CHAPTER 24: IF THIS WAS LOVE....

Nathan let out a breath. "Has she forgotten anything about you? Any major detail? Something Ivy would’ve never missed? I just want to understand you better."

"No. She remembers everything," Stefan said, voice quiet. "That’s the thing. Her memory’s sharp. Her routine’s nearly the same. Her scent, the way she walks—those haven’t changed or so I think."

"Then quit stressing, bro," Nathan said. "You’re driving yourself mad over something that might just be her heart growing up. It happens."

There was a silence that stretched long between them before Stefan broke it.

"Yeah. I guess I know that now. When are you coming back?"

"Two days," Nathan replied. "Flight lands in the afternoon. You want me to stop by first thing?"

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"I’d like that," Stefan said with a smile. "It’ll be good to have you around again."

"You miss my annoying ass, don’t you?"

Stefan laughed. "Maybe."

"Don’t worry," Nathan said, teasing. "When I get there, we’ll figure out what to do if she turns out to be an alien shapeshifter. But for now, just let yourself feel, man. You’ve got something real in front of you. Don’t ruin it because you’re scared."

Stefan ended the call after a few more pleasantries, setting the phone down gently on the nightstand.

He stood alone in the dimly lit room, the quiet humming in his ears blending with the ticking of the antique clock on the wall. A part of him still held onto the uncertainty, but the bigger part—the one that felt Ruby’s touch, heard the tremble in her voice when she said his name—that part wanted to believe.

Maybe he had tested her.

But now, he wasn’t sure if he had done it to expose her... or to reassure himself that someone could truly change, and still love him anyway.

He turned as he heard footsteps in the hallway and walked slowly back to the bed.

And for the first time since his accident, he was ready to trust her and be relaxed around her again, knowing she wouldn’t leave him in his condition.

Ruby quietly closed the door behind her as she slipped out of her room, her heart still pounding from the tense whispers exchanged with Rayna.

She pressed a hand to her chest, exhaling slowly before making her way back down the hallway.

She paused outside the bedroom door she now shared with Stefan, taking a second to compose herself. The hallway was dim, lit only by the faint nightlight at the corner, casting long shadows across the floor.

She opened the door softly, expecting to find the room dark, Stefan asleep, since they’d both had a pretty long day.

But the lamp was still on and instead of being fast asleep, Stefan was sitting up in bed.

Her brows lifted slightly in surprise. "You’re still awake?" she asked before she could stop herself and then her eyes narrowed as she thought about what Rayna had said. Could it be? Maybe the person had called him to tell him about her text, perhaps that was why he wasn’t asleep yet after being left for over an hour?

His head tilted at the sound of her voice. "I was waiting for you," he said and Ruby resisted the urge to snort.

But then, something in his tone made her pause. It wasn’t demanding or accusing. Just... gentle. Calm. Was he really waiting for her?

A flutter stirred in her chest at the thought of it since he had also said he’d been waiting for her when she returned for dinner.

She looked away, suddenly conscious of how quiet it was. The only sound was the soft ticking of the clock and the faint buzz of the night air slipping through the barely open window.

"You didn’t have to wait," she said, stepping further into the room. "I wasn’t gone long."

"I know," Stefan replied. "Still... I didn’t want to fall asleep until I heard you come back."

Ruby turned away quickly to hide the way her cheeks warmed. She hadn’t expected that. Not from him. She busied herself with smoothing out the edge of the blanket on her side of the bed, her thoughts racing.

It wasn’t the first time Stefan had said something that caught her off guard. In the beginning, she’d assumed his charm was simply a mask. But now... she wasn’t so sure.

She sat on the bed beside him, stealing a glance in his direction. He looked relaxed, one arm resting on the pillow behind him, his face tilted slightly toward her.

Ruby bit her bottom lip.

Something in her wanted to push, just a little. To know what he really saw when he thought of her—of Ivy.

"Stefan," she began, her voice soft, tentative. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

She hesitated. "Do you... ever feel like I’m not really me? I mean, since after our wedding, you’ve been hinting at that. Do you really think it?"

He tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." She turned toward him, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "Like you’d observed, I’ve changed. A lot. Since... the accident. Do you ever wonder if I’m... not the Ivy you remember or want?"

There was a pause—just long enough to make her heart beat a little faster.

"Okay, let me be direct. Do you think I’m Ruby? That I switched places with my sister or something? ’cause I’m tired of feeling like I’m working on edge around you."

Stefan’s brow furrowed, and his expression shifted, thoughtful. Ruby held her breath, half cussing herself for losing her cool that way. What if he hadn’t thought in that direction before?

She shook her head. Atleast then she’d know what he thinks.

"I did," he admitted quietly.

Ruby blinked. "You did?" she asked incredulously since that would likely mean he had pulled that stunt.

"I had my doubts," he continued. "You were different. Softer. Warmer. You listened more. You touched me like... I mattered."

Her throat tightened as she listened to him talk. If he didn’t feel all of those things with Ivy, then why was he convinced he loved her?

"But then I realized..." he said, his voice growing gentler, "maybe you didn’t change into someone else. Maybe you just grew into the person you were always meant to be."

Ruby swallowed hard. She should’ve felt relieved. Or proud. But instead, something tugged painfully at her chest.

He still thought she was Ivy. Just a better version. Her real self—the woman sitting next to him now—was never meant to be seen. Though she loved that he had at least thought she was different, she didn’t exactly know what to make of everything going on. It was just three days yet, everything was beginning to seem like a mess.

"I see," she murmured, trying to keep her voice steady. "So... do you want me to go back to the way I was before?"

The question hung in the air between them, fragile and dangerous.

Stefan didn’t hesitate. "No. Of course not."

She turned toward him, heart pounding. "I like you better this way," he said quietly.

Her breath caught. Ruby looked down, her hands gripping the fabric of her nightgown. She couldn’t meet his gaze—not when her chest felt like it might cave in.

Does he like me? Or does he like the idea of Ivy becoming more like me?

Her mind spiraled, spinning through thoughts she’d tried to bury. How could something so beautiful feel so painful? She’d spent days trying to be perfect for him, to embody Ivy’s grace while showing kindness that came naturally to her.

And now he was falling for that version. But it wasn’t Ivy. It was her. Ruby.

And the deeper they got into this twisted arrangement, the harder it became to pull back. Because Stefan didn’t just make her feel seen—he made her feel wanted. But it wasn’t really her he wanted... not yet.

She forced a smile, though her heart ached. "Good," she said softly, barely above a whisper. "I’m glad."

Stefan shifted slightly, reaching out toward her. His hand brushed her arm, trailing gently down until his fingers found hers. He held them loosely.

"You’ve been through a lot," he said, his voice low. "I can feel it. But whatever changed you... I’m grateful for it. You’re not the same Ivy I knew. But I think I like this version better. I like this you. Please remain this way."

Ruby looked up at him, at the softness in his features, the sincerity in his words. And her chest twisted even more.

She wanted to tell him. Wanted to scream the truth. That Ivy was gone. That she, Ruby, was the one sitting beside him. That everything he admired now wasn’t Ivy reformed—it was her heart, her soul.

But she couldn’t. So instead, she nodded, "I’ll try," she said, blinking back the sting behind her eyes.

"I’m tired," she whispered.

"Come here," Stefan said, guiding her gently closer.

She lay beside him, his arms wrapping around her with a familiarity that felt far too dangerous.

And as the silence settled once more, Ruby stared at the ceiling, her thoughts churning.

If this was love... What would happen when he learned the truth? Or when the real Ivy returned?

As Stefan’s breathing slowed beside her, steady and calm, Ruby lay in the stillness, watching shadows dance across the ceiling.

The quiet should’ve comforted her, but her thoughts clattered too loudly. She had come here thinking she could pretend her way through this marriage for a year—just one year—but she hadn’t counted on falling.

Not for the man who thought she was someone else. And certainly not for the way he made her feel, like she mattered. Like she belonged.

But lies, no matter how soft they’re spoken or how gently they’re wrapped in affection, still cut deep when the truth breaks through.

And someday, it would.

She turned slightly, eyes fluttering shut as Stefan unconsciously tightened his arm around her in sleep.

How do I let go of something I was never meant to hold?