Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 190 - 190: Our Baby's Gone

The hours after Ruby woke blurred together, threaded with tears and laughter, relief and disbelief. Stefan barely left her side, except when Doctor Noreen insisted on examining her.

Ruby drifted in and out of sleep — her body weak, her voice fragile — but each time she opened her eyes, Stefan was there, his hand in hers.

Sometimes Rayna would be perched on the edge of the bed, whispering softly to her. Sometimes Ethan lingered in the corner, his steady presence a quiet reassurance.

And sometimes Elizabeth came, her motherly touch smoothing the blanket or brushing Ruby's hair back from her forehead. She'd insisted on coming after hearing Ruby was finally awake.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the room was filled with something other than fear: it was filled with hope.

"Try a sip," Rayna said gently, holding a straw to Ruby's lips.

Ruby obeyed, her throat parched, the cool water sliding down like heaven itself. She sighed softly, and when she looked up, Rayna was smiling through fresh tears.

"You scared the life out of me," Rayna whispered, squeezing her hand.

Ruby gave a faint laugh, her voice still raspy. "I scared myself too."

From his chair, Stefan leaned forward, his eyes drinking her in as though afraid she might vanish if he looked away too long. His bandaged hand rested protectively near her arm, and Ruby's gaze flicked to it again.

Every time she saw his hand, she was reminded of how he'd wrestled with fire to make sure she didn't die. He didn't even care about his life but had been by her side.

his hand, her heart swelling with love. Despite the weakness in her body, she felt stronger knowing how fiercely she was loved

of what had happened during the days she had been asleep. Ruby listened, sometimes laughing, sometimes simply closing her eyes and letting their voices wash over

conversation lulled, a shadow crossed her gaze. Her hand drifted, almost unconsciously, down toward her stomach and

hand

lightly over the thin hospital blanket covering her abdomen. Her brow furrowed, her

chest tightened, panic clawing at his

eyes tired but searching. "Stefan… the baby…" Her voice was soft, uncertain, as if she wasn't sure she wanted the answer. "How's it? I

seemed to thicken around him.

lowered her gaze, her hands

broke as she whispered again, "Answer me, love. The

his eyes. His thumb brushed her knuckles in slow, soothing circles.

brow furrowed, confusion and unease flickering in her gaze. What did

to ask, to press further but exhaustion weighed on her, pulling

out. She drifted back into fragile sleep, her hand still

his head, tears sliding silently down his face. Relief that she was alive warred with the dread of the truth he would have to shatter

tonight. He couldn't break her

skin. "Forgive me, Ruby… just let me have

Ethan looked at her, and their hearts

learns of this," Rayna said, thinking of how much Ruby had loved the baby. Ruby had gained the determination to live again, for herself, because of that child, and

haunted not just her but everyone standing in