Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 166: Truth And Lies

The heavy silence that had fallen when Ivy stepped into the room thickened like a blanket of fog.

Ruby sat frozen, the air around her buzzing like static. Her fingers, still locked in Stefan’s, trembled ever so slightly. Ivy stood tall and poised—her silver dress glinting under the recessed lights, her lashes already glistening with tears, her way to get Mr Rogers on her side.

She had arrived prepared.

Mr. Rogers’s sharp eyes flickered between the two sisters—so alike, yet so divided—and finally settled on Ivy. His voice was calm, but there was weight in it, enough to cut through air.

"Ivy," he said carefully, "is it true what they’ve told me? That everything you said in that video was a lie... that you were the one who ran away before the wedding? I want to know the truth and if truly you love Stefan as you claim to, be truthful. I’ll look for a way to find out if you lied today."

Ivy’s reaction was instantaneous despite the underlying threat in Mr Rogers’s voice.

Her lips parted, and a tremor ran through her chin before she choked out a sob. "Have you ever been betrayed? Have you ever had someone close to you betray not just your trust but went ahead to shatter what’s left of you? I’m sure you’ve never experienced that otherwise, you wouldn’t even ask me this. How would I lie about something like that?" she whispered, her eyes already brimming with tears. She sniffled then continued. "How could I ever fabricate the betrayal I went through? Is it even possible? Can you? If you can’t then why do you think I can?"

She turned slightly, her glossy eyes darting toward Stefan and Ruby. "Isn’t it clear enough from how tightly he’s holding her hand right now? From how comfortable she looks sitting beside him in the very place that should have been mine?"

Stefan’s grip tightened, and he sat forward, his tone hardening. "Ivy, why don’t you—for once in your life—say the truth and stop this.... whatever you’re doing now?" he snapped, the edge in his voice slicing through the veil of her tears. "You’re the one who disappeared. You’re the one who ran off and left your sister to fix your mess. You’re the one who returned and turned my life upside down, betraying your sister like she was done stranger with no blood or emotions running through her and now you’re here spinning lies. Again."

Ivy’s lips trembled again, but not with sadness—this time, with fury. She turned to Mr. Rogers, pointing at Stefan like a child betrayed. "You see? You see how he speaks to me? How he defends her no matter what? Is this the man you think is innocent of all I said? He throws me away like trash, humiliates me, and protects her as if I’m nothing."

Her voice cracked as she added, "If I were lying, would he really be that cruel to me in front of everyone?"

Mr. Rogers didn’t respond immediately. His gaze shifted to Ruby, whose face had grown pale, her lips parted but unsure. She looked as though she were made of glass—about to shatter under the weight of it all. Her silence filled the room with a different kind of tension. One that felt like shame. Or guilt.

Mr. Rogers inhaled as if to speak, but before he could, Ruby’s breath hitched—and she finally exhaled.

was the courage she’d been suppressing, and the words she had long buried beneath years of quiet tolerance, came bubbling to the

and though she felt like she

but resolute. "Aren’t you tired

eyes narrowed, but Ruby didn’t

Ruby stepped closer now, her tone unwavering, like

Ivy blinked, stunned.

breaking with emotion, "but you’ve always treated me like I was your shadow. Like I was competition

to Mr. Rogers briefly, then looked back

audacity to drag my name, my reputation, and everything my husband and I are trying to build through the mud. All because you couldn’t handle your own mistakes. Should I go ahead to mention them? That one time you left your books at home and got detention but went ahead to lie to me and she punished me? Or was it that time you were seen making out with a

but Ruby raised a hand—not

her voice softening with pain. "And what hurts the most is that our mother made you like this. Always excusing your lies. Always punishing me for your crimes. And now... this version of you—this vindictive, manipulative shell—you don’t even realize how much of yourself

rigid with anger, but her tears had slowed, her crying act cracking beneath the weight

had pierced through to something

closed just as

she’s saying? Doesn’t sisters do that? I guess those are what she held in

let out a deeper, wailing sob, crumpling her face into her hands. Her

leave now. Because she’s just going to keep trying to justify all she’s done to

Rogers let out a slow breath and leaned back in his chair. He looked weary now, as

Family issues. But none of that changes the fact that, from the outside, it appears Stefan Winters has not been forthcoming. If this is how he handles scandal and family conflict..." he looked between them slowly, "then I’m afraid I must reconsider

eyes widened.

my company’s reputation tied to someone whose personal life is entangled in this much controversy," Mr. Rogers said, folding his

even try