Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 126: Piece By Piece

The warm sunlight streaming in through the large windows of Elizabeth’s study cast golden streaks on the polished hardwood floor. But the woman seated in the high-back velvet chair was far more interested in the flickering images playing across her laptop screen than the beauty of the mid morning light.

A quiet smile curved Elizabeth’s lips, slow and satisfied, as she leaned forward, her fingers steepled beneath her chin. Her sharp eyes watched every second of the footage playing before her—the grainy black-and-white CCTV recording from the hallway outside Eliana Howells’s hospital room.

It wasn’t high-definition, but it was enough. Enough to know she’d been the one who’d been outside Eliana’s room, listening to Ivy speaking her nonsense.

Elizabeth leaned back with a slow breath, her body relaxing for the first time since that morning. It’s done, she thought. And it was worth every second of planning.

Her two guards—men she had trusted for years—had left at dawn. She didn’t ask them what lies they told or how they got past hospital staff to retrieve the footage. It wasn’t her concern. She had just told them to go to the hospital and get the footage without thinking if using violence. free\we,bnovel.c o(m)

And just like every other time, they had delivered.

Regina Quinn, for all her reputation and ruthless polish, had arrived at the hospital too late. She wouldn’t find the footage, no matter how much she shouted or demanded. And she’d never guess that Elizabeth was the one who had taken it.

The corners of Elizabeth’s lips lifted again. There was something deeply satisfying about beating Regina at her own game. She was very sure by now, Regina was stumbling, confused, and probably furious.

Elizabeth didn’t need to see her face to imagine it—eyes wide, mouth trembling with restrained rage. The look of a woman who realized, maybe for the first time, that she wasn’t untouchable especially with her daughter’s dignity being questioned and their reputation in the mug.

Stefan had pulled the last straw she had not expected from him especially after he was reprimanding her for risking her life.

A buzzing sound pulled her attention back. Her phone lit up on the desk beside her. She checked and saw it was Claire’s name flashing on the screen.

Elizabeth picked it up with ease, brushing her thumb across the screen. "Claire," she said warmly, placing her laptop aside. "I was expecting your call."

"Elizabeth!" Claire’s voice rang with a breathless excitement, the kind that made Elizabeth sit up straighter. "You weren’t joking, were you? That tip you gave me... my inbox is blowing up. I haven’t seen this much traction on a single article in months! To think different blogs are carrying it and even making a mess of everything, just as long as they’re attracting traffic."

Elizabeth let out a soft, amused chuckle. "I told you it would make waves. Ivy didn’t just put her foot in her mouth—she jumped headfirst into a fire she couldn’t control."

The readers are livid. Public opinion is turning, Elizabeth. People who used to adore the

voice. "She deserves every word. She tried to ruin my son, Claire. Tried to humiliate him. If she had succeeded, Stefan would have been the one drowning

Claire’s voice lowered. "That’s actually why I called. There’s... a small

of problem? What do you mean?"

this morning. Stormed into mu house like she owned the place. She

slightly. "What kind of

"She asked if I had a source. She didn’t say it outright, but I could feel the threat underneath

for a

did you tell her?" she

told her my sources are confidential. But that’s why I’m

You did the right thing.

"Turn it around how?" she asked,

if you have to. Frame it as Regina Quinn using her influence to bully the press. Trust me—people will eat that up. She’ll be too

was quiet for a few beats, processing the advice. Then she laughed softly. "You’re really good

time to learn. People like Regina... they

a headline—you’ve given

said, her voice

they hung

still. She turned slowly back toward the laptop

lips as she thought about what and how Regina could be

furious. She

have any. Pacing, snapping, losing control with every second that passed. And the best part?

had always known how to play the long game. Unlike Regina, who attacked head-on like a lioness, Elizabeth preferred the quiet poison. The slow burn. She

scrambling in the dark, trying to put out

a glass of water. Her reflection in the mirror above the console table looked composed, calm, elegant. But