Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 119: Grace & Grit

The engine purred softly as Elizabeth gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, eyes glued to the road ahead—but her mind wasn’t on the road at all.

It was back in that hospital room.

Back with Ivy’s voice whispering poison into the ears of a helpless woman.

"You’ll never walk into a room and take the attention again..."

Elizabeth’s stomach churned. She’d always known Ivy could be reckless—dramatic, selfish, impulsive—but this... this wasn’t just a woman who’d lost control.

This was something darker. She was more than dangerous and she was glad she hadn’t stayed with Stefan while he was blind otherwise alot would have gone wrong.

"I should’ve gone in there," she whispered, tightening her hold on the wheel. "I should’ve stopped her..."

But what would she have done? Screamed at her in front of hospital staff? Accused her with no evidence? Ivy would’ve twisted it all into a performance. She’d cry, pretend to be misunderstood, and the world would believe her. Besides, doing that could cause a lot to go wrong with their image and company stocks. Stefan wouldn’t want that.

Elizabeth pressed her foot harder on the gas, needing to put distance between herself and that place. Between herself and the thought of Eliana, pale and broken in that hospital bed, listening to her "best friend" threaten her life.

Even though Eliana had tried to seduce Stefan or talked bad at Ivy, it definitely wasn’t enough reason to put her in that condition. Ivy was a vile woman and she needed to do something to keep that woman at bay. But what could she do especially after learning something like that?

She reached for her phone resting on the seat beside her and tapped the call button next to Stefan’s name.

Perhaps, Stefan would have a better idea. He not only needed to know what Ivy was capable of doing, he needed to know abd tell her what to do. After all, Ivy was someone he used to love.

He’d said she should’ve trusted him that day when Ivy left so maybe, she should start trusting him to handle his business now.

She placed the phone on loudspeaker as it rang once, twice until she heard the disconnect tone indicating there had been no answer.

She frowned and tried again, this time picking up the phone while focusing on the road so she could keep driving. Her fingers drummed against the steering wheel as she waited.

But still, it rang till it went to voicemail.

She sighed in frustration, pulling the phone back into her lap.

"Come on, Stefan. Pick up. This isn’t something I can sit on..." she let her voice trail off as she tried again one more time.

This wasn’t just gossip or bad blood between friends. It was criminal. If Ivy had anything to do with Eliana’s condition—and Elizabeth now strongly believed she did with everything she’d heard—then something had to be done. Fast.

She tried calling again. Then again. But still nothing.

Elizabeth chewed her bottom lip, her brows furrowing. "Where are you, Stefan?" she muttered, glancing out the window. "Why aren’t you picking up?"

Was he with Ethan?

Probably. Had they seen Ruby? Though she needed to hear from him about Ivy but she still couldn’t help thinking about Ruby. After all, she was pregnant with her grandchild.

phone to Stefan? Why wasn’t he picking? Perhaps

maybe that was for the best. He was trying to move on, after all. Rebuild a life that Ivy had broken.

this wasn’t just about the

This was about danger.

do? She needed to handle Ivy so that

again. She could go to the police.

would she even

hospital door and I think this woman might’ve tried to cripple

recordings, no security footage, no

She always had a way of flipping the story, making herself the victim, turning

Eliana? She couldn’t even speak

she could, there was no guarantee that she actually

let out a low groan, frustrated. She hated this feeling—this helplessness. She hated that someone like Ivy could walk around free, smiling, sipping overpriced coffee, while Eliana lay trapped in a bed with shattered

the sky as she drove. The city skyline

a thought

quiet at first, like a

then it took root and

slowly, a smile curved

suddenly

and sped up, turning off the main road and

wait for

around for Stefan to call her

And she knew exactly

house, she was already unlocking her phone. Her fingers moved quickly, scrolling through

owner of Grace & Grit Magazine and she was the only

call and raised the phone to her ear, stepping out of the car. Her heels clicked against the stone driveway as she walked toward her front door, the call

a

"Claire, it’s Elizabeth Winters."

paused. "Wow, it’s been a while.

laugh. "Listen, I’ve got something you’re going to want to hear. A

a

Claire said cautiously.

"The very one."

kind of tip

tip, she couldn’t help wondering why Elizabeth would put

"The explosive kind."

"Elizabeth..."

the hospital. Zeden General. You know who’s lying unconscious in Room 208?" Elizabeth didn’t wait for an answer. "Eliana Howells. Yes, that Eliana. Ivy’s best friend. Or should I say... ex-best friend." f\ree

Ex-best friend? What

happened to overhear a very interesting conversation between

"You overheard something... but