Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 71: Don’t Deserve You

Rayna’s heart beat in rhythm with the windshield wipers as she pulled into the crowded airport drop-off zone. The air outside was crisp and cool, the kind of morning chill that clung to your skin like dew.

She turned off the ignition and scanned the arrivals area, her gaze bouncing over businessmen, families, and solo travelers. Her fingers tapped anxiously on the steering wheel until she spotted her.

Ruby.

She was standing alone, her small suitcase beside her, both hands cradling her flat belly protectively. Her hair was slightly messy from the flight, and her face looked pale and tired, but to Rayna, she was a sight for sore eyes. Relief washed over her like a tidal wave.

Rayna practically leapt from the car and ran toward her.

"Rubes!" she called out.

Ruby turned, and the moment their eyes met, her expression crumbled. She let out a shaky breath and hurried into Rayna’s arms.

Rayna wrapped her up tightly, careful not to press too hard against her since she knew Ruby was very tired. But even though she was being careful, she didn’t hold back either. "You’re here," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You’re really here." free we\bnove(l).com

"I am here," Ruby murmured into her shoulder. "Thank you for letting me come. If not, I would’ve stayed. I really don’t want to be alone."

"You’ll never be alone, Rubes," Rayna promised, pulling back just enough to cup her best friend’s face. "Not as long as I’m breathing. Let’s get you home, yeah?"

as Rayna picked up her suitcase and guided

and buckled, Rayna reached into the bag on the passenger seat and handed Ruby a small juice box

you wouldn’t eat anything on the plane," she said, her concern evident in her

first genuine sound of comfort Rayna had heard from her since after the call. "You know me too

the highway. For a while, the only sounds were the hum of the car and the crinkling

okay?"

leaned her head against the window. "I don’t even know what okay means

Ruby to come—Ruby’s broken voice describing everything: how her mother, Ivy, Elizabeth, and even Stefan had all played a part in manipulating

mother had watched her grieve, watched her suffer, and said nothing. And Stefan—God—he’d married her without even knowing

of them. I

for six months, pretending to be Ivy. I cooked, I cared for him, I protected him—and none of them thought I deserved to be with him? To think my mom was even the one that

in her throat. "They don’t deserve

myself. Maybe if I had just left that day... if I hadn’t listened to Mom... or

You did what you thought was right. You were trying to protect everyone but yourself.

her face away, but not before Rayna saw the

"You’ve got me now. Just me. No lies. No masks. No Ivy. No Elizabeth.

kind that felt full—not awkward or heavy, but safe. Rayna’s little cottage came into view minutes later, nestled among tall trees with a wooden fence and wind chimes dancing by