Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 39: Not Holding Back.

The restaurant was quiet, dimly lit, with soft jazz humming in the background. A corner booth gave them privacy, and for the first time since she went to work that morning, Ruby let herself relax.

After work, because of how tired they were, Stefan had suggested they grabbed dinner out and Ruby had agreed without argument.

In the restaurant, Stefan sat across from her, his fingers wrapped around a warm glass of tea. She watched him as he listened to the waiter, nodding, his presence so composed it was easy to forget how much he carried on his shoulders.

She stirred her drink, stealing glances at him. "So, what’s there to talk about tonight? We can’t sit here all night and not talk about anything," she said after the waiter left. f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m

His head tilted toward her slightly, a smile playing on his lips. "What is it you have in mind to talk about? You can ask me anything."

She hesitated, then met his gaze. "Did you ever feel... lonely growing up? I mean, being an only child?"

Stefan’s fingers paused against his glass.

"To be honest? Yes," he said after a beat. "More than I admitted to anyone. My parents loved me, don’t get me wrong. But they were both... busy. Always building something, always away. The house was quiet most days. Just tutors, staff, and the usual silence."

Ruby’s heart clenched. "That sounds... hard," she said, considering that she had a sibling even though Ivy had been quite troublesome to her, always getting her in trouble with their parents.

"It was," he admitted softly. "But the worst part came after my father died. I was sixteen. My mom had to work twice as hard to keep everything afloat. She buried her grief in the business, and I... I buried mine in responsibility."

He smiled faintly, a bitter edge to it. "I took over three years ago. Just before I... met you."

Ruby swallowed hard. He still thinks I’m Ivy.

She thought but Stefan didn’t notice her sudden stillness. He was looking at his tea now, his voice soft.

"I thought maybe having someone would fix the loneliness. I thought that’s what love was supposed to do. Fill all the quiet places, but it didn’t exactly do that. Not until after our wedding."

Ruby didn’t answer right away. Her throat felt tight. She reached across the table, her fingers brushing his.

"You’ll no longer be alone. Not now atleast," she said quietly.

He turned his hand and linked his fingers with hers. "No. I’m not."

They talked through dinner, losing track of time. She asked about his childhood memories, and he told her about sneaking cookies with the old housekeeper, about learning to ride a bike in the estate’s garden.

and by the time they got home, the

stepping in first, as she always did. She helped him with his coat, hanging

said, trying

"Me too," Stefan murmured.

with a

when she stepped out, barefoot and in soft cotton loungewear, Stefan was already in the

lounge pants, a fitted shirt that hugged his frame. The sight of him made her breath catch. He was so unaware of how he looked.

her

to bath somewhere else?" she asked, her heart skipping

Martin helped me. I used the guest room, wanted to be done same time as you," he said

fall harder, she warned

ache in her chest told her it was

nightcap?" she asked, her

hesitated. "With you, of

"Where?

in his voice dropped an octave. "It’s better, that way we can go to bed when we’re done and sleep

get the drinks," she said and left after

down stairs, Ruby decided to check on Rayna and see if she’d had anything to eat so that she could bring

to her room and slowly knocked on

she’d was probably hiding out in

Had she left despite their agreement? Why? What happened? Was she okay? She mused and then hurried to her wardrobe to check if Rayna’s clothes were still there

her and she sighed. Now that she knew she hadn’t left without a word, she decided to try calling

bit relieved, she hoped nothing had happened to

get the drink so that she could get into the room, take

Perhaps, she was discovered when she went to steal food and

past Rayna. She thought as she picked the wine and two glasses and headed back to

and she

she said as she quickly texted Rayna asking her where she

the couch at the edge of the bed. She helped him join her; they sat very close—so close their

sipped in silence at first, but the air

Rayna had texted, she made sure

he said suddenly,