Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

The warm glow of the dining room chandelier bathed the space in golden light, casting a soft ambiance over the dinner table where Ruby and Stefan sat. It was quiet, peaceful—a rare moment of stillness after the storm that had been the last few hours.

Ruby glanced down at her plate of roasted potatoes and grilled chicken, gently pushing them around with her fork. Her appetite hadn't fully returned since morning, but she tried anyway. She could tell Stefan had made an effort—everything was mild, comforting, just the way she liked it.

Stefan looked up from his own plate when he noticed her slow pace. "Too much?"

Ruby shook her head with a soft smile. "No. It's perfect. I'm just… still a little queasy."

He nodded, reaching out to gently brush his fingers across hers. "We'll figure out what your stomach likes eventually. Until then, I'm up for the challenge."

Just then, Stefan's phone buzzed on the table, the screen lighting up with a name Ruby had become very familiar with.

Elizabeth.

Ruby's gaze flicked to the phone. "Your mom," she said softly.

Stefan didn't even glance at the screen. He simply reached over and silenced the call, turning the device face down.

Ruby blinked, feeling a bit sad. "You're not going to answer?"

"We're eating," Stefan replied simply, cutting into his food like it was nothing.

Ruby stared at him for a moment, her chest tightening with quiet unease. "She's probably calling about the scandal. About Ivy's video… and how it's affecting the company. You should take it and assure her."

"I doubt that," Stefan said without looking up.

"You don't think it's about that?" she asked, incredulous.

"If it were, she would've called this morning immediately after she saw it. She's not the type to wait all day to talk about damage control," he said casually.

Ruby bit her bottom lip, feeling her stomach twist—not from morning sickness this time, but from guilt. "Then… why ignore her call?"

Stefan looked up then, setting his fork down. "Because we're having dinner and if I leave now to take it, I might not want to continue eating. I'll call her back after we finish."

The earnestness in his voice made her feel relaxed a bit. But the ache in her heart remained. She didn't want to be the reason Elizabeth felt ignored, especially now, when the Winters name was being dragged through the mud.

Still, she nodded. "Okay."

Dinner continued in silence after that—comfortable, if not slightly distracted. When they finished, Ruby cleared the table despite Stefan's insistence that she relax. And once everything was put away, the two of them retreated upstairs into their room.

Ruby changed into her robe and curled up on the bed with a book while Stefan took a seat on the edge of the bed, finally picking up his phone to return his mother's call.

She answered after two rings.

"Stefan," Elizabeth's voice came through the line, clipped with underlying annoyance. "You saw my call earlier. Why didn't you answer?"

"We were having dinner," Stefan replied evenly. "I didn't want to interrupt."

There was a pause on the other end. Then her tone softened, just a little. "How's Ruby doing?"

"She's doing okay. The nausea's getting worse, though. Couldn't even eat eggs this morning. I just hope it doesn't get worse."

Elizabeth sighed. "Yeah. That's how it is for some women, unfortunately. It'll pass… eventually. You just keep an eye on her. Make sure she's drinking enough water and getting rest."

"I am," Stefan assured her.

Another pause. Then her voice shifted back into business mode. "We need to talk about this Ivy situation. What's your plan to neutralize everything she spilled this morning?"

"I'm still working on it," Stefan said, rubbing his forehead.

"Well, work faster," Elizabeth replied curtly. "I've spent the whole day trying to convince half our business associates that you and Ruby didn't just run off behind Ivy's back like some soap opera villains or how she painted it."

Stefan closed his eyes, sighing. "Anyone in particular giving you trouble?"

"Yes. Mr. Rogers."

Stefan stiffened. "He's not buying your version?"

"Not even close," she snapped. "He thinks I'm just spinning a cover-up. Says he wants to see you and Ruby together—in person. He's invited you both to his company's anniversary event this Tuesday."

"That's in two days."

"Yes."

Stefan leaned back slightly, the mattress creaking under him. "And how is showing up to a party supposed to convince him I didn't do what Ivy said?"

Elizabeth exhaled sharply. "I don't know, Stefan. But we can't afford to lose his partnership. You need to go. Bring Ruby. Let him see that what you have is real. That she's not some homewrecker."

Stefan rubbed his temples again. "Fine. We'll go."

"Good," she said. "And please—keep all of this away from Ruby. The last thing she needs is more stress right now."

He nodded. "I tried but she already knows. She's strong, though. Stronger than I expected."

"She'll need to be," Elizabeth murmured. Then, more gently, she added, "Which brings me to another thing. You need to propose to her. Immediately."

Stefan blinked. "Now?" he asked as he immediately stood up, and headed to the bathroom, not wanting Ruby to hear him discussing about their wedding.

"Yes. Don't wait. Get married before that bump starts showing clearly. If the media sees a pregnant bride and no ring yet, they'll feast on it and think whatever Ivy said was true. We're trying to make them not believe it but no matter what we say later, they won't buy it."

"I was thinking we could wait until after the baby is born," Stefan said slowly and in a quiet voice. "I didn't think it was possible to plan a wedding so quickly."

"With all the resources we have?" Elizabeth scoffed. "Please. That wedding with Ivy took six months because we weren't in a hurry. This is different. You love Ruby. You already live together. There's nothing to wait for. The longer we wait, the longer we give Ivy the impression that she can sweep in with her antics anytime."