Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 152: Ivy’s Poison

Stefan’s phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand, the vibration slicing through the peaceful early morning silence. He stirred, groaning softly as he reached out blindly, his fingers closing around the device.

The screen’s brightness forced his eyes to squint, but when he saw Ethan’s name flashing across it, a strange knot twisted in his stomach. Calls this early were never good news.

He sat up, rubbing his eyes before swiping to answer. "Ethan?" his voice was gravelly with sleep.

"Stefan," Ethan’s tone was tight, urgent. "You need to see this. Check the news. Right now."

The seriousness in Ethan’s voice jolted him fully awake. His heart pounded harder as he swung his legs over the bed and reached for the tablet resting on the nightstand. With a few quick taps, he opened the trending news, his breath catching in his throat the moment he saw the headline:

Ivy Quinn Breaks Silence: Claims Twin Sister Stole Her Husband.

His fingers trembled slightly as he clicked the video attached to the article. The screen filled with Ivy’s face—tear-streaked, visibly distressed, her eyes red as she sat before what appeared to be her living room. The image alone made Stefan’s chest clench with a mixture of dread and fury.

"...I know I said I wouldn’t speak," Ivy’s voice came, soft but heavy with emotion. "I know I promised to keep quiet for the sake of the family and for the sake of peace. But I can’t do this anymore."

She sniffled, wiping her eyes delicately with a tissue. "People think... they think this is about Eliana. That my husband—Stefan—asked for divorce because of those lies spread about me about having a hand in Eliana’s accident. But the truth is far worse. The truth is... it was my own twin sister, Ruby."

Stefan’s stomach dropped as he wondered what lie Ivy was about to spill.

"I loved her," Ivy continued, her voice breaking. "I invited her into my home because she’s my sister. I trusted her. I mean, how could I not trust my own twin? But she... she on the other hand, she seduced my husband. She took advantage of our kindness. And now—" she broke down, her shoulders shaking, "now she’s pregnant with his child, and I’ve been cast aside like I’m nothing. Like I never mattered."

Her tears flowed freely now. "I stayed silent because I thought it was better for the family. But I can’t keep pretending. People need to know who Stefan Winters really is."

but the damage

panic rushed through his veins all at once. His jaw clenched

the next day which happens to be Monday but with Ivy doing

under his breath, running a hand through his

flooded with comments, all condemning him and Ruby. Words like "homewrecker," "cheater," and "disgrace" leapt out at him

all those words, he thought about all he’d said to her the night before. How could he have promised her

their room, completely unaware of the storm that was brewing outside their walls. He felt the weight of responsibility settle over

set this straight. I can’t let her get away with this. She’s dragging Ruby’s name through the mud—my name. The company—everything—this will destroy everything. I can’t let it happen.

Ethan interrupted firmly. "That’s exactly what she wants. She wants you to react emotionally. You going to the press right now? It’ll only make it worse. It’ll look like you’re trying

into a fist against his thigh. "So what do you suggest I do? Sit back and let her destroy us? Have you seen what people are saying?" His

you or me. The only way to salvage this isn’t to argue with her lies—it’s to show the truth. To make people see Ivy for who she

mind raced. "And how do we do that?" he asked bitterly.

smart, not emotional. If we play this wrong, you’ll lose

her soft voice, her kindness—being dragged through the dirt made Stefan’s heart twist painfully. The idea of her having to face

chest. "I can’t let her suffer because

Ethan assured quietly. "But you need to keep your head clear. For her. For everything you

tablet still in his hands as he scrolled aimlessly through the vicious comments and reactions online. His vision blurred

could Ivy

leading up to this—the manipulation, the lies, the way she’d twisted every situation to suit her needs. And now this? Painting herself as the poor, heartbroken victim while vilifying Ruby? Ruby who had been forced into all this and

the tablet aside and dropped his face into his hands, drawing a deep, shaky breath. His

hear Ivy’s voice echoing in his head—her tearful

see Ruby shifting under the covers,