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."

slipped from the corner of her eye, trailing down her temple as she remembered those last

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

hard for someone—anyone to come to her rescue and how she'd given up every ounce of hope she had when Ivy had locked the door and left,

this an afterlife? My imagination of what I'd hoped would happen?" she asked, still

him. "You're

me, baby. Thank you for not leaving me. I don't know what

drifted to his bandaged hand. "You're hurt," she rasped,

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

she frowned weakly. "You're

Stefan could argue, the door opened quietly and Rayna slipped in

and bring him food since Elizabeth had returned home to rest since she was feeling weak but

Stefan hadn't even bothered to let them

Rayna's voice cracked as tears filled her eyes. She rushed to the bedside, her hands trembling as she touched her best friend's arm. "Oh my God… you're

on him in days. "Welcome back, Ruby,"

would finally let himself get better," he said, clapping

fine," Stefan said,

"See? Our stubborn Stefan's been pretending he's fine just so he

hasn't slept. Barely eats.

into a tired smile as she looked at Stefan, her heart aching and warming all at

Stefan asked with his eyebrows raised, his voice firm, though his eyes shimmered. "Where else should I have been if not

felt the tears pricking her own eyes now — not from pain,

she had given her heart to, from her best friend, and from his best