Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 117

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 117: An Unexpected Visitor**

“Please, just let me come with you.”

**&**

**Lucky Draw**

Riley felt a moment of uncertainty wash over her, her resolve beginning to crack under the weight of his earnest gaze. “We’ll see,” she replied, her voice steadying as she tried to maintain her composure. “I’m not just making a quick trip to the border and turning right back. I’ll be staying there for an indefinite period, and honestly, I have no idea how long that will be.”

“That’s perfectly fine,” Vince replied, his tone unwavering, as if he had already made up his mind. “I’ll be right there with you, no matter how long it takes.”

Riley tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. A swirl of curiosity and confusion danced in her mind. “Look, Vince,” she began, her tone softening, “even if I was your captain back in the day and looked out for you when we were in the barracks, you don’t owe me anything. Taking care of you was just part of being teammates. You don’t have to go out of your way to repay me for that.”

Vince shifted his weight, his expression softening yet tinged with a flicker of frustration. “It’s not about repaying you,” he insisted, his voice low and earnest. “Sure, part of it is gratitude, but it’s more than that. It’s because I…”

His words stumbled, caught in his throat like a secret too heavy to be revealed. A knot of hesitation tightened in his chest. He wrestled with the thought of confessing his feelings, knowing all too well that Riley wasn’t ready to explore a new relationship after everything she had endured. If he laid his heart bare now, she would likely reject him outright.

And then what? Would they still be able to share these easy, natural conversations if she turned him down?

Vince couldn’t shake the uncertainty that gnawed at him. He cared for her deeply, cherishing the bond they had forged over the years. The thought of risking that connection terrified him.

Three years ago, he had let a golden opportunity slip through his fingers.

Am I really going to hesitate once more?

Vince had always been a free spirit, bold and unrestrained in his pursuits, save for the moments he spent with Riley. With her, he was cautious, second-guessing every word, every gesture.

“What?” Riley prompted, her curiosity piqued, urging him to continue.

“I…” Vince opened his mouth to speak, but just then, his phone erupted into a cacophony of buzzing, interrupting the moment.

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