Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 190

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox 190**
**Chapter 190 It’s Not How You Measure Love**

**Lucky Draw**

Sebastian had long harbored the belief that his own perceived uselessness was the catalyst for his mother’s tragic decision to end her life. This choice had left him in the care of a father who harbored nothing but disdain for him, a disdain that cut deeper than any physical wound.

In the years that followed, it was only through the rigorous proving of his worth that his grandfather finally decided to take him under his wing, meticulously preparing him to inherit the sprawling Torres family empire.

His existence had been neatly compartmentalized into two stark categories: useful or useless. Yet now, as he sat in the car with Riley, her words pierced through the rigid walls he had built around himself. She was telling him that even if he were to become utterly useless, her feelings for him would remain unchanged.

“Being useful is great, sure,” Riley began, her tone a blend of softness and strength, “but it’s not how you measure love. You shouldn’t find happiness in merely being used. A relationship founded on someone exploiting your worth isn’t genuine; it’s precarious. What happens when you’re no longer deemed ‘useful’? Will they simply throw you away? How long can something like that endure?”

Sebastian felt his complexion drain of color, his hands trembling slightly as they gripped the steering wheel.

11:24

The realization struck him like a blade of ice—if he ever lost his value to Riley, would she cast him aside like refuse?

No. That was a fate he could not allow for himself.

He wouldn’t let her abandon him.

In a sudden burst of emotion, Sebastian yanked the steering wheel, veering the car to the side of the road and slamming on the brakes with a jarring force.

“Why did you stop…”

Riley’s question hung in the air, unfinished, as Sebastian swiftly unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned in closer to her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her gaze tracing the sharp angles of his handsome face, which was now pale and etched with worry.

His eyes locked onto hers, intense and searching, as if he were trying to decipher a riddle. “If I became useless, would you abandon me?”

For a fleeting moment, Riley froze, her expression shifting as understanding washed over her. “No,” she replied, her voice unwavering and steady. “Even if you were completely useless, I wouldn’t leave you.”

11:24

“Really?” His voice trembled, still tinged with doubt, as if he were testing the waters of her sincerity.

**Lucky Draw**

Riley pressed her lips together, acutely aware that deeply ingrained beliefs like his couldn’t be dismantled with mere words.

But they had time—she could demonstrate to him, piece by piece, that his worthiness wasn’t a prerequisite for love.

She reached out, her hands gently cupping his face, and pressed a soft kiss against his cold lips. “Sebastian, whether you’re useful or not, I love you for who you are.”

The warmth of her kiss melted away the icy barriers he had constructed, soothing the tight knot of fear that resided in his chest.

His lashes fluttered, and after a brief moment, he closed his eyes, leaning into her kiss, allowing it to anchor him amidst the storm of his thoughts.

When Riley finally pulled back, the warmth of her lips lingered, leaving Sebastian yearning for more.

“Let’s head home,” she suggested, a small smile gracing her lips as she glanced at the bustling street. This was hardly a proper place to linger, after all.

3/7

11:24

**Chapter 190 It’s Not How You Me…**

**Lucky Draw**

Though she hadn’t intended to kiss him in the car, exposed to the view of passing pedestrians, she had felt an overwhelming need to soothe his fears, to affirm that her feelings were genuine.

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