CHAPTER 12: LET ME DO THAT

After their talk about Eliana, Ruby led Stefan back to their bedroom, but the air between them felt heavy. An odd silence settled between them, one that made her uneasy.

She glanced at him, noticing the way his brows were slightly furrowed. Even though he couldn’t see, it was obvious he was still thinking about their conversation. What was on his mind? Was he starting to suspect something?

She needed to change the direction of the day before he asked more questions.

Just as she was about to excuse herself, Stefan tilted his head slightly. "I think I’ll go have a drink or two," he murmured, his fingers lightly grazing the top of his cane.

Ruby tensed.

It was a simple statement, but something about it made her wary. Why did he suddenly need a drink? Was he just in the mood, or was something bothering him? Was he drinking to think—or to forget?

"Should I get it for you?" she offered, keeping her voice light, hoping to keep him close where she could control the situation.

Stefan’s lips curved slightly, but there was something unreadable in his expression. "No need. I want to sit at the bar while having the drink."

Of course, he does. That was exactly what she didn’t want. If he sat there alone, there was always a chance he could pick up on something—some small detail that didn’t align with Ivy’s habits.

She forced a smile and quickly slipped her hand into his. "Fine. I’ll take you," she said, before he could protest.

He didn’t argue, but she could feel his scrutiny as she guided him through the house. His grip on her hand was firm, not as if he needed support, but as if he were testing something. Was he comparing her touch to Ivy’s? Was he trying to figure out if she was truly the woman he had married?

The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

When they reached the wine cellar, she released his hand and moved ahead, her eyes scanning the shelves. She needed to stay ahead of him, to be in control. Without thinking much, she grabbed a bottle and poured him a glass.

She looked down at the label, then at the shelves, and her heart stopped for a second.

There were only a few bottles of this wine left, but there was another bottle—the one with a much higher count.

That meant... this wasn’t his favorite drink.

And naturally, Ivy should know something as basic as that.

Damn it.

She had acted too quickly, assuming instead of checking. If he tasted the drink and hesitated, even for a second, he might start putting the pieces together.

She couldn’t afford to make a mistake now—not after all the little slip-ups today.

f(r)eew(e)bnovel.(c)o(m)

Before she could second-guess herself, she grabbed the glass and downed its contents in one go. The alcohol burned her throat, but she barely reacted. No time for that.

She quickly picked up a bottle of Cognac—the one she had deduced was his favorite—and placed it on the small table nearby. Then, she grabbed a fresh glass, not wanting him to know about her sip earlier.

By the time she turned back to him, she was composed. "Here you go," she said smoothly, handing him the glass. "Aged just the way you like it."

Stefan’s lips curled into a small smirk. "You make it sound as if you chose it just for me."

Ruby’s fingers tightened slightly around the glass before she placed it on the table near the bottle. Had he noticed something? Was that a test?

She forced a light chuckle. "Of course, I did. What kind of wife would I be if I didn’t know what my husband likes?"

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he reached for the bottle, his fingers brushing over the label with slow, deliberate movements. He’s thinking. He’s analyzing.

Her breath caught as she watched him. Was he testing her? Again?

Thank God she had changed the drink in time.

She needed to leave before she said something wrong.

"I’ll let you enjoy your drink," she said quickly, stepping back toward the door.

Stefan lifted his head slightly. "You’re not joining me?" His tone was casual, but then his eyebrow lifted. "I thought you’d be joining me, seeing as you’ve already started drinking."

Crap! How had he known that? From her breath, maybe.

Ruby hesitated for only a fraction of a second before flashing an easy smile. "Not today. I’m exhausted—that’s why I had a glass. I think I’ll head upstairs and rest now."

There was a pause. Then Stefan nodded, reaching for the corkscrew on the table. "Alright."

She turned to go, but his voice stopped her.

"Ivy."

Her breath caught for just a fraction of a second before she turned back. "Yes?"

He didn’t look at her. Instead, he focused on uncorking the bottle, his movements slow, almost too precise.

A part of her expected him to ask something—anything. But instead, he only said, "Never mind."

Never mind?

Ruby frowned. Why did he hold back? What was he thinking? Was he just playing with her? Or was he keeping his thoughts to himself because he already suspected something?

Her mind raced as she tried to decide whether to leave or push for an answer. But pushing might make things worse.

Instead, she let out a soft sigh and said, "I’m your wife, Stefan. You shouldn’t feel the need to hide things from me." She took a careful step forward, hoping to sound reassuring. "If there’s something on your mind, say it."

Stefan remained silent, his fingers tapping lightly against the table.

Ruby continued, choosing her words carefully. "I know you think things are a bit different right now because I’m doing things you think I’ve never done before. But trust me... I’m still the same person. I’m your wife, and I want the absolute best for you."

Her voice softened. "I’m not here to harm you, Stefan. I’m here to help you. I just hope that with time, you’ll understand."

A long silence stretched between them.

Then, Stefan finally spoke, his voice lower than before. "Can someone really change that much?"

Ruby’s heart pounded. So that’s what’s on his mind. He had noticed the differences.

She let out a soft, thoughtful sigh, choosing her next words carefully. "Yes, they can. When they realize life is much more than they thought it was."

f r\eew,eb novel.c(o)(m)

She hesitated, then added, "Before, you had your sight. You could do anything. You had everything under control, Stefan. That meant I had the freedom to do as I pleased, knowing you could always fix things. But now?" She shook her head. "I can’t afford to be reckless anymore. Right now, you need me to step up—to be your eyes. You need someone who makes things easier for you, not someone who makes them harder. That’s what I’m trying to do."

She swallowed, hoping her words were enough. "Let me do that. Will you?"

The words felt natural, even though she knew they weren’t completely true. But the way she said them... the way they came so easily...

She caught herself before she thought too much about it.

Stefan let out a quiet hum of agreement but said nothing more as he took a sip of his Cognac.

Taking that as her cue, Ruby quickly slipped out of the cellar, her pulse racing as she climbed the stairs.

Every interaction with Stefan felt like walking a tightrope.

He might have seemed convinced by what she said, but she knew better than to let her guard down.

She had to stay sharp. One wrong move, and everything would fall apart.