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.

soft, almost fragile laugh, her hands clasped delicately in front of her. "I know. I know things didn’t turn out the way we all hoped," she said, her eyes wide with mock sincerity. "But I.... still value

bitter laugh escaped Elizabeth’s lips then, sharp and humorless. She shook her 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

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 make sure

it. She was fishing for

smile. "I don’t need anything from you, Ivy. Not your concern. Not your empty affection. And certainly not your pretend loyalty," she said coolly. "Our

air between them crackled with unspoken

now, her control slipping. "I didn’t

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 about control. About appearances. And you lost that

seething rage. Her hands trembled at her sides, her eyes burning with fury she barely

Elizabeth said, her voice like iron. "Before I have

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 gunshots. The

heart pounding but her expression

eyes flickering toward the window where

walked away, her steps

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

Elizabeth

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

rage to speak. She was about to bark an

it up, her eyes narrowing when she saw the name

to her ear. "What is it?" she snapped, her voice sharp, the edges of her anger still raw. "This

voice on the other end. "I found out

breath caught. Her entire body went rigid. "What?" she demanded, her heart lurching in

the man answered flatly, "It was

tried to understand what she’d heard. "What?" she repeated, her voice quieter now, laced

been the one who saw

sure you know what you’re saying?" she asked again, shaking