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.

been friends with Stefan for years. I know how close

watery smile and looked down at

doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to feel sad she’s gone.

goodbye and climbed into that shiny jet, it hit me. She’s really going

glanced sideways, watching her with

a piece of you with her?" he finished for

eyes shining with unshed

it rested on her lap. His touch

know. She’s just starting a new Chapter. And you’ll always be a part

her throat tightened again. "Still hurts,"

he said. "But think about it this way—she’s not going to Zeden to suffer. Stefan loves her. Truly. You saw it

through her tears. "Yeah. That man

he’s whole again because of her. So you’re not losing her. You’re just... giving her to someone who’s going to take care of her the way you did and

again. The clouds moved slowly overhead, and the sun was warmer now, casting a soft glow

"I guess," she murmured.

"Still

"Not really."

was a moment of

the thought of us

head slowly to look at him in

teasing smile. "You know. Us. You

tilted her head, her heart skipping a

like you, Rayna. A lot. And I want us to become

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

he be talking about that

enjoying her reaction. "Are you saying you want