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.

and have him pass the phone to Stefan? Why wasn’t he

Rebuild a life that Ivy had

this wasn’t just

This was about danger.

and fake friendships. What should she do? She needed to handle Ivy so that Stefan and Ruby would

wheel as her thoughts spiraled again. She could go to the police. That was the right

what would she

door and I think this woman might’ve tried

her far. There were no recordings, no security

it all. Of course she would. She always had a way of flipping the story, making

She couldn’t even speak for

could, there was no

like Ivy could walk around free, smiling, sipping overpriced coffee, while Eliana lay trapped in a bed with shattered bones and a

eyes flicked up to the sky as she drove. The city skyline peeked in the

then... a

first, like a whisper. A

and before she knew it, it

slowly, a smile curved across

heart suddenly racing faster. "Oh, that’s

up, turning off the main road and heading straight

wait for

didn’t need to sit around for

needed people and their attention. And she knew

she was already unlocking her phone. Her fingers moved quickly, scrolling through her contacts until she found the name she

of Grace & Grit Magazine and she was the only person that

clicked against the stone driveway as she walked toward her front door,

came a familiar,

"Claire, it’s Elizabeth Winters."

Claire paused. "Wow, it’s been a while. Is

everything’s just fabulous," Elizabeth said with a dry laugh. "Listen, I’ve got something you’re going to want

a beat

Winters?" Claire said cautiously. "Your...

"The very one."

what kind of tip

was definitely in need of this tip, she couldn’t help wondering why Elizabeth would put her daughter in-law on the spotlight

"The explosive kind."

"Elizabeth..."

208?" Elizabeth didn’t wait for an answer. "Eliana Howells. Yes, that Eliana. Ivy’s best friend. Or should I say...

Ex-best friend? What

to overhear a very interesting conversation

but you don’t have any