Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 107

**Chapter 107: A False Savior**

**Lucky Draw**

Bella felt a sense of determination wash over her as she stood in the vibrant atmosphere of Carmel, the salty breeze mingling with the tension in the air. She had anticipated this confrontation ever since she agreed to accompany Bryce. The weight of the moment pressed down on her; she knew Riley would confront her, and she was prepared to face it head-on, no matter the outcome.

“I didn’t have to say it,” Bella replied, her voice steady and cool, locking eyes with Riley. “Bryce and everyone else witnessed it firsthand. I saved him, rode in the ambulance with him to the hospital, and visited him every day during his recovery.” Her heart swelled with pride as she spoke the truth, the conviction in her words unshakeable.

Riley’s gaze remained unwavering, a storm brewing behind her eyes. “I’m asking if you were the one who pulled Bryce out of that river,” she pressed, her tone sharp, as if she were a prosecutor in a courtroom.

Bella’s heart raced under the intensity of Riley’s stare. For a fleeting moment, she felt as if she were pinned in place, Riley’s presence alone threatening to shrink her confidence.

“What, you think it’s not Bella? You’re claiming it was you?” Wren interjected with a scoff, her voice dripping with disdain as she stepped closer, a sneer curling her lips.

“I’m addressing Bella, not you,” Riley shot back, her voice cold and cutting, effectively silencing Wren.

Wren bristled but remained undeterred. “Why wouldn’t it concern me? Bella’s practically my cousin, and I’m here to support her,” she declared, crossing her arms defiantly.

“Cousin?” Riley blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by this unexpected revelation.

“Bella’s mom’s an Anderson too,” Wren said with a smug smile, her chin lifted in triumph. The implication was clear: despite the distance, Bella and Riley were connected by blood.

Riley had not anticipated this twist; the realization that she and Bella were related, however tenuously, sent a ripple of surprise through her.

Wren’s smirk widened as she regarded Riley with contempt. Bella had shared the news of Riley’s divorce with her, and this new information only fueled Wren’s disdain further.

A divorced woman? She doesn’t stand a chance with Sebastian!

“What’s your game, Riley?” Wren taunted, her voice thick with mockery. “Regretting the divorce now? Cooking up stories to worm your way back into Bryce’s life? Too bad your ex already knows you’re lying. You’re no savior of his.”

Bella added her voice, her tone dripping with insincere sympathy. “Riley, you and Bryce are finished. Why resort to these cheap tricks? Do you really think if you convince him you saved his life, he’ll come crawling back, ready to make amends?”

Riley ignored their jeers, her icy gaze returning to Bryce. “So, you truly believe Bella is the one who saved you?”

Bryce hesitated, a flicker of doubt momentarily crossing his face. But when his eyes met Bella’s hopeful gaze, he nodded firmly. “Yeah, I believe her.”

Wren’s voice grew louder, deliberately drawing the attention of nearby banquet guests, determined to humiliate Riley in front of everyone.

The guests gathered were Carmel’s elite, top officials and socialites. If damaging rumors about Riley began to circulate, her chances of rebuilding her reputation in this town would be shattered.

Bella, seizing the opportunity, chimed in with feigned pity. “Riley, if you’re having second thoughts about the divorce and want Bryce back, just admit it. No need to resort to such low, sneaky tactics.”

“Who’s the sneaky one here, Bella?” Riley retorted, her tone laced with biting sarcasm.

“If you really saved Bryce, where were you that night? Why weren’t you there?” Bella challenged, her eyes narrowing as she pressed the point.

Kiley bit her lip, frustration evident on her face.

That night, after she had saved Bryce, she had been on a mission of urgency. She had called 911 and enlisted a random passerby to keep an eye on him until help arrived.

But the records of 911 calls didn’t linger forever.

And that stranger she had roped into helping? Long gone, leaving her with no way to track them down now.