Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 139: Couldn’t Finish

The quiet in the Quinn household that afternoon in Zeden wasn’t comforting. It was loud in the wrong way—loud with tension, loud with thoughts, loud with unspoken plans and tightly-wrapped secrets.

Regina paced her bedroom in growing impatience. Her heels clicked across the polished wooden floor as she moved back and forth, arms folded tightly across her chest. The curtains were drawn, but she could still hear the faint noise of the city outside—car horns, people laughing, children playing. All of it grated on her nerves.

She stopped at the edge of her window, her fingers twitching against the cool fabric. Her phone sat on her nightstand like a time bomb. She kept glancing at it, willing it to ring. Any moment now, she thought. Any moment.

She’d been able to quench the fire on the internet about their family by making sure Ivy signed the papers and though she was supposed to be feeling a little bit relieved and happy but those emotions were far from her right now as all she could think of was the important call she was waiting for.

Where was the call?

"It shouldn’t take this long," she muttered to herself, eyes narrowing. "He said he’d do it quickly. Clean and without traces so what was taking so long."

She smirked to herself. Regina Quinn had always been several steps ahead. She always knew where to look, how to dig, who to pay, and how much silence cost. Finding Ruby hadn’t been hard—not once she knew where to start.

"Just a few calls here, a few taps there," she whispered, admiring her own handiwork in her mind. "Florittle wasn’t too big to cover. And once I had that foolish Stefan followed and watched, everything thing else fell in place."

She let out a breathy laugh, more pride than amusement. "Honestly, I’m just too good."

After the airport had refused giving them the cctv footage from the day Ruby arrived there, she’d thought since Stefan had gone there to find Ruby too, that it was only right they followed him so that he’d do the digging himself and just lead them to her.

She turned to the mirror, smoothing the front of her blouse. In her mind, everything was already done. Ruby was gone, Stefan would have no choice but to return to Ivy, and her daughter’s disgrace would be erased.

But her phone still hadn’t rung from the call that’d confirm it all.

She picked it up, unlocked it, and checked for messages.

But there was nothing.

She tossed the phone on the bed and resumed pacing.

Her eyes flicked toward the door just as it swung open.

"Mom!" Ivy burst into the room, her eyes wide with urgency.

Regina spun around sharply. "Ivy! How many times have I told you not to burst in here like that like it’s your room?" .com

Ivy ignored the scolding, her brows drawn tightly in frustration. "I couldn’t help it. I’m anxious. I can’t just sit around and wait."

"You’re not the only one waiting," Regina snapped, striding over to her. "I’m waiting too. Still no call."

hands curled into fists. "You said it would be fast. You said once Ruby was out of the

your head now. These things take time. Besides, we

her eyes. "Not

person on Elizabeth’s side? Has anything happened?" Regina asked, deciding

brow. "Still nothing. That woman has gone quiet the past few days. Lying low. She might suspect something. Do you think she knows I’m

pacing now too. The room suddenly felt tight, like their worries were pushing at the wall. She

immediately, both women

for the phone, heart pounding. She looked at the screen. It was the number

immediately. "Is

man’s voice on the other end was low and clipped. "Couldn’t

stiffened. "What

"Someone saved her."

narrowed her eyes.

out of nowhere. Pulled her away just

spat the name like venom. "Why would he even be there? They aren’t even on speaking terms, right? Didn’t you say Rayna chased him

know. He showed up

her breath. "Useless. Absolutely

me," the man

dryly. "Careful with cleaning, never good with completing,"

call with a sharp swipe, throwing the phone on

happened? Why are you angry and why did you mention Stefan’s name? Does he know

mad because we can’t do anything now. Stefan is by her side. He saved her. That means he won’t leave her

"Why would he save

don’t know," Regina muttered. "But it

how?" Ivy asked, stepping

steely. "We wait.

frowned. "Bring her back? Why would we let him do that? Isn’t letting them reunite the

the smartest. Let them come back here. Let them think they’re safe. Let them think everything’s fine. Here, we still hold the cards.

looked unsure. "And

darkly. "Then, we break them.

room thickened again, heavy with plans, with secrets, with the sharp edge of something dangerous

arms folded. She was disappointed, yes. But not

way or another, she was going to make sure Ruby Winters

that Stefan returned to Ivy,

Florittle General Hospital felt like a place where time had stopped. The fluorescent lights above buzzed softly, casting pale