Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 18

**Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 18: His Madness**

Riley gasped, her heart racing as she spun around. The moment she turned, she was met with the strikingly handsome visage of Sebastian, a man whose presence always seemed to command attention.

“How did you end up here?” she asked, her voice betraying her surprise.

“Since you turned down my assistant’s offer, I figured it was only right that I come personally to extend the invitation,” Sebastian replied, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.

Riley pressed her lips together, her mind racing. It seemed impossible to refuse this dinner invitation now that Sebastian had taken the initiative to show up in person. A nagging curiosity tugged at her—why was he so determined to share this meal with her?

“Are these your parents’ ashes?” Sebastian’s gaze settled on the urn, where the names Dominic Anderson and Bianca Anderson were inscribed beneath the national flag.

“Yes,” Riley replied, her voice steady but her heart heavy.

“Those with the national flag on their urn aren’t just ordinary people, are they?” Sebastian remarked, his tone shifting to one of reverence.

“They were ordinary people, yes, but they were also martyrs,” Riley said, pride swelling within her. Her parents had devoted three decades to military service, a commitment that weighed heavily on her young heart.

Growing up, Riley had lived under the shadow of fear, constantly haunted by the thought that one day she might lose them forever. She remembered the countless times she had thrown tantrums, pleading with them not to serve.

One day, her father, Dominic, had wrapped her in a warm embrace, his voice soothing yet firm. “Riley, your mother and I chose this path because of our beliefs. We’re not just protecting our family; we’re safeguarding a much larger one—our country!”

As she matured, the weight of her father’s words settled in her heart, transforming her understanding of sacrifice and belief.

That was why she had chosen to attend the National Defense University, following in the footsteps of her parents and brother. After graduation, she had enlisted in the army, driven by a desire to honor their legacy. If it hadn’t been for the tragic news of her parents’ deaths, she might still be serving her country today.

“Since you’ve gone to such lengths to invite me, let’s go, Mr. Torres,” Riley said, her resolve strengthening. She turned back to the urn, her voice softening as she added, “Mom, Dad, I’ll come to visit again soon.”

As she prepared to leave, she noticed Sebastian still standing there, his demeanor unexpectedly still. “Aren’t you coming?” she asked, her voice trailing off as she watched him approach the urn.

With a solemn expression, he placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head in a gesture of quiet respect, an act that took her by surprise.

Riley stood frozen, her heart racing. Sebastian’s face was a mask of seriousness. After completing three respectful bows, he turned back to her. “Let’s go,” he said simply.

She opened her mouth to ask why he had done that, but the question died on her lips.

“They’re martyrs. It’s the least I could do,” he replied, his voice steady.

A strange sensation stirred within Riley. People often labeled Sebastian as a madman—moody, unpredictable, erratic. She had witnessed his unpredictable nature firsthand; there was a time when he had overpowered a criminal attempting to take his life, pressing a gun against the man’s temple without a hint of remorse.

And yet, in that moment, he had shown profound respect for her parents.

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