Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 135: A Start

Rayna arrived at the quiet rooftop bar ten minutes past the agreed time, her heart beating just a little faster than usual. The sun was already low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the city.

Her eyes scanned the small crowd, and then she saw him—Ethan, sitting by the glass railing, staring out into the skyline with his hands folded on the table.

He looked like he hadn’t moved in a while and she couldn’t help but wonder how long he’d been sitting there, waiting. Perhaps, he’d arrived earlier than the agreed time.

She approached slowly, careful not to let her thoughts overwhelm her. But that was hard, considering the wave of emotions still rolling inside her chest.

When she reached the table, Ethan looked up immediately. There was a flicker of relief in his eyes, and he stood halfway before sitting back down.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hey," she replied, pulling out the chair across from him and sitting down.

A brief silence settled between them, heavy and awkward.

"What would you like to drink?" Ethan asked after a beat, trying to break the tension.

She glanced at the menu briefly. "I’ll just take a mojito," she said.

waved over the waiter, placing both their orders. Then silence again. Neither

drinks arrived quicker than expected, clinking softly as the waiter set them

reached for their glasses, but before either could take

"I’m—"

"Why?"

while Rayna took a sip, Ethan set his glass down

"Go ahead," he said.

that? Did you ever mean anything you said about wanting to know me? About finding me interesting? Or was all that just a way to find out where

herself that there was no way he would’ve known Ruby was in Florittle the day she gave him

her question, but he didn’t look away. "Rayna, I never lied about liking you. I meant every word. If anything, I’ve liked you since that day six months ago—the night we met. I’m sure you know that. At least, that should tell you I liked you even before all this craziness that followed

into you at the grocery shop a week ago but then it turns out you were Stefan’s lover’s friend. I didn’t know until Stefan showed me your profile from that time I helped you sort out the lawsuit. Even then,

Just the

I’d tell you. Honestly, I wanted to. I even planned to ask you to help Stefan set up a meeting. But he was desperate. He’d left everything—his company, his life in Zeden—to come find Ruby after finding out she got on a plane to Florittle. Do you think he would have waited for me to pave the way? He couldn’t. He was too anxious. And I just... I just tried to help. I thought

listened carefully,

added quickly. "I’m taking responsibility for

curling lightly around her

the same. She would’ve wanted to help Ruby if she were in Ethan’s shoes. Still, the

take you this long to apologize?" she asked quietly. "Why

to understand everything first. I didn’t want to come to you and make it sound like an excuse. I wanted the truth to