Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 185 - 185: Don't Let Her Die

Stefan's hands burned from the heat as he fought against the stubborn knots. The smoke was so thick now that every breath felt like swallowing fire.

Ruby's body was limp, her head hanging forward, her wrists red and raw from the ropes. The sight made his stomach twist painfully. He couldn't think about what it meant — he just had to get her free. That was all he could think of.

"Come on… come on…" he rasped, yanking hard until the last rope finally loosened. He wasted no time; he scooped her up into his arms, holding her close to his chest. Her head rested against his shoulder, her face frighteningly still.

The heat from the flames seared his skin, and the roar of the fire was deafening, but he forced himself toward the door, coughing so hard his chest felt like it might split. The smoke clawed at his eyes, blurring his vision, but the weight in his arms grounded him. Ruby. She was the only thing that mattered. He needed to get her out. He needed to rescue her.

When he stumbled back into the hallway, the sudden rush of fresher air almost knocked him off his feet. Nurses and orderlies gasped at the sight of her, their eyes going wide.

"She's unconscious!" someone shouted. "Get her into a ward, now!"

Two nurses rushed forward with a gurney, while the firemen continued to try to quench the fire.

Stefan laid her down gently, his hands shaking as though he'd been holding back an earthquake inside himself. His eyes never left her face — pale, lips tinged with blue.

"Ruby… please," he whispered under his breath as the nurses wheeled her away.

Rayna caught up, breathless and wide-eyed. Ethan and Officer Walter appeared seconds later, the two of them soaked in sweat from the heat and sprinting. The sight of Ruby made Ethan's face harden instantly.

"Oh my God! I can't believe Ivy can be this heartless as to burn her own sister alive," Ethan said, his whole body shaking in anger, grateful that they'd at at least caught her.

"The sight of her tied up… inside that fire," Stefan said, his voice hoarse, almost unrecognizable. "If I'd been even a minute later…" He didn't finish. He couldn't. His throat closed up, a lump forming there. He felt like crying but the tears wouldn't even drop.

The gurney disappeared into one of the wards, and a familiar figure hurried toward them — Doctor Noreen. Her brows were drawn tight, her voice brisk and urgent.

was in that fire," she asked when she saw

was in the fire. Ivy wanted to kill her in the fire," Stefan said quickly. "I don't know how long she was in there — but she wasn't moving when

she called to her team as she swept past

Stefan must be feeling having the woman he loved battling for her life. Not

follow, but one of the nurses blocked him. "Please, sir, you can't be in here while we treat

jaw clenched. Every muscle in his body screamed to stay at Ruby's side, but he forced

was going through right now? Didn't they know he

reached for his arm.

right now," Stefan murmured, almost to

closed, shutting them out. The hallway suddenly felt colder, emptier. Stefan leaned against the wall, staring at the floor, his mind replaying the image of her pale face over and over. His stomach

by like

had pulled her mask down, but the serious expression on her face made

okay," he said immediately, stepping toward her. "Tell me

"We've stabilized her for now, but there's swelling in her airways. She's fighting to breathe, Stefan… and with the pregnancy,

gripping his own arms to keep them from shaking. "So what does

Noreen said carefully, "we don't know if she'll make it through the next few hours. But I promise you — I'll do everything in my power

The idea of losing her — losing them — was something he couldn't wrap his mind around. It wasn't supposed to

stepped forward, his jaw set. "You'll keep us

of the way," Noreen assured him,

though he could will them open, will Ruby to walk out smiling like nothing happened. Like all this was just one

the person who caused this whole mess is still out there. I should've run after Ivy when we

eyes flickered, remembering that in the chaos of saving Ruby, he'd forgotten to give them the update. "She's not

"What