Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 189 - 189: Am I Dreaming?

The hours crawled by, but Stefan didn't leave her side. He didn't dare. How could he, when he was scared of not being there when she opened her eyes especially now that he knew it could be any time soon.

He remained by her side, watching her. Every twitch of her hand, every subtle shift of her breathing. He remained there and he clung to her hand like it was proof she was fighting her way back to him.

Seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours but he didn't care. At some point, sleep tried to claim him, but he resisted. What if she opened her eyes and he didn't see it because he was sleeping? He couldn't let that happen.

Soon, what he was waiting for, happened.

It was faint at first — the smallest flutter of her eyelids, a fragile movement that made his chest seize. Stefan sat up straighter, leaning close, his hand tightening around hers.

"Ruby?" His voice was low, trembling, filled with equal parts of hope and fear.

Her lashes flickered again. Her lips moved, a broken breath escaping past her dry, cracked lips. It was a groan, although faint but it was real.

Stefan's heart slammed in his chest. "Ruby, it's me. It's Stefan. Can you hear me?"

Her head shifted slightly on the pillow. This time, her eyes cracked open — just a bit, the harsh hospital light making her blink weakly. She winced, her brows furrowing as though the effort itself was painful.

Tears blurred Stefan's vision instantly as he watched her struggle to open her eyes. It's been six days and three days of being by her side. Three long, unbearable days — and finally, finally she was looking at him.

"Stefan…" Her voice was hoarse, fragile like brittle glass, but it was her voice.

He bent closer, his forehead nearly touching hers, his uninjured hand cupping her face as if to anchor her. "I'm here, Ruby. You're finally awake. God, I've been waiting for you. You're back to me. You're really awake."

corner of her eye, trailing down her temple as

she'd struggled to free herself from the bed as she watched the

hard for someone—anyone to come to her rescue and how she'd given up every ounce of hope she had

swallowed, her throat dry. "Am I dreaming? Is this an afterlife? My imagination of what I'd hoped would happen?" she

that shook through him. "You're not dreaming,

not leaving me. I don't know what I

blinked, her gaze slowly sharpening as she studied him. Her eyes drifted to his bandaged hand. "You're hurt,"

quickly, brushing it off even though the wound still throbbed. "It's nothing. I'm fine. Don't

she frowned weakly.

could argue, the door opened quietly

she was going home to bath and bring him food since Elizabeth had returned home to rest since she was feeling weak but when they saw the sight before then,

was awake and talking and Stefan hadn't even bothered

She rushed to the bedside, her hands trembling as

him

finally let

fine," Stefan

he's fine just so he can sit here like a guard dog for straight three days

hasn't slept. Barely eats.

she looked at Stefan, her heart aching and warming all at once.

eyes shimmered. "Where else should I have been

felt the tears pricking her own eyes now — not from pain, but from the overwhelming love she

man she had given her heart to, from her best friend, and from his best friend who had stood beside them through it