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 instinctively for Ruby.

his phone. "I

he could pick up the phone, Ruby

It was a full, terrified scream that ripped through the darkness

even register what was happening, he felt

Rayna shouted, voice cracking with panic. "Ruby,

of dread as it

finally got his phone flashlight on again, the weak glow trembling as his hands

But Ruby was gone.

again, spinning as she turned on her own flashlight. She swept the light back

Stefan called, bringing out his phone to

lights flickered

to life, flooding the corridor in sterile

scanning left and right with a growing sense of dread. The blood drained from his face. His body froze. Then

Where she had stood seconds ago—right beside him—was now an empty stretch of floor. There

had not fallen or had kicked her head against the wall because of the darkness.

the stillness like a crack in

Her words barely registered.

heartbeat pounded against his ribs, fast and frantic. His jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached.

No. No.

Not now.

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

some random thing.

his throat tight. He couldn't

had to be Ivy's

stomach twisted violently, the weight of dread crashing over him like a wave. A cold sweat broke across his brow as

he turned on his heel and stormed

didn't care about people staring. He needed to find her. He needed answers. He needed Ruby back in his

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

and Ethan followed him, their footsteps echoing against the

found Detective Dylan Walter just outside the nurses' station, standing near two plain-clothed officers.

he asked, instantly alert and noticing that Ruby wasn't with

Ruby. She's gone," Stefan said, his

Walter blinked. "What?"