Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 85: Nothing More

Before she could finish, the line went dead. Ivy had hung up unable to hear Elizabeth carry on about Ruby.

Elizabeth stared at the phone, disbelief quickly morphing into fury. "Unbelievable," she hissed under her breath, slamming the phone down on the table.

So that’s how it’s going to be?

She stood still for a moment, heart racing, eyes narrowed. Regina. She’d be next.

Elizabeth squared her shoulders and reached for her coat. She wasn’t going to wait for the truth to find her anymore. She was going to hunt it down, dig it out, and bring her son back the one thing he truly loved.

Ruby Quinn—and the child she carried.

No more lies. No more games and if Regina or Ivy tried to get in her way again, this time, they’d feel the full weight of a Winters mother’s wrath.

Elizabeth didn’t wait for a driver. She got into her car, hands gripping the wheel with a tension that mirrored her soul. The engine roared to life, but it didn’t drown the noise in her head.

Ruby, the girl she’d betrayed was pregnant. Her son was heartbroken. And somewhere in between, two women who should’ve protected Ruby had driven her away instead. She could understand why she’d easily been able to betray her but them? It was hard to tell why.

The cold morning wind whipped through the cracked window as she sped across Zeden’s streets. For the first time in what seemed like ages, Elizabeth Winters wasn’t operating behind polite smiles or veiled intentions. She was a woman on a mission, and that mission had a name—Ruby Quinn. To find her, and restore her relationship with her son.

She arrived at Regina Quinn’s home fifteen minutes later, barely giving the house a glance before she was striding up the front steps. Her coat flared around her like a cloak of war. Without hesitation, she rang the bell and waited, jaw clenched tight.

The door opened after a moment, and Regina appeared, wrapped in a silk robe, eyes puffy from sleep—or guilt or maybe both.

"Elizabeth?" Regina blinked. "It’s barely nine. What on earth—"

"I need to speak with you," Elizabeth said flatly, pushing past her into the house without waiting for an invitation.

What’s going on?" she asked even though she knew this had to do

face her. "Where

Stefan finding out the truth but why

"She’s pregnant. Carrying my son’s child. And she’s missing.

expression faltered. She even knows Ruby is pregnant. Is that why she’s looking for her? To do what? "Pregnant? Ruby’s...? No, that can’t be. She never told me

of deception. But all she found was

know?" Elizabeth asked,

firmly, shaking her head

don’t? Just quit the pretense

mentioned it. We haven’t spoken since... since that day. I have no idea where she is

chose your runaway daughter over the one who stayed? Over the one

flashed with anger at that. "Don’t you dare lecture me about sacrifice. You created this whole mess, Elizabeth. If anyone’s to

turn this around. I did what I did because

image. Stefan’s

it out of love!" Elizabeth snapped. "At least I believed I was saving my son from heartbreak. What about you? What was your excuse when you discarded Ruby like she was nothing? She put her entire life

opened

like a blade as she continued. "She walked into that marriage to protect your reputation. Your business. Your pride. And you threw her out

you do? Remind me please," Regina retorted and Elizabeth shook her

don’t hate myself for it every single day? I regret it because I saw how much she loved Stefan. I saw it. Every single day. She loved him even when he was broken. Even when he didn’t know who he was loving. And you—you made her believe she wasn’t worthy of it. And I just had to stupidly follow you both thinking it was for my son. I never should have followed you both in your stupid plan but I was scared," Elizabeth said weakly, tears gathering in her eyes. "I was scared of what people would say if they found out or if Stefan found out. I was scared of what would happen if Stefan’s wedding collapsed in public. I didn’t think Ruby would... would stay and fall in love. I didn’t think she’d matter. And that day, if I had known my son loved her and not because he thought she was Ivy, I would never have obliged to you throwing

didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know about the

out anyway," Elizabeth said with a bitter laugh. "You pushed her out and told yourself it was for the best. You never once

off away from this madness," Regina whispered, wrapping her arms around herself like she was trying to hold her shame together but she knew

Elizabeth said, her voice cracking. "And she’s scared. And if anything happens to her, to that baby, I swear to you—there won’t be a day you don’t wish you could

the couch, stunned

a moment, watching her. Then she took a deep breath, the storm inside her still raging but