Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 56: Not Ivy But Me

The hallway outside the emergency room was cold, too cold for a morning that had started with sunlight and laughter.

Ruby sat in the waiting room with her hands clenched tightly in her lap, the skin around her knuckles pale. Across from her sat Elizabeth, her face buried in her hands, shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

The moment Ruby had rushed into the hospital, time had slowed. The smell of disinfectant, the hum of machines, the hurried footsteps of nurses—it all felt like a nightmare when she realized Elizabeth had been right and Stefan had truly been in an accident. f|ree(w)ebn\o.vel.com

How could he suffer something like this twice in less than a year? The doctors had seemed to make the situation look like it was serious so she didn’t exactly know what to think as all various emotions was running through her.

Ruby glanced sideways at the woman who had pushed her into this life of secrets. A woman who only ever wanted to protect her son. And now, as much as Ruby had hated the plan at first, she found herself silently grateful. Because being here... loving Stefan... carrying his child—it had all come from that one terrible, impossible choice.

"He’ll be fine," Elizabeth whispered suddenly, more to herself than anyone else. "He has to be."

Ruby swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, even though her heart was tearing apart inside her chest. "Yes... he has to be."

She didn’t realize her hand had drifted down to rest gently on her stomach until she felt the warmth of her own touch. A part of Stefan was growing inside her—a little heartbeat that depended on hers. She hadn’t even had time to process the pregnancy fully, but now all she could think about was what if this is it?

What if he never woke up? What if he never knew the truth? .com

Her baby would never hear his father’s laugh, never feel his arms, never know how gentle and kind he was. That thought scared her more than anything.

Please... please be okay, she prayed silently, her fingers curling tighter over her abdomen. You have to come back. I have to tell you everything. I need you to know that it’s me... Ruby. That I’ve been with you all this time. Not Ivy but me.

Ruby’s eyes stung, but no tears came. Not yet. She was too numb.

Her mind kept replaying the moment Elizabeth’s voice cracked over the phone. The words "It’s Stefan... he’s been in an accident" had sent her heart into freefall.

She remembered how her breath caught in her throat, how she had whispered, "No... no, please no," as her cab sped toward the hospital.

were. Waiting.

belly protectively. Her

like hours. The hallway was too quiet, the fluorescent lights buzzing above them the only sound. No nurses walked

echoed in the hallway, pulling Ruby and Elizabeth from

stained faintly with blood, his eyes

They both stood quickly.

he?" Elizabeth asked,

stable now. The accident caused some trauma, and he’s slipped into a coma. But it’s

mouth. Ruby exhaled deeply, her knees giving way as she sank

be okay?" she

the internal bleeding. It’s just a matter of time before he

a hand to her chest. Relief flooded her, but it didn’t wash away the fear completely. "Thank you,"

"While we were running tests, we looked again at his eyes. The

straightened. "What do you mean?" she asked

surgery. The pressure around the nerves has reduced, and the swelling is gone. We believe there’s a high chance

heart stopped for a second as her brain

"But... but you said it would take

doctor explained. "Everyone heals at different speeds. Mr. Winter’s nerves responded better than we expected. We’ve consulted with a specialist, and we’re recommending the procedure as soon as he wakes

flew to her chest, overwhelmed. "Oh, thank

her tears now flowing freely. "He’ll be able to see

consent once he’s awake, and then we can prepare for

too many emotions

She was happy. How could she not

would finally be able to live without relying on anyone. He would finally look at the