Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 136

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 136: Nothing to Make Up**

The thought struck Bryce like a bolt of lightning, sending a tremor through his hand. He barely managed to keep the wine in his glass from sloshing over the rim.

“Bryce?” Bella’s voice cut through the fog of his thoughts, her concern evident. “What’s wrong? You don’t look so well.”

“Nothing,” he replied, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than an expression of genuine happiness. He met her gaze, trying to project an air of calm that he didn’t quite feel.

From the moment he had crossed paths with Bella, she had radiated a boldness and confidence that was both captivating and intimidating. How could someone like her—so vibrant and assured—ever think to deceive him? And as she had once pointed out, he had been just a poor lad back then. What could she possibly stand to gain by weaving a web of lies around him?

Just then, a stir at the entrance of the grand banquet hall drew their attention.

Bryce and Bella turned to see Sebastian and Riley making their entrance, side by side.

Sebastian, clad in a sharp black suit, exuded an air of elegance that was hard to ignore. Riley, on the other hand, was dressed simply, but her presence was undeniable—she carried herself with a confidence that seemed to command respect.

“Chapter 136: Nothing to Make Up… Lucky Draw”

As Bryce observed Riley’s complexion returning to its normal hue after the earlier rescue, a wave of relief surged through him.

“Mr. Torres, Ms. Anderson, we are all deeply grateful for your heroic actions today,” said Wilbur Robles, a man overseeing the island development project in Carmel. “Without your intervention, we could have faced a tragedy.”

Sebastian replied with a calm demeanor, “You should be thanking Riley. She was the one who took the plunge into the water. I merely assisted.”

Wilbur raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the dynamics at play. “I couldn’t help but notice you embraced Ms. Anderson after the rescue. Care to share what your relationship is?”

“She means a lot to me,” Sebastian stated simply, his voice steady as he spoke. “I was genuinely worried about her in that moment.”

Wilbur scrutinized Riley a little longer, his gaze lingering on her. It was evident that she held a significant place in Sebastian’s life.

Nearby, Chris was engaged in conversation with some of Carmel’s affluent elite.

“Those tycoons, spotting Sebastian and Riley together, remarked enviously, ‘Chris, that young lady is also an Anderson, isn’t she?’”

“Yes, she is Dominic’s daughter,” Chris confirmed, his tone measured.

“Your family really hit the jackpot. First, you had Wren, and now you have Riley,” someone commented, a hint of bitterness lacing their words.

After all, with the protection of the Torres family, the Anderson family was poised to gain even more power.

Every wealthy family in Carmel yearned to forge connections with the Torres family, and by some twist of fate, two young women from the Anderson family had managed to do just that.

Chris smiled politely, but a flicker of worry danced in his eyes, betraying his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Wren stood nearby, her teeth clenched in frustration. The way they referred to her as “first” made her feel like a ghost, as if she had already been forgotten.

Just then, she noticed someone approach Riley, speaking to her briefly before Riley moved away from Sebastian.

Seizing the moment, Wren strode over to Sebastian. “Sebastian, can we talk privately?”

Sebastian glanced at her, dismissing her with a wave of his hand. “Is there really anything we need to discuss in private?”

*****

Meanwhile, Riley followed the orphanage director to the hotel’s infirmary.

The boy who had fallen into the water lay on the bed, his face still marred by unease. But as soon as he caught sight of Riley, he struggled to sit up, throwing himself into her arms as if she were his lifeline.

“I’m so sorry,” the director said apologetically, his brow furrowed with concern. “He’s been on edge ever since the rescue and keeps asking to see you.”

“It’s alright,” Riley said softly, gently wrapping her arms around the boy. “What’s wrong? You’re safe now. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“But I’m still scared… I’m so scared…” the boy sobbed, his small frame trembling as he clung to her.

It was clear that the ordeal had left a profound mark on him.

“Don’t be scared. I’m here,” Riley whispered, holding him close, her voice a soothing balm. “If anything bad happens again, I’ll be there to save you.”

“Really?” The boy looked up at her, his eyes still haunted by the memories of what had just transpired.

“Really,” Riley reassured him, her voice steady and calm. “I’ll save you. I promise.”

Her words seemed to wrap around the boy like a protective shield, bringing him a measure of comfort. Just then, Bryce happened to pass by the door, and his steps faltered as he overheard the exchange.

The words Riley spoke felt eerily familiar to him—echoes of the promises he had heard in a half-conscious haze, lying in the river all those years ago.