Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 55: He Deserves The Truth

Tears welled in Ruby’s eyes, her hand flying to her mouth. The room seemed to blur, her mind spinning.

A baby. She tried not to think anything until they were done and back in the doctor’s office.

The silence in Doctor Sylvia’s office felt louder than ever as Ruby sat motionless, her trembling hands resting protectively over her lower abdomen.

Her thoughts were scattered, spiraling in all directions, but all she could feel—truly feel—was the thundering of her heartbeat in her ears.

She was pregnant. Pregnant with Stefan’s baby.

The words hadn’t fully sunk in. She had heard them, seen the tiny flickering heartbeat on the screen, but they still didn’t feel real. A child. A part of Stefan. A part of her. A living, growing symbol of everything she had come to cherish... and everything she’d hidden behind a lie.

Doctor Sylvia was kind, her voice gentle as she explained prenatal care, routine checkups, and diet changes, but Ruby could barely absorb any of it. Her eyes were on the scan photo clutched in her hand, but her mind was somewhere else entirely.

She couldn’t breathe under the weight of the secret pressing down on her.

"Thank you," she finally murmured as she stood to leave, the small photo tucked into her bag like a precious burden. "I... I’ll schedule the next appointment soon. But before then, you can send the test results over to the house when it’s out."

Sylvia offered a warm smile. "I’ll do just that. Take care of yourself, Ivy. And congratulations again."

Ruby only nodded before slipping out of the clinic. The sunshine felt too bright, the world too fast, as she walked slowly to the curb and leaned against a lamp post, her legs trembling beneath her.

She couldn’t go to the office. Not like this. Not with her thoughts in shambles and her heart carrying too much.

She needed to talk to someone and she needed to do that now before her heart stops beating from overworking itself.

With shaking fingers, she pulled out her phone and dialed the one person she knew she could completely be herself with—Rayna.

Rayna was the only person she could talk to about all that was going on in her head. The pregnancy, the lies, what she had to do— Rayna was the only one she could talk to.

Stefan’s mother, Elizabeth. Though they’d said she should be Stefan’s wife in every

the problem was. She didn’t want to bring this child into

child. No. Never. She wasn’t going to kill the symbol of love between her and Stefan. Not now, not ever. She just needed to figure out what to do. She thought as she waited for Rayna to

take long before Rayna picked up and Ruby’s heart beat increased, not knowing how to start the

came her best friend’s cheerful voice. "I was just thinking about you," Rayna said, and Ruby swallowed the

cheerfulness

Rayna asked in concern the moment

I just..." Ruby closed her eyes

you’re crying. What’s the problem, Rubes? Is Ivy back

Stefan. He can never

cut in impatiently and Ruby

doctor because I’ve been feeling sick and

pause, followed

Ruby. Pregnant? With Stefan’s baby?" Rayna asked, unable to hide her

choked on a laugh that was closer to a sob. "Yes. With his baby—our

That’s huge. But are you... okay? Are

been nothing but amazing to me, Rayna. He’s gentle, patient, so damn thoughtful. Sometimes I forget he’s blind because he sees me better than anyone ever

making you cry, Ruby? Is

pretend to be someone I’m not. Every night he kisses me and calls me Ivy,

was quiet for a beat. "Oh,

voice broken. "I’m not his wife. My name was never in the certificate so how am I his wife? I’m a fraud. Someone that deceived him and now I’m pregnant while living this lie. What am I going to do now?

And now, a baby’s involved. You can’t keep living

hot and unrelenting. "I’m so scared, Ray. What if he hates me? What if he pushes me away? What if.... what if he rejects

heart? What if he remembers everything you’ve done, the way you’ve

stitched something back together. Because for the first time in months, she didn’t feel like running from

exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of her decision

said softly. "I have to tell him. No more

practically squealed. "Do it today. Don’t let fear hold you back. He deserves to know the real Ruby. He