Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 123

TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox
123 CONTENT: Chapter 123 Punch His Dad

It was Riley!

13

Lucky Draw

Sebastian’s eyelashes fluttered ever so slightly, like the delicate wings of a butterfly caught in a gentle breeze. He found himself staring blankly at the figure before him, his mind racing to catch up with reality. She had pulled him back from the edge, a precipice that threatened to swallow him whole!

Riley hadn’t bolted in fear, hadn’t recoiled in disgust, and certainly hadn’t abandoned him to his spiraling thoughts!

“You came,” he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.

The very room where Gregory had “punished” him during his childhood—an echo of torment that still haunted his dreams, lurking in the shadows of his mind.

10:59

< Chapter 123 Punch His Dad Lucky Draw Sebastian had preserved this room as a permanent reminder of his past: a stark testament that weakness often meant becoming prey to the cruelty of others. He had vowed to himself, with every fiber of his being, to become strong—stronger than Gregory could ever fathom—ensuring that those hands would never touch him again. Yet, he never anticipated that after all these years, his dormant fears would resurface now, and of all people, it would be Riley who would stumble upon him in such a vulnerable state. "How're you feeling now? Let's go to the hospital first," Riley's voice shattered the heavy silence that enveloped them. "No need for the hospital. I'm good," Sebastian replied, his voice firm but lacking conviction. "But you were just..." "Seriously, I don't need it. And going to a regular hospital won't help anyway," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument. Riley fell silent, her concern palpable in the air. Just as she was about to rise, she noticed their hands were still intertwined, a lifeline in a moment of chaos. 2/7 10:59 < Chapter 123 Punch His Dad Lucky Draw "Relax your hand," Riley instructed softly, her voice soothing yet firm. Sebastian felt the tension in his body as he tightened his grip, but he slowly released his left hand. However, when Riley attempted to withdraw her other hand, he instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her against him with a sudden urgency. Caught completely off guard, she tumbled right on top of him, her breath hitching in surprise. "What are you doing..." she exclaimed, her eyes wide as she looked into his. His gaze locked onto hers, dark and intense, a storm brewing within. "Even with you straddling me like this, you feel nothing at all?" Riley held his stare, their bodies so close that she could feel the chill radiating from his skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of their unexpected closeness. "If I ever want a guy, it'll only be because I'm in love with him," she declared, wriggling out of Sebastian's embrace with determination. Finally, their clasped hands fell apart, the loss echoing in the silence between them. Sebastian sat there, staring at his empty hands, a pang of loss hitting him like a wave crashing against the shore. "Let's get out of this room," Riley suggested, her voice a soft nudge toward the outside world. Sebastian slowly pushed himself to his feet, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. "How did you get in here?" he asked, curiosity mingling with concern. "I heard you in pain. I called out, knocked, but there was no answer. I thought... I thought something terrible had happened, so I broke in. I know I shouldn't have," Riley admitted, her voice tinged with guilt. She was acutely aware that she had crossed a boundary, even if her intentions were rooted in care. "Is that all you have to say?" Sebastian's eyes bore into Riley's, a mix of confusion and vulnerability. The whips lining the walls and the room's sinister atmosphere would terrify any normal person, yet here she was, unfazed. Riley's voice softened, almost a whisper. "The past is the past. You're not that helpless child anymore. Don't let this room chain you to those memories." While she didn’t know the full extent of what had transpired in this room, she had pieced together enough to understand the weight of his burden. 4/7 10:59 < Chapter 123 Punch His Dad Lucky Draw And what she had figured out truly infuriated her! Sebastian's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Riley, the shock palpable in the air between them. "And..." Riley hesitated for a moment, her expression shifting to one of fierce determination. "Next time I see your dad, I'm gonna punch him. Can your lawyers keep me out of jail?" Sebastian's surprise morphed into sheer astonishment. Over the years, not much had ever rattled him, but in that instant, Riley's bold declaration left him utterly speechless. "You wanna... punch my dad?" he stammered, trying to process her words. "Damn right I do! Just tell me your lawyers can handle the fallout!" Riley shot back, her fiery spirit igniting a spark of hope within him. For so long, no one had dared to voice such a sentiment about his father. Even Sebastian had always believed that once he gained power, he would break free from his father's grasp. But here was this woman, right in front of him, unabashedly declaring her desire to confront his father! 10:59 < Chapter 123 Punch His Dad Lucky Draw Was it because of him? Did she truly want to take a swing at his father for his sake? A faint smile crept onto Sebastian's face, warmth spreading through his chest. "Alright, I’ll have your back! No matter what goes down, I’ll make sure you come out safe!" XXXXX Wren glared at the angry red marks marring her neck in the mirror, her teeth clenched in a simmering rage. When Sebastian had wrapped his hands around her throat, she had seen it in his eyes—he had truly meant to end her life. Sure, she had touched a raw nerve, but still, he had no right to treat her like that! It had to be because of Riley! Ever since Riley had entered Sebastian's life, he had changed. He had attended Riley's parents' funeral, always acting strangely around her, as if she held some power over him. 6/7 10:59 < Chapter 123 Punch His Dad Lucky Draw Now the Anderson family was drowning in complaints against...