Ruby stirred as the scent of fresh coffee and warm pastries filled the air. Her lashes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, she forgot where she was.
Then, the events of the previous day came crashing down on her. She was now married to her sister's fiance.
Her heart skipped a beat as she turned her head and found Stefan sitting on the edge of the bed, his posture relaxed yet poised. He was dressed casually in a black sweater and matching sweatpants, his dark hair slightly tousled.
"Good morning," his deep voice rumbled.
Ruby quickly sat up, the silky sheets pooling around her waist. Her eyes widened as she noticed the neatly arranged breakfast tray in front of her—freshly baked croissants, scrambled eggs, fruit slices, and a steaming cup of coffee.
"You had breakfast brought up?" she asked in surprise.
Stefan nodded. "I asked the chef to prepare it early. I thought you might be tired after yesterday."
Ruby swallowed hard. He was thoughtful. Attentive. That was something she hadn't expected.
She forced a small smile. "That's… very kind of you."
He tilted his head slightly. "You sound surprised. Shouldn't you have like expected it? You know I would've cooked it myself if I could."
Ruby hesitated, choosing her words carefully since she could see he was already pointing out her differences with Ivy. "I just didn't expect you to wake up before me."
Stefan let out a soft chuckle. "I've always been an early riser. Old habits."
She reached for the coffee cup, taking a small sip to steady herself. Stefan remained seated, his expression unreadable. Even without sight, it felt like he was seeing right through her.
"You were restless last night," he murmured suddenly.
Ruby nearly choked on her coffee. "W-What?"
"I could hear you shifting in bed," he said simply. "Are you feeling alright?"
Her fingers tightened around the cup. Had she moved too much? Had she said anything in her sleep?
"I'm fine," she lied quickly. "I guess I just need time to adjust."
Stefan nodded, as if considering her words. Then, to her surprise, he reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His touch was light, almost hesitant.
"You don't have to pretend with me," he said softly.
Ruby's breath hitched. If only he knew the truth.
She forced a smile and turned her attention back to the food. "I should eat before it gets cold."
Stefan said nothing, but the way his brows furrowed slightly made her wonder if he sensed the unspoken tension in the room.
As she picked at her breakfast, one thought kept replaying in her mind.
How long could she keep up this deception before he found out the truth?
Ruby took another sip of her coffee, trying to focus on her breakfast rather than the man sitting across from her. Stefan had been quiet for a while, but she could feel his gaze on her—or at least, the way he was tuned in to her every move. It unsettled her.
"I was thinking," Stefan finally said, breaking the silence. "About our honeymoon. Where do you want us to go?"
Ruby's fork froze mid-air. Honeymoon? She hadn't even thought that far.
She quickly placed the fork down and cleared her throat. "Oh… I'd rather we don't travel."
Stefan's brows lifted slightly. "You don't want to travel?" His tone held a hint of surprise, almost as if he hadn't expected her to say that. "But you were so excited about it before. You couldn't stop talking about the places we'd go. I'm only asking now because I wanted to be sure you still want to go to Paris."
Ruby's heart pounded. She had just made another mistake. Of course Ivy had made plans with him. She scrambled for a response.
"That was before," she said quickly. "Back when your eyesight was perfectly fine. I just think… we should wait until after your surgery. When you can fully enjoy the experience. Though I've love to go but I'd rather we go with you being able to see everything I see with me."
Stefan's expression remained unreadable, but he nodded slowly, as if considering her words. "So, you're saying we should postpone it?"
"Yes," she said, forcing a small smile. "For now, let's just focus on adjusting, and… on me helping you run your home and business."
Stefan tilted his head, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee. "Business? Really? That's… unexpected."
Ruby stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you were never interested in business before," he said. "Every time I brought it up, you changed the subject. You used to say business talk was 'too boring' for you."
Ruby forced a laugh, though her mind raced for an explanation and she hoped she wouldn't be caught even before she started.
It was barely twenty four hours with him and she was making all these blunders. How much time would it take before she was discovered?
"Well… things are different now. You need me, Stefan. I have to be your eyes now, don't I? I don't have to do it because it's what I love. It's what I must do for the benefit of our home."
Silence stretched between them. Ruby held her breath, wondering if she'd said too much. But then Stefan reached across the table, his hand finding hers.
"That's… really thoughtful of you," he said, his voice softer now. "I love that you're thinking this way. It's good to see you growing into a beautiful and responsible wife."
Ruby swallowed hard, guilt settling deep in her chest. She didn't deserve his praise. She wasn't his wife—at least, not in the way he thought.
Still, she forced another smile, nodding as if she truly believed the words she had just spoken.
She would have to be careful going forward so as not to make any more unnecessary blunders that could land her in trouble. Ruby decided as she focused on her food.
*******
Hello there, lovelies!
It's your Author BabyAngel!
And I'm here with another book straight from my heart. If you are here because you read and enjoyed my other book, then I hope you enjoy this one as well. And if you're new to my work, I also hope you enjoy this one.
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