Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 182 - 182: I Can't Lose Her

Stefan's jaw clenched. His fists trembled at his sides. He couldn't stop the worst-case scenarios from crashing into his mind. Ruby tied up somewhere. Ruby bleeding. Ruby calling for him. Ivy trying to hurt her.

His chest heaved, the panic clawing at him. He couldn't afford to think like that. He couldn't afford to fall apart now.

He had to stay sharp.

He had to get her back.

But deep down, a part of him—terrified and wounded—kept whispering… What if you're already too late?

Walter's eyes flicked to Stefan, catching the torment in his expression. "We're going to find her. Ivy won't get far."

But Stefan barely heard him. His thoughts were with Ruby.

The woman he loved.

The mother of his unborn child.

And she had been taken, right from under his watch.

"I was right there," he murmured, his voice breaking. "I was right beside her."

"She's tough, Stefan," Rayna whispered, her voice trembling. "She'll hang on. We'll get her back. This isn't the time to blame yourself. We have to find her as soon as possible."

"Yes, you're right. This isn't the time." Stefan turned toward Ethan. "We have to search this building. Ivy's not going to stop and we can't wait till the police finds her."

close… then Ruby was in more danger than any

radio crackled as more officers spread out through the hospital. His jaw was set, but his tone carried the

all the places someone could hide. "If she's still in here, we'll find her. But if she's not…" His voice trailed for a beat,

we just stand here and wait while she's—" He stopped himself, his throat tight. "While she's out there? You already said it, we don't have

another way to move faster.

words. "But it was dark when she was taken. How would we even see where she

blackout killed the lights. The cameras wouldn't have

her mother after Regina's death. They assured me the cameras here run on a separate battery supply. They're not connected to the general power grid. Even in a blackout,

radiating from every movement. "Then what the hell are we standing here for? Let's go. I don't trust Ivy one bit—and every

gave a short nod and gestured for them to follow. "Security room's on the second floor. Stay

twice. His strides were long, purposeful, but inside his chest, his heart was

Ethan kept pace, their footsteps echoing down the hallway

can see her on those cameras, we'll know where to go. We'll

And if they didn't?

to rip

fluorescent lights hummed above them, a cruel contrast to the chaos in Stefan's chest. Every step brought him closer to the stairs—closer to an answer—but his mind

sound of her hand

thought hit him like a gut punch. What if she's still here, hidden away somewhere? What if

slowed, then stopped completely before they reached the second-floor

is it?" Ethan asked, forcing Walter and

haunted. "You all go check the cameras. I'm not waiting until you've watched the footage before searching. I'll check the storage rooms, the abandoned wards—anywhere someone could hide her. I need to