Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 141: Ready To Start Afresh

She looked at him then, really looked at him—his expression raw, vulnerable. It wasn’t the Stefan Winters she’d grown used to, the one who always had control of everything. No. This was different. He seemed scared and it was visible.

"You thought what?" she asked softly, even though she already knew.

"I was nearby, you know?" Stefan began, his voice tight. "I was following from a distance, content with just catching a glimpse of you. When I saw that the car stopped, I’d wanted to come help but I didn’t know if you’d want that. But then I saw it—that car speeding straight at you. Ruby..." He looked down, his voice catching. "I thought I was going to lose you. I didn’t even think. I just ran from my car. I didn’t even have a second thought. All I could think at that moment was your safety."

Ruby blinked, her throat tightening. She remembered it now—those arms, that warmth, the pressure of the fall. He had saved her. He’d been there right in time. What if he hadn’t been there?

"I guess I owe you my life now," she whispered. Her hand moved instinctively to her belly. "Our baby’s life too. We both owe you our life now."

Stefan shook his head. "What, no. Don’t say that. You don’t owe me anything." .com

"But it’s true," she said. "If you hadn’t been there—"

"I was there," he interrupted gently. "And I’ll try to always be there. That is if you’d let me."

After he said that word, silence stretched between them for a few seconds, filled only by the hum of the machines. Then Stefan took a deep breath and said, "Ruby, I need you to know something."

She turned toward him slightly, listening.

"I’m sorry," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "For everything. For pushing you away without knowing it was you all this while. I’m sorry for not seeing what was in front of me. For making you feel like you had to hide. I failed you and I failed our baby."

Ruby blinked quickly, her throat tightening again.

"I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness," Stefan continued, "but I’m asking for it anyway. Not just for me, but for us. I want you to come back to me. I want to start over. Properly. No more secrets, no more pretending. I want to start over, with you as my wife. Please, my love."

Ruby looked down at her lap, her fingers twisting in the sheets.

was angry at you," she said quietly. "Really angry. And hurt. Hurt that you couldn’t even give

his tone full of

known it was me but I didn’t like I was the one at the recieving end. I was also wrong. Wrong for not telling you who I

reached out and cupped her face gently, lifting

he said. "What matters is that you’re here. You’re safe. And our baby

gave a tiny

smile she’d seen on him in a

"I make it right. I want us to be together. Not just in name. Not just in memory. I want you to be my wife—for real. On paper and in

her enough to really divorce Ivy for her. He did leave

to think twice about whether or not he meant any of what

want you to be by my side through everything," he continued. "Not because of obligation. But because we love each other. Because you’ve showed

laugh, wiping a stray tear that had fallen down

"I’ve had

her bottom lip, then

"Okay," she said.

He blinked. "Okay?"

this marriage a real trial. A true one. Not built on lies or

eyes shining

it,"

He couldn’t explain the joy that was surging through him knowing

that moment, the door opened slowly and both Rayna

awake, Stefan

with tears immediately. "Oh, thank God," she said, rushing to Ruby’s side. "You’re

and nodded. "Yeah... I am

placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. "Glad she’s awake. You looked like you were going to break