Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 185

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**

**Chapter 185: He Sounds Like a Great Brother**

**Lucky Draw**

“These photographs serve as a sort of guestbook for the diner,” Riley said, her voice imbued with a sense of nostalgia that wrapped around her like a warm blanket. “It’s become a bit of a tradition here. Whenever someone enjoys a meal, they snap a picture and then stick it up on the wall for everyone to see.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Do you have one up there?” he inquired, a hint of curiosity lighting up his features.

“Absolutely,” Riley replied, her finger tracing the outline of a faded Polaroid pinned to the wall. “That’s me, right there. The guy next to me? That’s my brother.”

Sebastian followed the direction of her finger, his gaze landing on the photograph. A flicker of something unidentifiable crossed his face, a fleeting shadow that he quickly masked. “That’s your brother?” he echoed, his tone carefully crafted to remain neutral, though the tension in his voice was palpable.

“Yup, that’s Samuel,” Riley said, blissfully unaware of the subtle shift in his demeanor. “We don’t really resemble each other much. I’ve got Dad’s looks, while Samuel took after Mom.”

Sebastian’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes lingering on the tall, striking man captured in the photo, a man who seemed to radiate a certain charm and confidence.

He had known that Riley’s brother had gone missing and that he had been involved in the search efforts, but this was the first time he had laid eyes on Samuel’s face.

If the man in that picture truly belonged to Riley, then…

“Ready to order?” The voice of the diner owner sliced through his thoughts like a knife, pulling him back to the present.

Riley turned her focus to the menu, nudging it toward Sebastian with an inviting smile. “Take a look,” she encouraged. “What are you in the mood for?”

Sebastian didn’t respond immediately, his eyes still glued to the photo, his mind swirling with thoughts far removed from the diner’s offerings.

“Sebastian?” Riley’s voice rose slightly, laced with concern.

“Huh?” He blinked, suddenly aware of his surroundings again, as if waking from a dream.

“You okay? You look a little pale. Feeling sick?” she asked, worry etching itself across her brow.

“It’s nothing—just didn’t sleep well last night,” he replied nonchalantly, though he was acutely aware of the dampness in his palms, a telltale sign of his unease.

How peculiar. He couldn’t recall the last time he had felt so anxious that his hands would betray him like this.

“Go ahead and pick something you like,” Riley urged, sliding the menu closer to him.

“You choose,” Sebastian responded, a hint of resignation in his voice. “I’ve never eaten here before, so I have no idea what’s good.”

“Fair enough,” she said with a bright smile, her enthusiasm infectious. She proceeded to order a selection of home-style dishes that brought back fond memories of meals shared with her parents and brother.

The owner jotted down their order and shuffled away, leaving a warm silence in the air.

“You and… your brother,” Sebastian began, his voice tentative as he ventured into deeper waters. “Were you close?”

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