Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 181 - 181: Blackout

The sterile, bitter scent of antiseptic filled the air as Ruby, Stefan, Rayna, and Ethan moved quietly down the hospital corridor. The white tiles beneath their feet felt colder than usual, though it might have just been Ruby's exhaustion sinking into her bones.

They had just finished checking on Elizabeth. The older woman had still been resting, her vitals steady, but her condition remained delicate.

She'd been surprised to see Ruby and Rayna back after just leaving barely two hours ago until they'd told her the reason for their return.

Though she had never seen eye to eye with Regina, she'd been sad to learn about the circumstances surrounding her death and had even felt pity for Ruby.

She'd never received love from her mother or sister yet was left to see to the burial arrangements and would also have to inherit all that the Quinn owed since Ivy would be arrested abd charged for murder if she were to ever show her face again.

Now, as they made their way toward the hospital's main exit, the tension hung thick between them. No one really spoke. Words felt pointless after the day they'd just had.

Ruby clung to Stefan's arm, her legs sluggish. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, her face pale, expression hollow. She wasn't sure how she was still standing.

"You should get some sleep," Stefan said gently, running his thumb over the back of her hand. "You've been through too much today."

"I will," Ruby murmured. "I just want to go home."

They reached the last turn in the hallway when the hospital lights suddenly blinked—and then went completely out.

Immediately, darkness swallowed everything.

A sharp gasp escaped Rayna's lips.

"What the hell?" she asked, voice tense. "Why did the lights just go out?"

Ethan's voice came next, calm but alert. "Hold on. I've got a light." A second later, the faint beam of his phone flashlight cut through the pitch black.

"Probably just an electrical issue," Ruby said tiredly, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the sudden shift in brightness. "Maybe the backup generator is late to kick in."

But something about the darkness felt off—too sudden. Too complete.

Then someone bumped into them—hard. Ethan grunted, stumbling slightly.

"Sh*t!" Ethan hissed as his phone flew from his hand and hit the floor.

Ruby flinched. "Who—what was that?"

his hand reaching

bent to pick up his phone. "I

could pick up the phone, Ruby

yelp or startled noise. It was a full, terrified scream that ripped through the

register what was happening, he felt Ruby's hand slip off

Rayna shouted, voice cracking with panic.

as it dawned on him

the weak glow trembling as his hands shook. He swung it around wildly, the beam bouncing

But Ruby was gone.

her own flashlight. She swept the light back and forth,

Babe!" Stefan called, bringing out his phone

then, the overhead lights

back to life, flooding the corridor

of dread. The blood drained from his face.

him—was now an empty stretch of floor. There was no scream, no warning. Just darkness… and now,

kicked her head against the wall because of the darkness. Something had happened to

breaking the stillness like a crack in glass. "She's not

Her words barely registered.

heartbeat pounded against his ribs, fast and frantic. His jaw clenched

No. No.

Not now.

she might reappear from a hidden corner. "Ruby!" He ran to the front to search and when he didn't see any trace of

just vanish. Someone took her. That blackout—it wasn't some random thing. It was a setup. I think it was

his throat tight.

This had to be

suffocate him. His stomach twisted violently, the weight of dread crashing over him like a wave. A cold sweat

his heel and stormed down the hallway. "Walter's

wait for a reply. He just ran. He didn't care about hospital protocol. He didn't care about people staring. He needed to find her. He needed

she was gone—if something happened to her or their baby—he

followed him, their footsteps echoing against

two plain-clothed officers. Walter turned when he saw them approaching, his

asked, instantly alert and noticing that

Ruby. She's gone," Stefan said,

Walter blinked. "What?"