Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 194

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox 194**
**Chapter 194: Scar**

Bryce leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and let out a frustrated breath. “Listen, Bella, there’s no concrete evidence linking the kidnapper to Riley. Once the chaos dies down, people will lose interest. It’s just how it goes.” His tone was calm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of worry.

Bella’s expression twisted in anger. “And what about my career? If Houston decides to revoke my ‘Firefighting Hero’ title, Cloud Airlines will cut my contract right then and there! All those years of hard work will mean nothing!” The mere thought sent a surge of heat through her veins, igniting a fire of frustration that she couldn’t contain.

“Look,” Bryce continued, his voice steady, “if you had been honest about what happened with your colleague back then, we might not be in such a dire situation now. It was a life-or-death moment. Even if you couldn’t save him…” His words trailed off, filled with unspoken implications.

Bella’s frustration boiled over as she abruptly pushed Bryce away, her eyes blazing. “What are you saying? Are you actually siding with the kidnapper? Are you going to throw me under the bus like everyone else?” Her voice was sharp, laced with betrayal.

“No! That’s not what I mean at all!” Bryce rushed to clarify, his hands raised defensively. “I just think that if you had cleared the air back then, even if you hadn’t received the title, you wouldn’t be in this mess right now.”

Bella’s voice rose, a mixture of indignation and desperation. “What’s wrong with me? I fought that fire! I earned that ‘Firefighting Hero’ title! As for not saving that man, he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The flames were too fierce; I couldn’t get to him! I didn’t do anything wrong! I’m not a criminal!” She ranted, her thoughts spiraling into a whirlwind of self-defense.

Bryce’s eyes flickered with disappointment, a shadow passing over his features. The heroic woman he had once admired seemed to be slipping away, morphing into someone he barely recognized.

“Bryce!” Bella suddenly clutched his arm, her grip tightening as panic washed over her. “You’ll stand by me, won’t you?” There was a desperation in her voice, a plea for reassurance.

He lowered his gaze, feeling the weight of her grip like iron shackles, binding him to her. “Yeah, I’ll always have your back. You saved my life, remember? How could I ever turn my back on you?” His voice was firm, but uncertainty lingered in the air.

Upon hearing his words, Bella’s tension seemed to ebb slightly, and she forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Right, I saved you. Of course, you’ll stand by me. You’re not a jerk! That’s why I love you!” The declaration hung in the air, both a comfort and a burden.

Bryce remained silent, a knot forming in his stomach as he sensed an unsettling shift in their dynamic.

—

In a dimly lit study, the bodyguard presented a stack of documents to Sebastian, his expression stoic. “Mr. Torres, here are the materials you requested,” he stated, his voice even.

“Thanks, you can leave now,” Sebastian replied, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.

Once the door clicked shut, Sebastian began to sift through the papers, his heart racing. Among the documents were a series of photographs. If Riley had been there, she would have immediately recognized the faces—her brother, Samuel, staring back at him from the glossy prints.

Sebastian scrutinized the images, his mind racing. When he stumbled upon one particular photo, a wave of dread washed over him. His complexion drained of color as he picked it up, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.

In the picture, Samuel was shirtless, revealing a jagged scar on his shoulder that sent chills down Sebastian’s spine. It was an eerie reminder of the scar etched in his own memories.

So, if the man he had encountered all those years ago was indeed Samuel, Riley’s long-lost brother, what would happen if she found out the truth? Would she blame him for not revealing it sooner?

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