Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 174

Chapter 174 - 174: Not This Time

hospital entrance, hearts pounding and adrenaline firing through their veins. The sliding doors hissed shut behind them as they crossed into the sterile hallway, searching for any familiar face.

A nurse behind the counter stood up immediately, clearly startled by the sudden burst of energy.

"Where's Elizabeth Winters?" Stefan asked, his voice firm but laced with urgency. "She was admitted here. Head trauma or something."

Before the nurse could answer, a voice cut through the air.

"Stefan?"

He turned sharply, blinking in shock as a woman in a white coat approached him.

She hadn't changed much—poised, graceful, the same piercing eyes just as he remembered. Noreen.

"Noreen?" he said, momentarily thrown. "What are you…?"

"Funny how your mom asked me the same question. I work here now," she said softly. "Transferred back just last week."

The air thickened with emotion. Six years had passed since he last saw her. His aunt Noreen, his late father's secretary's wife.

She had vanished after her husband and his father's death, mourning in private. Seeing her now, wearing a doctor's coat, was surreal.

"I operated Elizabeth," Noreen said, stepping closer. "She's stable—for now. She hit her head hard when she fell. We're keeping her under close observation."

Stefan exhaled shakily, his shoulders slumping just a little. "Thank God."

"And Eliana?" Ethan asked.

Noreen's eyes widened faintly, a small smile breaking through. "She woke up, Stefan. Minutes before the incident. She's weak, but she's conscious."

Emotion gripped Stefan's throat. "She's awake?"

"Yes. Still paralyzed, but she's responding. She saw everything—what Daniel tried to do."

"What really happened? Were you there too?" he asked and Noreen nodded as she went ahead to tell him everything she'd seen starting from how shocked Elizabeth had been hearing she was solely in charge of caring for Eliana.

answers. I want

"She's going to need you. Both

mom and then head to the station. I need to make sure no one tries this

the echoes of earlier chaos still lingered in the air like smoke after a fire. Nurses moved briskly from room to room, whispering updates,

there, Ethan stayed back as he watched Stefan pushed the door

her dark hair matted to one side with dried blood. A bandage wrapped around her forehead, stark against her skin. Oxygen tubes framed her

looked fragile. Too

he reached the side of her bed. His breath caught. He'd seen his mother sick before—grieving, exhausted, crying—but never like this. Never lying unconscious.

clenched at his

didn't deserve this," he said softly, his voice strained.

loose strand of hair from her forehead, careful not to disturb the gauze. "You were just trying to protect someone. Trying to protect me and Ruby. Just like

of the monitor was

seen it," he murmured. "I should've known someone would try something again. After everything with Eliana, after what Ivy's done before—how could I not see

throat burned. He swallowed the

exhaling shakily. "You're the reason she's alive right

looked down at her face again. "Ivy. Regina. I know that one of them sent that man. Or both of them. I don't care anymore who pulled the strings—because someone tried to kill

darkened. His jaw

don't care what it takes. I don't care what I have to lose. Ivy will pay. Regina will pay. I'll burn everything down if I have

no movement. No flicker of lashes.

But it didn't matter.

softly, and whispered, "I love you, Mom. Stay with me. Just a

of the room—his shoulders stiff with purpose, his heart filled with a fury he hadn't

staying out of the spotlight, she

stop until she

looked at him and could tell

feeling?" he asked quietly as they walked out of the

And I'll remain so until those two are locked behind bars!" Stefan

the police station now, right?" Ethan asked as he took the driver's seat knowing Stefan was probably not

nodded, Ethan drove off

Stefan sat across

in the corner, arms crossed, eyes flicking between the

sighed, tapping the file in front of him. "Daniel confessed. Completely. We arrested

"Why?" Stefan asked flatly.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255