Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 111: Taste Of Vengeance

Somewhere in Zeden, the walls of the hotel room were a soft shade of cream, the curtains thick enough to keep out the morning sun, but Ivy had left them slightly parted.

A sliver of golden light slipped through and stretched across the bed, catching the edge of the white duvet where she lay.

She sat cross-legged on the plush mattress in a matching silk camisole and shorts set, her long wavy chestnut brown colored hair falling over one shoulder, and the remote balanced in one hand while her other toyed lazily with the hem of the bedsheet.

The television screen displayed a muted news anchor gesturing solemnly beside the breaking news banner at the bottom of the screen. Ivy tapped the volume up slowly, the sound filling the quiet room in soft echoes.

"...Eliana Howells, only daughter of the prestigious Howells family, was involved in a severe car accident late last night. Doctors report significant spinal injuries, and though stable, it is believed she may suffer long-term complications, possibly even permanent paralysis. Authorities have confirmed she was alone in the vehicle..."

Ivy’s lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile.

She let the remote fall beside her and leaned back on her arms, her hazel eyes still fixed on the screen. Her smile widened, her heart lifting with a strange mixture of relief and pride.

"Well, Eliana," she murmured, her voice laced with unrepentant satisfaction, "I did warn you not to mess with me."

There was no fear. No regret. No guilt. Just a deep, pulsing thrill in her chest that Eliana had finally gotten what she deserved.

All those nights Ivy had felt bad and blamed herself over the betrayal, the humiliation, over the cold way Eliana had smirked and played innocent—were now balancing themselves out. The universe, for once, had aligned with her rage. Was it really the universe? She thought with a smirk.

Waiting on the universe to deal with people was a old fashioned way that took way too long and she didn’t have that patience. So she couldn’t have been able to wait.

Let’s see how you strut around now, she thought, brushing invisible lint off her lap. Let’s see how many parties you attend with a wheelchair.

She’d been careful, meticulous. She hadn’t laid a finger on Eliana. She hadn’t needed to. A carefully worded message here, a whispered suggestion there... it hadn’t taken much to convince Eliana that a late-night escape from prying eyes was necessary.

And when Ivy had backed out of the last minute meeting, citing a "change of heart," she’d known Eliana would still go on without her. That reckless confidence had always been her downfall. She thought, thinking back to what had happened the night before.

And now look at you, Ivy thought, letting her head tilt as if she were admiring a painting. Not so perfect anymore.

Thinking about last night, she hadn’t been sure the stupid girl would even want to meet her but then she’d beat her expectations by actually going. She laughed, unable to believe her stupidity.

phone began to

over lazily and picked it up, her smile already fading as she saw the name glowing on the

into place as she

"Hello, Mother."

pause before Regina’s voice came through, laced with

fingers, then crossed one leg over the other. "Of course I did," she said brightly.

a moment. The air

sound almost happy about it," she finally said.

shrugged, even though her mother

Regina said not understanding what was going on and why Ivy could be

into a joke in front of Stefan, pulling

could hear her shifting on the other end of the line. Though she’d given Ivy a contact—someone to contact to help do

again," she said, trying to make Ivy see

Ivy’s tone was calm, as if they

didn’t... you didn’t do anything,

mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, calm and controlled. "Of course not. Do you think I’m stupid

why say something like that? You sound

reflection. Her eyes were sharper than usual.

myself to you, Mother. Eliana was a

again. She could tell Ivy didn’t want to outrightly tell her she’d ordered it and she could understand why. She wouldn’t mind doing all the work

turn out, more heartless than her. Regina thought as her mind flashed to what had happened thirty years ago, just before

sound was Ivy opening her drawer and pulling out a

bed and walked back to

did you call for? I assume it wasn’t to

back to the call. "I called because Elizabeth Winters came to the house again," Regina

even blink. "Searched the house looking for me? Did

"Of course not. You’re not here. But she’s out of her mind. She’s threatening to bring the media into this if you don’t

and stared at the clear

tone now cautious. "Ivy... how long are you planning

long as I need to," Ivy replied