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.

didn’t 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 for you whether you believe me or

head slightly as she took a step closer. "Let’s not pretend, Ivy. You were never truly part of this family and neither did you see me as a mother

struck deep, and for 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 just wanted to

was it. She was fishing

don’t need anything 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

between them

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

worm your way back in," Elizabeth cut in sharply, her voice rising slightly but 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 Stefan. You care

seething rage. Her

her voice like iron. "Before

a 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

heart pounding but her expression calm,

the window where the garden swayed gently in the breeze. "But neither will

with that, she turned and walked away, her steps as unshakable

breaths sharp and uneven with fury. Her hands trembled as she yanked the seatbelt across her lap, her knuckles whitening

Elizabeth

hadn’t once been part of this family. As if she could just be discarded like trash. Why was she being extra mean? Perhaps, Stefan was back with Ruby

but Ivy was too consumed by rage to speak. She was about to bark an order when

snatched it up, her eyes narrowing when she saw the name flashing on

call and pressed the phone to her ear. "What is it?" she

to hear this," came the low voice on the other end. "I

rigid. "What?" she demanded, her heart lurching

the man answered flatly, "It was Elizabeth

blinked, stunned into silence as she tried to understand what she’d heard. "What?" she repeated, her voice quieter now, laced with

saw her, Elizabeth

sure you know what you’re saying?" she asked