Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 97: Fate

"I’m telling you, if I see one more building with cracked windows and moldy carpets, I might scream," Rayna muttered, tugging her sunglasses off as they stepped out of yet another disappointing property.

After their discussion the previous day, Rayna had helped Ruby contact a realtor who had been taking them to check out spaces but had been unable to follow them to the last place after they’d rejected three places.

Ruby exhaled loudly, leaning against the side of Rayna’s car. "You’d think with how much rent costs in this town, we’d at least get a space with decent plumbing."

Rayna pulled her keys from her bag, shaking her head. "And they had the nerve to call that last place ’newly renovated.’ What did they renovate—the spiderwebs?"

Ruby snorted, sliding into the passenger seat with a groan. "Let’s just go back. My feet are killing me," she said and Rayna nodded as she turned on the car engine.

They rode in silence for a few minutes, the winding roads of Florittle stretching out before them in warm hues and quiet charm. Despite the unsuccessful search, there was still something soothing about the town—the way it felt untouched by chaos, distant from everything Ruby had run from.

Rayna glanced over at her, the corner of her mouth lifting. "You know... at least that woman kept sending you the money she promised. I mean, even after everything, the money came through for you."

Ruby’s smile faded slowly. She looked out the window, the green fields blurring past. "Yeah. I guess she knew she’d discard me one day," she murmured. "Maybe that’s why she kept sending it. Guilt or... foresight."

Rayna didn’t reply immediately. She kept her eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel. Neither of them wanted to say Elizabeth’s name. It always tasted bitter on their tongues.

"You’re right though," Rayna said softly. "Still... you wouldn’t have been able to start afresh like this if she hadn’t kept her end of the deal. So... silver linings, I guess."

of Stefan or anything that

awkward but reflective—each woman tangled in her own thoughts as they drove toward the little cottage that had become a safe haven

space tomorrow," Rayna said, attempting some optimism. "I can feel it. Something bright, open, clean. Something that actually smells like fresh paint and not decades of

easing slightly. "Thanks

her

that led to Rayna’s cottage, the hedges swaying

her phone buzzed in her bag and she frowned,

she muttered, flashing the screen to

"Who? Don’t tell

relentless! Like, how many missed calls does it take to get the

and just give him a straight answer. That’s what adults do. They come out

sound like a

smirked. "Well, I am

it back into her bag. "He’s just... persistent. He keeps saying he wants to get

thoughtfully. "It’s kind of funny, you know. You might be fated to cross paths with people named Ethan or even marry

fate? Don’t go all spiritual on

lips twitching. "Think about it. It was Ethan—Stefan’s best friend—who helped you get out of that disaster back then. And now, here you are, with another Ethan guy who you obviously

"I think you’re missing something. I never said I

than airport security. If you handed him your digits, you were at least