Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 186

Chapter 186 - 186: She Needs Me

The first thing Stefan felt was the heaviness in his chest — as if an iron hand was pressing down on it. His eyelids fluttered, resisting him for a moment before finally lifting.

The harsh glow of the hospital lights stabbed at his eyes, and for a moment he didn't know where he was. The antiseptic scent, the muffled sounds of footsteps in the corridor, the quiet beeping of machines near his bed — it all came rushing back to him.

He turned his head sharply, ignoring the throbbing ache that immediately followed the movement. Panic surged in his veins before his lips even formed the words.

"Ruby…" His voice cracked, raw from smoke and exhaustion. He tried again, louder this time. "Ruby. Where is she? Is she awake yet?"

A shadow shifted in the chair by his bedside. Ethan leaned forward, his face drawn with fatigue.

His expression softened at Stefan's urgency, but his eyes held a weight that Stefan instantly recognized.

"You're awake! How are you feeling?" Ethan asked, ignoring Stefan's questions.

"How long have I been out?" Stefan asked, and Ethan signed.

"Two days," Ethan said, and Stefan's heart skipped a beat.

"What? Two days? How's Ruby? Is she awake?" he asked.

If he'd been out for two days, then how was Ruby and their baby? Could she truly be okay or had something happened to them in the days he'd been out.

"She's still unconscious," Ethan said carefully, his voice low. "Rayna's outside her ward, keeping watch. They've done everything they can."

pulse echoing in his ears. He pushed himself up, ignoring the sharp protests of his body. "Then I need to go to her. She shouldn't

hand against Stefan's shoulder, forcing him gently

once. "Don't you dare tell me I can't go to her. She needs

Your lungs are still recovering.

dull, throbbing pain in his

The skin along his palm and fingers was bandaged thickly, and even the small shift

— none of that mattered. Not

matters. I need to see her. I need to

at the time. What about Ruby? Had she sustained injuries too? How serious

understand? I do. But Ruby's strong, and she's not alone. The doctors are always checking on her. Rayna hasn't left her side for the past two days. You… you have to hold on here, Stefan. Just

his mouth to argue again, but the door to his room clicked open. Doctor Noreen stepped in, her coat slightly wrinkled from hours of work, her face set in that brisk, professional calm that Stefan both admired and hated. She glanced at him and allowed

she murmured, more to herself than to

chance. "Doctor Noreen—Ruby. How is she? I hear she's still unconscious. When is

settling firmly on Stefan. "You

he'd been holding inside. "I need to know. Is she going to wake up soon? Please. Don't keep me in the

of smoke. Her body is fighting hard to recover. She's stable right now, Stefan — that's the most important thing. But as for when she'll wake… I can't give you a timeline. It could be hours

were like a knife twisting inside him. His chest constricted, every breath shallow and unsteady. Days, weeks or months. The thought

baby? Would it still be okay if Ruby remained

forcing out the question that had haunted him since the

hesitated. That hesitation alone made Stefan's stomach drop. She shook her head slowly, her expression grim. "I'm sorry. There's no heartbeat. The smoke and stress… I guess it was too

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