Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

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."

He pushed himself up, ignoring the sharp protests of his body. "Then I need

was quick, pressing a firm hand against Stefan's shoulder, forcing him gently but decisively back

snapped to him, anger and desperation flaring all at once. "Don't you dare tell

through the rising storm in him, firm but not unkind. "Dr. Noreen gave us strict instructions. You inhaled a dangerous amount of smoke. Your lungs are still recovering. And you've got burns on

pain in his right hand. He glanced

his palm and fingers was bandaged thickly, and even the small

none of that mattered. Not compared

about me," Stefan rasped, his voice trembling. "She's the one who matters. I need to see her. I need to make sure

burned at the time. What about Ruby? Had she sustained injuries

move from Stefan's shoulder. "You think I don't 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

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 herself the smallest sigh of

more to herself

she? I

settling firmly on Stefan. "You shouldn't be worrying about that

tight, his voice raw with the force of everything he'd been holding inside. "I

a severe amount 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

every breath shallow and unsteady. Days, weeks or months. The thought of Ruby lying unconscious, caught somewhere he couldn't reach her,

Would it still be okay if

had haunted him since the fire. His voice was barely above a whisper. "What about the

Stefan's stomach drop. She shook her head slowly, her expression grim. "I'm sorry. There's no heartbeat. The