Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 150: Like A Mother

Elizabeth exhaled softly as she stepped out of her car, the familiar sight of her grand estate bringing a sense of calm after the surprisingly pleasant morning she’d spent with Ruby.

For once, the day had started right. She’d seen genuine warmth in Ruby’s eyes, something she hadn’t expected when this charade began and especially after the way she’d treated her.

Perhaps... perhaps there was still a chance to make things right in her fractured family. She thought, a part of her wishing Rayna would agree to come to Zeden for Ruby’s sake.

The butler met her at the door, bowing politely.

"Ma’am, you have a visitor waiting in the drawing room."

Elizabeth’s brows lifted slightly. "A visitor?" she repeated, her voice tight with suspicion.

"Yes, ma’am. Miss Ivy. She insisted on waiting."

The name hit her like a sharp jolt. Elizabeth’s jaw clenched. Of course. She should have known. She should have known Ivy wouldn’t sit quietly for long. The girl never could stand not knowing, not controlling.

Without another word, Elizabeth handed off her purse and coat, straightening her spine as she made her way to the drawing room, her heels clicking against the marble floors.

The sight of Ivy—perfectly poised, her legs crossed elegantly, her lips curved in that familiar saccharine smile—made something cold stir in Elizabeth’s chest.

If she could, Elizabeth would’ve dragged her off the chair, and slapping that smile off her face, but she couldn’t.

She sighed inwardly as she took her time stepping inside, her eyes sharp and unreadable.

"Ivy," Elizabeth greeted coolly, her tone clipped. "What are you doing here?"

"Elizabeth," Ivy greeted, rising to her feet with a soft smile. "I hope you don’t mind. I was nearby and thought I’d drop in. I just... I wanted to check on you. I may no longer be married to your son, but you’ll always be like a mother to me."

The words, so carefully crafted, so utterly insincere, made Elizabeth’s lips twitch into a humorless smile. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Like a mother to you?" she echoed, her voice dry with disbelief. "As if you were ever truly married to Stefan or ever truly saw me as a mother in the first place.

turn out the way we all hoped," she said, her eyes wide with mock sincerity. "But I.... still value you. We had a bond, you and I. I still want to look out

never truly part of this family and neither did you see me

the first time, Ivy’s mask of gentleness cracked—just slightly—before she forced it back into place. "I... I don’t understand," she said softly. "I

was it. She was fishing for

from you, Ivy. Not your concern. Not your empty affection. And certainly not your pretend loyalty," she said coolly. "Our ties were severed the day you signed those papers. You are no longer welcome here. Not in this house, not in my life, and certainly not

between them

voice strained now, her control slipping. "I didn’t come here to

still laced with icy composure. "But don’t deceive yourself. Or anyone else. You don’t care about me. And you certainly never cared about

seething rage. Her hands trembled at her sides, her eyes

voice like iron. "Before

breath, Ivy stood frozen, her nostrils flaring as her carefully crafted facade shattered completely. Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the room, her heels pounding against the floor like

stood still, her heart pounding but her expression calm,

to herself, her eyes flickering toward the window where the garden swayed gently in the breeze. "But neither

with that, she turned and walked away, her

herself into the back seat, her breaths sharp and uneven with fury. Her hands trembled as she yanked the seatbelt across her

dare she? How dare Elizabeth speak to her that

part of this family. As if she could just be discarded like trash. Why was she being extra

was too consumed by rage to speak. She was about to

eyes narrowing when she saw the name

accepted the call and pressed the phone to her ear. "What is it?" she snapped, her voice sharp, the edges of her anger still raw. "This is not a

low voice on the other end. "I found

Her entire body went rigid. "What?" she demanded, her heart

the man answered flatly,

nothing. She blinked, stunned into silence as she tried to understand what

had been the one who saw her, Elizabeth would’ve confronted

you know what you’re saying?"