Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 130: Don’t Be Late

Later that night, long after Ethan had gone to bed and the rest of the house had fallen into a deep, peaceful silence, Stefan sat alone in his room, the glow of his phone screen illuminating the faint lines of stress etched into his face.

He sat on the edge of the bed, one hand gripping the edge of the mattress, the other holding the phone tightly as if it were a lifeline.

After listening to Ethan’s advice, he knew that was what he should do but how was he going to go about it?

Exhaling deeply, he stood up and started pacing the entire length of his room.

He paced the room, restless, hands jammed into his pockets. His mind kept replaying the scene at Rayna’s house—the door slamming, her cold stare, the way she’d protected Ruby like a lioness guarding her own.

Would she even listen to him if he showed up at her house again saying it was her he wanted to see? He highly doubted that.

He ran a hand through his hair and stopped in front of the bed. Then, without overthinking, he picked up his phone from the bed, walked to the door, and stepped into the hallway.

Ethan was still awake, seated at the kitchen counter with a glass of water and his laptop open.

He had retired to bed but had been unable to sleep since the thought of Rayna and how hurt she had looked that day just kept tormenting him so he had decided to just get some work done instead.

He looked up as Stefan approached. "I thought you’d gone to bed," Stefan said as he stopped in front of Ethan and he nodded.

"Yeah. Just remembered I had to get so e work done," Ethan said and Stefan nodded.

Stefan took a deep breath. "Can I get her number?" Stefan asked quietly.

Perhaps, speaking to her on the phone first was the only way he could actually get her to listen to him.

Ethan blinked, then closed the laptop. "Rayna’s?" He asked, and Stefan nodded.

Ethan studied him for a moment, then stood and walked over to a drawer near the fridge. He scribbled something on a notepad, tore it off, and handed it to him.

it," Ethan said

tight nod, folded the paper into his

in his messages app, the blinking cursor in the text field taunting him with everything he still hadn’t

could have typed a thousand things, but none of them felt right. Not for someone like Rayna. She wouldn’t be moved by emotional rambling or

what she wanted was honesty. She would respect truth and Ruby deserved nothing

that shook more than he cared

[Message to: Rayna]

Please don’t block me yet—I know I’m probably the last person you want to hear from tonight, but I’m reaching out because I need your help. And not because I think you owe me

Yes, I had first thought she was someone else hence I tried to blackmail her into saying it but then, she didn’t so I just believed she was Ivy and I was over worrying myself. I was blind so I couldn’t see it. I didn’t see what was right in front of me even after I regained my

before hand or anything at all. I’m not saying this to justify my actions, I’m just saying I acted according to how I was led but I know she’s hurting and it’s all my fault. I know she’s trying to move on. I’m not asking you to convince her

know though all this started with deception, my heart is with hers and I knew something was wrong the moment I returned home with Ivy. I love her

I’m not here to cause more of it. I’m here to make things right, to stand by her and

talking to you first, I’m more than willing. I’ll answer any question you want. I’ll prove it however I can. Just don’t shut me

Please.]

read it twice. Then again. His thumb hovered over the send button for what felt like a full minute before, finally, with a

and all he could do now was

the pillows, staring up at the ceiling as a

time was past eleven already and he doubted she would still be awake by

she’d respond. He didn’t know if she’d even read it at all

taken the first step. And maybe, just maybe,

or do when she sees the message

woke early, as she often did, with the faint hum of the city

eyes, and sat up, reaching instinctively for her phone on

notification blinked back at her. It

etching her brows as she went ahead and opened

text from Stefan, her heart beat doubled up and she didn’t know know

her and how had he gotten her

even look for a way to apologize to her and explain things, instead he just went ahead to destroy everything,