Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 176 - 176: Enough Of This Madness

Ivy's fingers trembled slightly as she scrolled through her phone, her long, manicured nails clicking rapidly against the screen. Her lips parted in disbelief, and her eyes widened as she stopped at a headline that caught her attention:

"TRAGIC UPDATE: ELIANA HOWELLS CONFIRMED DEAD AFTER LENGTHY COMA"

The accompanying picture showed Eliana, smiling brightly in a corporate gala photo, beneath the bold words announcing her "death." Ivy's eyes scanned the first few lines. It was vague—intentionally vague. No details. No timestamp. No hospital confirmation.

But it didn't matter. She was being pronounced dead and no one was refuting it.

A slow, triumphant smirk crept across her face. "Finally," she whispered.

Should she call to confirm?

Was Eliana really dead and out of the picture, forever?

Now, no one was going to ever find out what she did with Eliana. Should she also find a way to get rid of the guy that had ran Eliana over?

Maybe she'd do that after she used him to get rid of Ruby.

Her heart soared.

With hands still trembling, not from fear but from excitement, she picked up her phone again and dialed the one number that had always known how to clean up her messes—her mother's.

Deciding it was best she talked to her in person, Ivy got dressed and headed out but first dropping by the hospital to confirm if truly Eliana was dead.

The sliding glass doors of Zeden General Hospital whooshed open with a quiet sigh as Ivy strolled in, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She wore a long black coat and oversized sunglasses that hid the gleam in her eyes—a gleam that had nothing to do with grief.

Her heart was racing, but not from sorrow. It was the thrill of confirmation, of tying up loose ends. She had always known Eliana's survival could spell her downfall. But if she was truly dead now… then it meant her mother had indeed taken care of her as promised.

Approaching the front desk, she pasted on a solemn expression. Her shoulders slouched just slightly, lips tugged into a faint pout. She even let her eyes glisten, blinking rapidly to fake unshed tears.

The young receptionist at the counter, a short-haired woman named Thea who had been briefed by Stefan and the police, looked up with a polite smile.

may I

said, her voice trembling just the right amount, practiced over years of drama and manipulation. "She's—she's a patient here. Or… she was. I saw an article this

typing

then sighed gently, as if delivering painful news was part of her daily duties. "I'm really sorry. Miss Howells passed away last night. Around 8:27 p.m. Her body has been moved to the hospital morgue for further documentation before transfer arrangements are

a perfectly manicured hand to

somersaults of satisfaction. "Are you sure? She was… she

face. "I understand. I'm so sorry for your loss. Would you like us to connect you with the hospital's

necessary," Ivy said quickly, her

was out of the

I… see her?" she asked suddenly,

her keyboard. "I'm afraid the morgue is

She didn't need to see a cold body anyway. The headline, the confirmation—it was enough. More

very sorry," Thea said, standing slightly as Ivy

walked away, her mouth curled into the barest hint of a victorious smirk once more, quickly hidden behind the shield of her dark

quickly got in

of Regina's house, the tires crunching softly on the fine gravel. Ivy sat in the driver's seat, her face radiant with satisfaction as she stared out

quickly got out and headed straight into

the faint murmur

the doorframe,

into the phone, her voice low but intense. "Just let them go.

beat of silence and then Regina ended the call and let out a weary sigh, pressing a

her smile wide and

"Mum."

up in mild surprise. "Ivy? What are you

arms around her mother, hugging

mother's shoulder. "Though I wanted to tell you I confirmed in person, I also wanted to show you how

"I did what I had to do," she said slowly. "To protect what's left

piece left to

What do you mean gone?" she