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.

over the waiter, placing both their orders. Then silence again. Neither of them knew what to say or

drinks arrived quicker than expected, clinking softly as the waiter

could take a sip,

"I’m—"

"Why?"

then while Rayna took

"Go ahead," he said.

to know me? About finding me interesting? Or was all that just a way to find out where I lived so you

and tell herself that there was no way he would’ve known Ruby was in Florittle the

"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

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, I was still

you immediately knew who I was to Ruby. So why didn’t you tell me first before you brought Stefan to my house? Just the next day after I showed you where I

first, I thought 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 I was doing

carefully, her

making excuses," Ethan added quickly. "I’m taking responsibility for

looked at him for a long while, her fingers curling lightly around her drink as she took a sip and dropped

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

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

I wanted you to understand everything first. I didn’t want to come to you and make it sound like an excuse. I wanted the truth to come out from someone other than me. Maybe from Stefan while trying to get Ruby back or maybe through