Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 133: Shouldn’t Have

Stefan stepped out of the café long after Rayna had left, the early afternoon breeze rustling through his shirt as he walked towards his parked car.

His footsteps were heavy, not from fatigue, but from the emotional weight of what had just happened. Rayna hadn’t yelled. She hadn’t stormed off. She had listened. And that was more than he’d dared hope for.

He slipped behind the wheel, took one long, calming breath, and reached for his phone.

There was one more person he needed to see before returning home.

Fifteen minutes later, Stefan walked into the large office building where Ethan worked. The receptionist, already familiar with him, simply gave a polite nod and pointed toward Ethan’s floor even though Stefan knew his way around. This wasn’t his first time in Florittle or Ethan’s company after all.

Ethan was leaning back in his chair when Stefan knocked once and stepped in. He straightened quickly, his hand pausing above the keyboard.

"Stefan," Ethan said, brows raising, "that was fast. How did it go?"

Stefan shrugged, giving a tired smile. "I’m hoping for the best. She didn’t bite my head off, which is already a miracle, but she didn’t exactly look like she was ready to be friends either."

Ethan nodded thoughtfully, leaning forward. "That’s still something. You said what you needed to say?"

"Yeah," Stefan replied, exhaling as he sank into the chair across from him. "I tried to be honest. No games. No twisting words. I just laid it all out. Now, I guess I wait."

"She’ll come around," Ethan said, though his voice held a tinge of doubt. "So.... how is she?" he asked hesitantly.

Stefan turned his head slightly, feigning confusion. "Who? Ruby? I didn’t get to see her. Thought you’d know that already."

Ethan shook his head. "No. Not Ruby. I meant her.... Rayna."

great either. You should call her. I think she’ll give you listening ears

leaned back. "Why would she...

without hesitation. "She was the one

"Man,

right that I try to clean it up too. I dragged you into this, Ethan. You were only trying

into a straight line. Then he

to make things right—for her, for Ruby, for the baby, and for you too. For everyone I’ve

a beat, the

should head home. I only came to

too.

a brief clasp on the shoulder, Stefan

door closed, Ethan sat back down, his mind not on work anymore. But was now on

realized he brought Stefan into her home—it haunted him. The disappointment. The betrayal. The hurt. She had looked at him like he was just another person who had

on the desk, running his hands over his

want to talk to me now?" he muttered to himself. What did Stefan tell her? What did she think

had truly thought Ruby deserved to know the truth, and that Stefan should have a chance to make things right. But in doing so, he had trampled over Rayna’s trust and it was his

he could overthink it, he grabbed his phone and found her contact. He tapped the call button, pressing the phone to his ear

for now but the other part wouldn’t let him. He’d let this carry on for too

frowned when there was no answer. Sighing heavily, he dropped the phone on the desk, disappointment etched on his

later, the screen lit up with an incoming call from

"Hello?"

Rayna’s voice came

said, and for a moment, they