Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 143: Courting Rayna

The soft hum of the engine and the occasional whoosh of the breeze as they sped down the Florittle countryside road were the only sounds that filled the space.

The early morning sun cast long golden rays over the fields, and a flock of birds flew across the sky, their wings cutting through the light like shadows in motion.

Rayna sat in the passenger seat, her head leaning gently against the window. Her arms were folded across her chest, and her lips were pressed into a tight line. She wasn’t speaking. She hadn’t said much since they left the airstrip. What could she say when her heart was heavy?

Ethan glanced at her from the driver’s seat. He noticed how her eyes followed the sky—distant, unfocused. Her fingers tapped gently on her thigh, and every few seconds, her lips trembled like she was fighting to hold something back.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and careful, like he didn’t want to break something fragile.

Rayna let out a slow breath and blinked quickly. She turned her face away, wiping at her cheek before the tear fully escaped.

"I’m fine," she said. Her voice cracked slightly.

"You don’t look fine," Ethan replied gently. "Are you crying?"

Rayna gave a small, sad laugh and shook her head, but it wasn’t convincing. "No. Maybe. I don’t know."

Ethan pulled the car gently onto a quieter road, where trees lined the path and the sunlight filtered through the branches, making it look like they were driving through a golden tunnel.

"You want to talk about it? Wait, is this about Ruby leaving?" he asked, thinking that could be the only thing to make Rayna cry or be this sad.

Rayna swallowed, then nodded slowly.

"I miss her," she said finally. "I know it’s silly. I should be happy for her. I am happy for her. But..." she paused, struggling with the words. "I just got so used to having her around. Living with her. Laughing, fighting, cooking together, bickering about her not folding laundry right or her taking her routine drugs or not drinking coffee. And now... it’s just me."

Ethan didn’t say anything for a moment. He let the silence sit, his hand gripping the steering wheel while he thought.

for years. I know how close you and Ruby are too. You’re not just

gave a watery smile and

to be happy," Ethan continued. "But that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to feel sad she’s gone. It doesn’t make you selfish. It makes

didn’t think I’d feel it this fast. Like, the moment she waved goodbye and climbed into that shiny jet,

watching her with

piece of you

her eyes shining with

it rested on her lap.

leaving you, you know. She’s just starting a new Chapter.

her throat tightened

Stefan loves her. Truly. You saw it yourself. The guy nearly lost his mind when he was looking

her tears. "Yeah. That

her. You’re just... giving her to someone who’s going

The clouds moved slowly overhead, and the sun was warmer now, casting

"I guess," she murmured.

"Still

"Not really."

a moment of

of us focusing on ourselves? Doesn’t that

to look at him in amusement. "What

slow, teasing smile. "You

tilted her head, her heart

her, then back at the road. "I like you, Rayna. A lot. And I want

looked away, trying to hide her smile. "Is... is that how you court someone you love?" she asked,

that when she was crying

her reaction. "Are you saying you want me