Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 102: Dinner Date

Ethan stared at the phone like it had just grown wings. He blinked once, then twice, before slowly reaching out and taking it from Stefan’s outstretched hand. His breath caught as he leaned in, squinting at the screen. His chest tightened the moment he saw the face staring back at him.

"That’s her," he said softly, like the words might disappear if he said them too loud. "That’s MY Rayna."

A long silence settled between them. Though he’d thought Stefan was just being paranoid over hearing the name and thinking too much, now, he didn’t think so anymore.

What he’s more interested in knowing is how his Rayna could be Ruby’s best friend. Could it be that it was Ruby she was going to pick up that morning he saw her? Making the calculations, it seemed to fit. If someone where to leave Zeden to Florittle that evening when Stefan got his sight back, then the person would be arriving in Florittle in the morning.

Did all this mean if he could get to Rayna, they would get Ruby? Was this it? Not just getting someone he loves but also a gateway to getting Stefan his missing piece.

Stefan stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. He began pacing the room, each step stiff with a tension that hadn’t been there moments before. His brows furrowed deeply, as though trying to piece together a jigsaw puzzle that had just revealed a new, unexpected picture.

This was it. This was the universe working for him and bringing him and Ruby back together. Coming to Florittle had perhaps been the answer. If he’d known, he would’ve showed up since he realized the truth.

Ethan, still staring at Rayna’s profile photo, felt a slow rush of emotion flood his chest—surprise, confusion, and something that felt a little too much like hope.

"This can’t just be a coincidence," he managed to murmur to himself. "She said that morning... that maybe we should leave everything to fate. That if it’s meant to be, we’ll meet again."

He swallowed hard, the memory of her voice playing like a soft echo in his mind. "Let fate decide," she’d said, standing by the door with messy hair and brown eyes that sparkled with mischief and uncertainty. "If it’s meant to be, we’ll cross paths again."

He looked up at Stefan, who was still pacing like a caged lion, thinking and calculating.

"But we didn’t just cross paths again," Ethan continued, more to himself now. "We’re about to crash into each other."

Stefan paused mid-step and turned slowly to face him. "You sure it’s her?" he asked, not having heard a word Ethan had been murmuring.

"I told you, that’s her. Same voice, same eyes, same everything." Ethan’s voice was firm now, confident. "That’s the Rayna I’ve been trying to reach. The one I had a night stand with in Zeden."

Stefan rubbed the back of his neck, then let out a heavy breath. "Then it means Ruby wasn’t lying when she said her best friend’s name was Rayna. And if that’s true... it means your Rayna and Ruby’s Rayna are the same person. And since Ruby’s in Florittle, it only means she’s with Rayna. Find Rayna and we see Ruby."

Ethan scratched his chin, staring down at the photo again. "It’s a weird world, huh?"

"Weirder than you think." Stefan sat down again, the tension still clinging to his shoulders. "Do you know where she lives?"

ask. She won’t pick or text me

call her again. I think we should try reaching her again. This is no longer about just the

what you said. But I’ve called and texted her over ten times. She doesn’t want to talk to me. I think

was busy. Or maybe she didn’t know how to

the phone like

"Hope for the best. If she doesn’t pick, I’ll try not to bother you with calling her

let out a long, weary breath. His fingers hovered over the call button, nerves building with every

he tapped the screen and the line started ringing. The line rang once... twice... three times and just before they thought she wouldn’t take the call, she

Her voice. Soft,

in surprise. His breath caught when he heard her voice across the phone

hell, Ethan?" Stefan shouted, sitting up straight. "Why did you

okay?!" Ethan snapped, dropping the phone on the table like it had betrayed him. "I didn’t know what to

six months and you didn’t know

expect her to actually pick up!" Ethan groaned, running both hands down his face. "Now

in disbelief. "You’re unbelievable. She finally picks up and you go all coward

I even say now?" he asked and Stefan looked at him, resisting the urge to laugh at

you’re disturbing her—since she’s been ignoring your calls. If she says no, ask her

for war. He glanced

he muttered, hitting the dial button

rang... and rang... and with each ring, Ethan’s heart thudded against his chest. His thumb itched toward the red button again, but he

came her voice again,

I just needed to be

in her voice now. "If I wasn’t ready to talk,

how come I called

turned

were counting,"

"You kind of make it easy

need anyone to

sorry, Ethan. I didn’t mean to ignore you. I’ve

care of your pregnant friend,

time. "I can’t believe I told you