Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 169: Unplanned

Inside the car, Ruby leaned back against the seat, finally allowing herself to exhale. Stefan took her hand again and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly.

"You okay?"

She nodded. "I am now."

Rayna twisted around from the passenger seat, grinning. "Honestly, that was kind of exhilarating."

Ethan chuckled, sliding in beside her. "Only you would enjoy a media ambush."

"Hey, we made it out alive, didn’t we?" she winked.

As the car pulled away from the chaos, the bright lights fading into the distance behind them, Ruby rested her head on Stefan’s shoulder, her fingers still entwined in his.

It was finally over.

Or so they thought.

While they were happy with what had happened, Regina Quinn on the other hand slammed her palm against the armrest of her velvet couch in anger, the remote control flying to the ground with a loud crack as her television screen went black.

"Stupid! Idiot!" she shouted, pacing her opulent living room in furious strides, her fluffy slippers barely making any sound across the marble floor. "What the hell was she thinking?"

The Livestream had ended, but the damage was irreversible. Ivy’s face, twisted in rage and hate, had been seen by millions. Her threats, her confession—all of it was out there. The Quinn name was splattered across social media, tangled in yet another public scandal.

Barely a month ago, she’d had to convince everyone Ivy had no hand in what happened to Eliana, yet here Ivy was, causing another problem.

Regina growled as she yanked her phone from her side table and dialed Ivy’s number.

It rang once, twice but there was no answer.

"Pick up the damn phone, Ivy!" she barked, redialing with trembling fingers. Her heart pounded with a mix of fury and dread. "You little fool—what have you done?"

Still no answer.

Regina flung the phone onto the couch and ran both hands through her styled black curls, glaring at the large framed portrait of the Quinn family hanging above the fireplace.

Her gaze locked on Ivy’s face in the painting—composed, proud, and elegant. A face that now, thanks to her daughter’s recklessness, had become a laughingstock.

to say all that in public? What had been going through her thick skull when

only thing she knew how to

of the front door slamming

living room like a whirlwind, her wavy hair disheveled, makeup smeared, eyes wild. Her heels clicked unevenly, one

purse to the

nostrils flared. "What did you just say? Unplanned? Did I just hear

dropped into the nearest chair, exhaling sharply. "You saw it. Everyone did. No point pretending it didn’t happen but like I said, it

shouted. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You didn’t just

"Like your precious name hasn’t been dragged through worse. A couple of dramatic

wasn’t humiliating enough, her mom was here making

have," Regina growled. "If I hadn’t worked so hard covering for your messes in the past,

into a bitter

we clean this up? Since you

edge of the chair, the humiliation she experienced a

"I want her dead."

Who?" she asked, wanting to be

"Ruby, of course!"

much she didn’t like Ruby, she was still

"I’m done playing nice. I should’ve killed her when I had the chance," Ivy spat, voice trembling with venom. "For the humiliation I endured today, for the way Stefan looked at her—even in front of me—she must die. And when she does, he’ll feel it. He’ll feel the heartbreak of losing someone he loves. That’s how I win. Killing Ruby and putting Stefan in misersy. Since he loves her so much, he

her brain for

slowly. "No. That’s reckless. You

is that?" Ivy asked with a

know. You were just caught threatening her on a livestream, Ivy. If Ruby ends up dead, you’ll be the first person they

the table. "Then

voice dropping to a deadly

"Make her forget."

Ivy frowned. "What?"

wake up and not even recognize him. Not love him. Not remember anything. That’s enough to destroy him. Having her but

"Memory loss... That’s

it yourself. Just set it up." Regina leaned

slowly. "Fine. We do it your way

a satisfied nod. "Whatever, as long as

arched an