Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 104

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 104: The Party**

**Lucky Draw**

“I’ve decided to wear this tomorrow,” Riley declared, halting in front of him, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

As she took a step closer, the slit in her skirt flirted with the air, revealing glimpses of her long, elegant right leg. It was a sight that made Sebastian’s heart skip a beat, but not for the reasons one might assume.

His brow furrowed in concern. If she walked into that party donning that dress, she would undoubtedly become the center of attention, every gaze drawn to her like moths to a flame.

The word “okay” almost escaped his lips, a simple affirmation that would have sufficed, but he found himself swallowing it back, a wave of protectiveness washing over him. “What if you tried something else?” he suggested, his voice steady but laced with an underlying tension.

“Something else?” Riley echoed, momentarily taken aback by his unexpected response.

Sebastian quickly rifled through a nearby brochure, his fingers landing on a gown that seemed to encapsulate modesty, one that enveloped the wearer completely. “How about this one?” he proposed, holding it up as if it were a treasure.

He imagined her in that gown, likely stumbling and falling if the occasion turned perilous. “Is there something wrong with the one I picked?” she inquired, her brow knitting together in confusion.

There was nothing inherently wrong with the dress she had chosen. In fact, it suited her exquisitely, accentuating her beauty in a way that made him feel a flicker of unease. He was apprehensive that too many eyes would be drawn to her, particularly those of other men, and that thought gnawed at him.

10:52

**Chapter 104: The Party**

**Lucky Draw**

The idea that someone might notice her beauty, that someone else could capture her attention, was a strange and unsettling notion for Sebastian. He found himself grappling with the fear that one day, she would turn her gaze away from him, leaving him in the shadows of her affections.

“If there’s nothing wrong with it, then I’ll wear it tomorrow,” Riley insisted, her determination evident as she turned to retrieve her own clothes.

But before she could move too far, Sebastian’s voice broke through the air, softer than before. “Riley, it seems you mean more to me than I ever realized.”

“What?” Riley spun around, her eyes widening in disbelief, convinced her ears were deceiving her.

“Never mind,” Sebastian replied, his expression softening, a gentle smile creeping onto his lips as if he had just shared a secret with the universe.

2/5

10:52

**Chapter 104: The Party**

But what truly shocked him was the presence of Sebastian beside her.

Isn’t she in Carmel to deal with her parents’ affairs? Why is she spending time with Sebastian now?

A bitter thought crept into his mind—was she seeking a divorce because she had found someone wealthier, someone like Sebastian, to elevate her status?

The very notion left an acrid taste in Bryce’s mouth, a mix of jealousy and disbelief.

Meanwhile, Bella regarded Riley with a sneer, her disdain palpable. “No wonder you were so eager to divorce Bryce back then. Turns out you’re just a gold-digger. I thought, given your parents were war heroes, you’d have some decency. But it seems…”

Suddenly, a glint of cold metal flashed across Bella’s neck, slicing through the air with a swift precision.

A sharp pain erupted as the blade made contact, and Bella gasped, clutching her throat as blood seeped through her fingers, her eyes wide with shock.

In stark contrast, Sebastian remained calm, pulling a pristine handkerchief from the pocket of his tailored suit and methodically wiping his right hand, as if nothing had happened.

“It seems, Ms. Sinclair, you enjoy running your mouth, don’t you? Care to elaborate?” Sebastian’s voice was steady, a chilling calmness enveloping his words.

Bella froze, realization dawning upon her—Sebastian was the one who had thrown that knife.