Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 191 - 191: You're Not Alone

When he finally lifted his head, his voice was ragged. "Ruby… I'm so sorry but there's no baby. Our baby's gone."

Her face went still, her breath catching. "No..."

"The smoke, the stress—" Stefan's voice broke. "There was nothing they could do. Noreen… she tried, but…" He shook his head, sobs tearing through him. "There was no heartbeat."

Ruby's lips parted, her gaze unfocused as though his words were too heavy to understand. Then, like the ground giving way beneath her, the meaning struck. He baby was no more.

A strangled cry left her throat. Her hand tore away from his to clutch her stomach, her eyes filling with devastation. "No. No, Stefan, no—"

He caught her before she could thrash against the tubes and wires, wrapping his arms around her as gently as he could, pressing her against his chest. His own tears poured freely, his heart shattering all over again at her grief.

"I'm sorry," he whispered hoarsely against her hair, rocking her trembling body. "I tried, Ruby, I swear I tried. I would've given my life for you both. I'm so sorry. I failed you."

Ruby sobbed into him, broken sounds that cut deeper than any fire ever could. Her world — their world — had been torn apart before it had even begun. The child she had dreamed of, touched lovingly every morning, whispered hopes to every night… gone. And here he was, blaming himself when in fact, she was the true cause.

chest caving under the weight of her pain. "You're still here," he whispered through his tears. "You're still here, Ruby, and I'll spend the rest of my life loving you. I'll give you as many children as you want, but please, baby, you have to be strong. You can't break down in this condition. Please,

Ruby's sobs didn't stop. They echoed in the sterile room, raw and unrestrained, and Stefan could only cling to her, bearing

hands over her mouth, tears streaming silently down her face. Ethan's jaw was tight, his eyes burning as he stared at

he could shield her from this truth, wished he could bear the grief for both of them. But this was a wound they would have to survive together

though his heart bled with her cries, one vow burned steadily in his chest: he wouldn't let her face it alone or have her tune him out. They would go through this pain,

a strange silence after Ruby's sobs finally weakened, though the echo of them still lingered in

against the pillows, her body exhausted from crying, her face pale and streaked with tears. Her eyes were swollen, staring blankly at the ceiling. She hadn't spoken

he let go, she might slip away from him — not

whispered, brushing his thumb across her

Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, her

every second of her silence. He would've preferred her anger, her screams, even her blame. Anything was better than this hollow

times in my head, how I could've done more, been more alert. Maybe if I had held you tighter during the blackout or that I had

to be different, Stefan. We were supposed to meet our baby. We were supposed to hold her. But we can't anymore and it's not even because of

"I know. I know, sweetheart. But you still

whispered, "I loved her already. I loved her