause I’m tired of feeling

brow furrowed, and his expression shifted, thoughtful. Ruby held her breath, half cussing herself for losing her cool that way. What if he hadn’t thought

then

did," he

since that would likely mean he had pulled that

"You were different. Softer. Warmer. You listened more.

feel all of those things with Ivy, then why

you didn’t change into someone else. Maybe

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

that he had at least thought she was different, she didn’t exactly know what to make of everything going on. It was just three days yet, everything was beginning to seem like a

her voice steady. "So... do you want

hung in the air

"No.

"I like you better this

looked down, her hands gripping the fabric of her nightgown. She couldn’t meet his gaze—not when

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