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.

blow it,"

paper into his

the number sitting unsent in his messages app, the blinking cursor in the text field taunting

thousand things, but none of them felt right. Not

wanted was honesty. She would respect truth and

more than he cared to admit, Stefan finally began to

[Message to: Rayna]

I need your help. And not because

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 sight.

just saying I acted according to how I was led but I know she’s hurting and it’s all my

a chance to earn her forgiveness. To explain—to let her see that I’m not the same man who was too blind to recognize her heart. I just want her to know though all this started with deception, my heart is with hers and I knew something was wrong the

But I need you to believe that I’m not here to cause more of it. I’m

to you first, I’m more than willing. I’ll answer any question

Please.]

over the send button for what

and all he

phone down gently on the nightstand and leaned back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling

long was he to wait for a response? The time was past eleven already and he doubted she would still

was if she’d respond. He didn’t know if she’d

he had taken the first step. And maybe, just maybe, that

Rayna would say or do when she sees the message until he closed

Rayna woke early, as she often did, with the faint hum of the city creeping in through her

and sat up, reaching instinctively for her

back at her. It from

wondered, a frown etching her brows as she went ahead

doubled up and she didn’t

her contact.... Ethan. Why was he

betraying her the way he did, he couldn’t even look for a way to apologize to her and explain