CHAPTER 30: SORRY I FAILED YOU

Ruby’s breath hitched. His words struck a place inside her she didn’t know was exposed. He wasn’t wrong—he was falling in love. But not with Ivy.

With her. He just said it.

She swallowed hard, fighting the wave of guilt and longing that rolled through her chest.

"So tell me," Stefan said softly, turning toward her, "if this version of you is who I’ve been waiting for all along... would she ever be able to remain this way? Even after I get my sight back."

Ruby couldn’t breathe.

Stefan’s words lingered between them like smoke—thick, inescapable, and far too dangerous to inhale. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

What could she say? That he was right? That the person he was falling for wasn’t Ivy at all—but her? Or that she wouldn’t leave when she would? Could she promise him now and stay?

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, like it was trying to push the words out on its own.

Just as she opened her mouth to respond—a sharp knock broke through the tension.

The office door creaked open and Stefan’s secretary walked in, looking very tense.

"I’m so sorry to interrupt, sir," she said, clutching a tablet. "But we have a situation at the Westborough construction site. Another riot just broke out."

Stefan’s jaw tightened. Ruby saw the subtle change in his posture—the shift from emotionally exposed man to decisive CEO.

"Alright," he said, already moving to stand. "Call Oliver. Tell him to get the car ready."

The secretary nodded and backed out.

Ruby stood as well, her heart still not recovered. The moment had passed—but it wasn’t gone. Not by a long shot.

As Stefan reached for his cane, he turned slightly toward her. "We’ll finish that conversation later."

It wasn’t a question. It was a promise.

Ruby sat in the car, staring out the window at the passing city. The tension that had built up inside her during their drive only intensified the longer she thought about Stefan’s words.

Her chest tightened. Stefan didn’t know that the person he loved was someone pretending to be his wife, Ivy. The woman he was so convinced was the love of his life was actually someone else entirely.

Though she was beginning to feel bad now, she told herself she was doing it for his good.

Ruby clenched her fists in her lap, trying to push the thoughts aside. Focus, she told herself. There’s a crisis, a real problem that needs to be handled.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to Stefan, who was seated beside her. His calm demeanor didn’t mirror the storm inside her. "Baby, can you tell me more about what’s happening at the site?"

His voice was steady, but there was a hint of concern in his tone. "It’s a project leased to an investor for ten years. We’re only two years in, but the issues keep piling up. There are worker riots, safety violations, and now, we’ve got a serious injury to deal with."

Naomi, sitting in the front passenger seat, with Oliver who was driving them, turned back to give them more details.

"The workers went on strike because the investor refused to raise their salaries. They’ve been overworked, and the conditions aren’t great. The situation escalated into a riot. During the chaos, a worker was injured by the security team and is now in the hospital. Now, the other worker’s are asking that Mr. Sherlock takes responsibility for Mr. Phil, the injured worker."

Ruby frowned. "This is unacceptable. Why hasn’t the contract been terminated if the investor or Mr Sherlock whatever is violating the terms?"

Stefan sighed, his hand resting on the armrest. "It’s a bit more complicated, babe. My uncle negotiated the deal. He’s been insistent that Mr Sherlock isn’t at fault and that the situation doesn’t warrant breaking the contract."

Ruby thought for a moment, her mind working quickly. "Then we need to look for loopholes in the contract. We can’t just let this slide. If Mr Sherlock isn’t holding up his end, then we have to make him accountable."

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Stefan’s expression softened slightly, clearly impressed by Ruby’s determination. "I guess you’re right. We’ll have to find a way."

When they arrived at the construction site, the situation was even worse than they had expected. The workers were gathered in tight groups, their faces angry and worn.

Makeshift signs were raised in the air, and heated shouts filled the air. Ruby felt the weight of their frustration.

As she and Stefan made their way through the crowd, a worker shouted, "What’s he doing here? He’s blind! How can he understand our pain?"

The words struck Ruby like a blow, but she refused to let them shake her. She stepped forward, her voice calm but firm, calling out to the workers. "We’re here because we want to help. Stefan may not see with his eyes, but he understands the value of what you’re going through. We’re working to fix this. But we need your cooperation."

The murmurs of the crowd quieted, some workers nodding in agreement. Naomi and Oliver exchanged glances, clearly relieved that Ruby had taken control of the situation.

"He didn’t even do anything before he got blind so what can he do now," one of the workers shouted and Stefan sighed.

Stefan, though unable to see the workers, could feel the tension in the air. "Please," he said, his voice commanding yet compassionate. "I’m sorry if I’ve failed you all in the past but now, I want to do better. We need to ensure that the injured get the medical attention they need. Afterward, we’ll address the issues with the contract and work out a solution that benefits everyone. I promise, this time, I’ll resolve it."

Ruby turned back to him, feeling a surge of admiration for his calm, unwavering resolve. She could sense that the crowd was beginning to soften, some of the hostility fading from their faces.

After a few minutes, Ruby saw that the workers were starting to disperse, agreeing to cooperate as long as their demands were addressed. As the situation slowly calmed down, Stefan turned to Ruby with a quiet but sincere smile.

"You handled that well," he said.

Ruby nodded, her own heart still pounding from the earlier tension. "We’ll figure this out. We have to."

Stefan’s smile widened, though he didn’t say anything more. Together, they headed back toward the car, both determined to get to the bottom of the issue and make sure the workers were treated fairly.

It wasn’t going to be easy, but Ruby knew one thing for sure: with Stefan determined to help, they’d surely resolve this.