Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 183

**Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 183: Are You Really Dating Sebastian?**

**Lucky Draw**

Bella felt the weight of betrayal as she forcefully pushed Bryce away from her. Her voice quivered, laced with disbelief and hurt. “You don’t trust me! Bryce, I thought that no matter how the world might turn against me, you would always stand by my side. But here we are, and you’re doubting me just like everyone else!”

Bryce’s lips twisted into a bitter smile, his heart a heavy stone in his chest. He longed to believe her—oh, how desperately he wished he could—but the evidence was overwhelming.

“Even if I believe you, Bella, what about everyone else? You saw the videos online. The world has heard your voice, and they’ve made up their minds.”

Bella’s complexion drained of color, her hands gripping the bedsheet with a fierce intensity. Her voice wavered, yet there was an unwavering determination in her words. “I don’t care if they refuse to believe me. All I need is for you to stand by me! Just you!”

The situation had escalated beyond the point of no return.

The thought of losing Bryce was unbearable—he was her last hope, her final card in a game that had turned cruel and unforgiving.

She locked her eyes onto his, her gaze burning with an intensity that could pierce through the thick fog of doubt.

“Bryce, if you can’t trust me, then let’s just end this. Let’s act as if we’ve never shared love or laughter. Even if the entire world turns against me, calls me a fraud, and spits on my name, I won’t crawl back to you, begging for your belief.”

Her words struck Bryce like arrows aimed with precision, guilt flickering across his face just as Bella had anticipated.

She could feel a surge of triumph; her gamble had paid off, and she had forced his hand.

“I’m sorry, Bella,” Bryce blurted out, his voice thick with regret. “I shouldn’t have doubted you. I believe you.”

Regardless of the truth that lay beneath the surface, they were united in this moment. More importantly, he owed her his loyalty—she had saved his life once before, and he couldn’t simply abandon her now.

A wave of relief washed over Bella, and her lips curled into a grateful smile. “I knew I could count on you, Bryce. With your support, I can face whatever comes next.”

Bryce managed a strained smile in return, yet a gnawing worry lingered in the back of his mind.

The road ahead for Bella was bound to be harsh, far more brutal than Ale could ever envision.

And deep down, he questioned whether he would be strong enough to stand by her side through the storm that was brewing.

The relentless tide of online hatred loomed over them, a dark cloud that threatened to engulf their lives.

*****

That evening, Riley sprawled on her couch, her eyes glued to her phone as she mindlessly scrolled through the endless stream of news.

Bella’s kidnapping was the talk of the town, dominating headlines across every platform. The National Fire Protection Association, alongside the Houston government—who had once hailed Bella as a heroic firefighter five years ago—announced they were launching formal investigations into the entire incident.

Cloud Airlines declared Bella was on temporary suspension, leaving her future as a co-pilot hanging in the balance, dependent on the outcome of the inquiries.

Meanwhile, clips from the day’s interview had begun to surface online, spreading like wildfire.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify