Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 114

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 114: Broken Chains**

Before long, Riley found herself standing at the grand entrance of Anderson Manor, her heart fluttering with a mix of anticipation and concern. The sprawling estate loomed before her, its opulence a stark contrast to the heaviness in her chest.

Inside, Quinten was sprawled on the plush sofa, his usual vibrancy noticeably dimmed. The light that once danced in his eyes seemed to flicker, and Riley couldn’t shake the feeling that time was slipping through their fingers like sand.

“Grandpa, you don’t look well,” Riley remarked, her voice laced with worry as she studied his weary features. She took a seat beside him, hoping to infuse some warmth into the moment.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m not going down that easily,” Quinten replied with a faint smile, his gaze meeting hers. It was a brave front, but she could see the fatigue etched around his eyes, a testament to the battles he had fought and the ones still looming ahead.

“Chris mentioned you’re leaving?” he inquired, his tone shifting as if the thought of her departure weighed heavily on him.

“Yeah, I’m heading back to Washington,” Riley confirmed, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. “A friend of mine has a company there, and I’ll join her team. Plus, I want to keep searching for my brother along the border.” She laid her plans out, feeling a sense of determination swell within her.

Quinten fell into a thoughtful silence, his brow furrowing as he processed her words. Then, unexpectedly, a smile broke through. “That’s good to hear. I hope you can find Samuel successfully.”

“He’s a good boy—an honor to our family,” she replied, pride swelling in her chest at the mention of her brother.

As Quinten’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, Riley instinctively reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “I will find him, I promise,” she vowed, her voice earnest and unwavering.

“Ah…I know you will,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

After a moment of shared silence, Riley sensed the weight of the conversation. She deftly shifted the topic to lighter matters, discussing the mundane and the cheerful, trying to lift the somber atmosphere that had settled like a fog in the room.

But as she noticed Quinten’s energy waning, she knew it was time to take her leave. “I should get going,” she said softly, rising from her seat.

Just as she reached the door, her heart skipped a beat. She froze, her eyes widening as she spotted Bryce and Bella emerging from a sleek car parked outside.

Bella’s expression soured the instant she laid eyes on Riley. “What are you doing here?” she spat, her voice dripping with disdain.

Riley raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. “My last name’s Anderson. Don’t I have more reason to be here than you do?”

Bella’s face darkened, her tone dripping with scorn. “Oh, please, Riley. Do you think you can act all high and mighty just because you’ve got Sebastian backing you now? Fresh out of a divorce and already throwing yourself at another guy. You sure move fast.”

“We’re both single,” Riley shot back coolly, her composure unwavering. “Even if I did throw myself at Sebastian, what’s it to you? At least I’m not the one who couldn’t wait to play mistress while someone else was still married.”

“Who are you calling a mistress?” Bella snapped, her voice rising in fury.

“Bryce was slipping you fifty million dollars’ worth of jewelry while we were still married,” Riley retorted, her tone sharp and biting. “If you’re not a mistress, what are you? His pen pal? That necklace you’re wearing is one of his gifts, isn’t it?”

“Once I’m back in Washington, I’ll have my lawyer look into it. Let’s see if you can keep those jewels then,” Bella shot back, her eyes narrowing with malice.

“Mr. Brunson, that was way out of line!” Bryce stepped forward, his voice thick with indignation. “You can’t just do that. I could have you charged with robbery!”

“Robbery?” Vince let out a mocking laugh, tossing the necklace lightly in his hand. “I’m just helping Rye reclaim what’s rightfully hers from your marriage. You really think you’ve got a case against me?”

Bryce’s breath caught in his throat, realization dawning on him. He had nearly forgotten that Vince’s mother hailed from a prestigious legal dynasty in Washington. With just a word from Vince, the city’s top lawyers would rally to his side.

Bella glared at Vince, her eyes blazing with resentment. “Brunson, since when did you enjoy playing second fiddle? I didn’t realize Riley was so skilled at stringing along Sebastian, and now you too.”

Riley’s brow furrowed, ready to fire back, but Vince was already moving. He stepped forward and delivered a sharp, resounding slap across Bella’s cheek.

Bella staggered, pain flaring across her face. Just yesterday, she had been nursing wounds from Sebastian, the swelling barely concealed under layers of foundation. Now, Vince’s strike stung even more, a fresh reminder of her precarious position.

“Mr. Brunson, how dare you!” Bryce rushed to Bella’s side, shielding her as if he could protect her from the fallout of her actions.

“That’s a lesson in watching her mouth,” Vince said, his voice cold and mocking. “If she dares to badmouth Rye again, she’ll get more than a slap.”

Bella’s eyes burned with deeper hatred, her rage boiling over. She turned to Riley, her voice trembling with fury. “Riley, are you always going to hide behind men?”

“You sure you want me to step up?” Riley shot back, her gaze icy and unwavering.