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,"

nod, folded the paper into his palm, and returned to

blinking cursor in

none of them felt right. Not for someone like Rayna. She wouldn’t be moved

she wanted was honesty. She would respect truth and

a breath that shook more than he

[Message to: Rayna]

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 anything—you don’t. But because you love Ruby. And

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

done better if I had known 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

her to know though all this started with deception, my heart is with hers and

seen the pain I caused. I understand why you don’t trust me. But I need you to believe that I’m not here to cause more of it. I’m here to make things right,

that means talking to you first, I’m more than willing.

Please.]

again. His thumb hovered over the send button for what felt like a full minute before, finally,

whooshed into the ether, and all he could do now

back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling as a dull ache settled in his

a response? The time was past eleven already and he doubted she

know was if she’d

the first step. And maybe, just maybe, that counted for

didn’t know how long he stayed there thinking about what Rayna would say or do when she sees the message until he closed his eyes and fell into the

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

her eyes, and sat up, reaching instinctively for

back at her. It from

could it be? She wondered, a frown etching her brows

she didn’t know know what to do. Whether to

and how had he gotten her contact.... Ethan. Why was he bent on

he couldn’t even look for a way to apologize to her and explain things, instead