Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 81: She’s Gone Now

Stefan stood in the vast drawing room of the Winters Estate, his mind racing as he waited for Ivy to come back.

His fists were clenched at his sides, a thick manila envelope grasped tightly in his hand. The moment he’d dreaded—and needed—had finally arrived.

While waiting for Ivy, he’d taken the liberty to go through love notes that Ruby had given him when he had started taking braille class.

Though he’d gotten glimpse of the whole thing happening, it had only just become clearer seeing a different handwritten from what he remembered Ivy’s own to look like. fre\e(w)ebn ov.e l\. co.m

He’d gone as far as checking their wedding certificate and his breath had left him when he realized Ruby had indeed been the one with him that day.

Though he’d wanted nothing but to go find her however he could, he decided to wait for Ivy. He needed to hear whatever stupid reason she had.

To think he’d continued to love her despite all her flaws, telling himself she loved him and that was all that mattered. How could she? Those are the thoughts that had been running through his mind as he waited for the past six hours for her to come.

It was irritating to think she still went ahead with her stupid spa session even after he sounded so urgent still, he waited. These difference had been there all along. He’d just been too stupid to think she’d changed for the better. Who changed overnight? He thought, feeling stupid.

Footsteps approached lightly from behind, echoing down the hallway. Ivy strolled in, dressed immaculately as always. Her face bore a carefully painted smile that faltered the second she met Stefan’s unreadable expression.

Stefan shook his head when he first heard Ivy’s heels footsteps. Relaxed, almost slow steps like he hadn’t called her to come home for over six hours now. Maybe she thought it was something romantic. A surprise. A gift. That was all she ever received from him while she disappeared just when he needed her the most.

How ironic.

"Stefan?" her voice rang out, high and unsure. "I’m here! What did you want to talk abou?"

He didn’t answer.

She opened her mouth to ask why he wasn’t saying anything but then narrowed her eyes when she saw the way he was looking at her.

The stillness in his body. The coldness in his gaze. The tension in his jaw. fre/ew.ebnovel.c om

Something in her paused.

"Are you... okay?" she asked slowly, eyebrows drawing together.

"I’m fine," Stefan replied, tone clipped. "Have a seat," he said finally as he himself went to take his seat.

confused. "Here?

"Yes. Now."

and sat across from him, perching on the edge of

on," she said carefully. "You called me home like it was urgent. Is

hours to come home," he said and

now," she said with a nervous smile. The way he looked and

looked at her for a long

said, "Tell me where Ruby

she heard the words. Her lips parted, but no

a

Ivy. Where

you’re

was like ice.

you’re not making sense. I’m right here. Why are you asking about Ruby?

I married," he snapped. "Because the woman I married and fell for,

up.

take your place. Or didn’t you? Are you going to tell me she probably

froze, caught like a deer in headlights. She didn’t know what to say or how to respond to that. How did he know? Who must’ve told him? Did Ruby reach out to him? So he had

take your place on our

shouted suddenly, the mask cracking.

for your sister to marry me and pretend to be you and you dare stand there to tell me

the one that asked Ruby to take my place because I was no

only just let Ivy come back and take Ruby’s place, he hadn’t realized she had been the one that instigated the who switch. How could she have let Ivy return to

things. He needed to talk to

leave, Ivy? Did I not love you enough or were you lacking in anyway?" he asked and Ivy

"You won’t understand, Stefan."

"Try me."

okay. I wasn’t ready—I panicked, okay? The accident happened, and then Mom and your mother... they we should get married immediately, that you’d need me. I tried to love you and think nothing changed but I couldn’t so I decided to

said and did nothing. You waited until I had my sight back before you’d come back. You hurt Ruby! You made me hurt her! How could

snapped. "She wasn’t supposed

in the way. She was the way. She was everything. And you— You let me believe a lie while

I’m the one here now. I’m the one married to you. My name is