Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 111

**Chapter 111: Moonlit Truths**

**Lucky Draw**

The atmosphere felt charged, as if the universe had conspired to bring Sebastian and Riley to this very moment, under the soft glow of the moonlight. It was as though he had orchestrated this encounter solely for her benefit.

“Thanks for earlier,” Riley said, her voice barely above a whisper, the words slipping out with a mix of gratitude and vulnerability.

“Thank me?” Sebastian glanced up, a hint of intrigue flickering in his eyes, as if he were trying to decipher a riddle.

“Yeah, for standing up for me back there,” she replied, her tone steady but laced with a touch of warmth. “I know you were just trying to help. Don’t worry, I’m not reading too deeply into what you said.”

“Which part?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, his voice smooth but probing, as if he were fishing for hidden meanings. “The part where I mentioned wealth, or the part where I said I’d be yours whenever you wanted?”

“Honestly, all of it,” Riley said, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve. “Whether it was out of pity or genuine support, I appreciate the gesture. And if you ever find yourself in need of help, I’ll be there for you.”

Sebastian’s eyes locked onto hers, an intensity radiating from him that felt almost palpable. “Riley, I’m not the kind of guy who plays the hero. The Torres family isn’t known for breeding do-gooders.”

The Torres name was more often associated with terms like “ruthless,” “selfish,” and “obsessive,” never anything as virtuous as “heroic.”

Riley blinked, momentarily taken aback by his candidness.

Sebastian’s voice lowered, each word deliberate and heavy with meaning. “And as for you, I’ve never felt pity. What I feel is envy.”

“Envy?” Riley’s eyes widened, disbelief washing over her face like a sudden wave.

“Yeah,” he murmured, his tone softening, almost vulnerable. “I envy you for having such incredible parents, for growing up enveloped in warmth and love. Even though they’re no longer here, their love continues to thrive in your memories.”

He contrasted this with his own recollections of his parents, which were tainted with bitterness and disappointment.

“I envy you,” he repeated, his voice barely a whisper. “And I admire your parents. It takes a family like that to raise someone as remarkable as you.”

Riley hadn’t anticipated that someone like Sebastian, who seemed to have the world at his fingertips, would harbor feelings of envy toward her.

Yet, as she recalled the strained way he had spoken of his father in the past, a pang of concern settled in her chest.

Her own family had always been a sanctuary of warmth—parents who cherished her, a brother who stood as her protector. Even when life pulled them in different directions, she had always felt enveloped in love.

She had no insight into the dynamics of Sebastian’s family, and words of comfort felt inadequate, lodged uncomfortably in her throat.

After a moment of silence, she finally offered, “If you want, you could build that kind of family one day. You could marry, have kids, and give them the warmth you missed out on.”

Marriage? Kids?

Sebastian’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.

His expression held its usual calm, yet his eyes burned with an intensity she had never witnessed before. It was a vivid contrast to the quiet reserve he usually maintained, as if daring her to believe he meant every word he spoke.

At that moment, with just a nod, she could step into the role of Sebastian’s girlfriend.

Everything she had ever wanted could be laid at her feet.

It sounded almost absurd, a fantasy woven from dreams, yet Riley felt the weight of his sincerity pressing against her.

“What do you say?” Sebastian’s low, husky voice rippled through the stillness of the garden, wrapping around her like a soft embrace.

Riley met his gaze; their eyes locked in an unspoken exchange.

Under the moonlight, his eyes shimmered with a faint light, as if they could draw her heart into their depths.

She understood that saying yes could alter the course of her life in ways she couldn’t begin to fathom.

“Sorry, I can’t,” she replied, her voice clear and unwavering.

Sebastian frowned, confusion clouding his features. “Why? Do you still have feelings for Bryce?”

“No,” she stated firmly. “I don’t love Bryce anymore. The truth is, I’m not willing because I don’t love you right now. And the things I want? I’ll fight for them myself.”