Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 198

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 198: Pretending to Be Weak**

**Lucky Draw**

Vince was a tempest of emotions, his jaw clenched tight as fury coursed through him. How had he been blind to the fact that Sebastian was such a cunning manipulator? It was glaringly obvious now—Sebastian had taken that punch on purpose, a calculated move that ignited Vince’s anger even further.

Riley, observing the scene with a mix of concern and determination, let out a soft sigh. The bottle of water she had just purchased was ice-cold, the perfect remedy to alleviate the swelling that was beginning to mar Sebastian’s cheek.

“Here,” she said, her voice steady yet gentle, as she handed him the chilled bottle. “Press this against your cheek. It should help with the swelling.”

“Sure,” Sebastian replied, his voice laced with a hint of resignation as he accepted the bottle and pressed it to his face, wincing slightly at the cold.

Turning away from the two, Riley pulled Vince aside, urgency evident in her tone. “What on earth did Sebastian say to provoke you into throwing a punch? You need to talk to me about this.”

Vince was still simmering, his eyes narrowed as he glared at Sebastian, who was now feigning innocence. The audacity of it all! “It’s nothing!” he snapped, his voice sharp and filled with suppressed rage.

Seeing the tension in Vince’s posture, Riley sensed that he was reluctant to divulge the details. “Listen, if Sebastian crosses the line again, you can tell me. I’ll make him apologize. Just promise me you won’t resort to violence again.”

Vince shot a glance at Sebastian, who continued to play the part of the wronged party, his expression carefully crafted to elicit sympathy.

“Are you really dating him? Do you even have any idea what kind of guy he is?” Vince’s irritation bubbled to the surface, his voice dripping with disdain.

“Yes, I’m dating him,” Riley replied with a calmness that belied the storm of emotions swirling within her. “Maybe I don’t know everything about him yet, but that’s the essence of dating, isn’t it? The important thing is that I care about him, Vince.”

In that moment, a wave of dryness washed over Vince’s throat. Her words struck deep, and the jealousy that had consumed him began to fade, replaced by a gnawing sense of regret. If only he had been brave enough to confess his feelings when Riley had first become single. Would he have stood a chance?

He had waited so long, holding out hope that once her divorce was finalized, there might be a path for them. But then, like a shadow creeping into his life, Sebastian had appeared, stealing the light he had hoped to share with Riley.

Was he truly destined to lose her because of a single moment of hesitation?

But running into Riley at the restaurant while she was out with her friends was a complete shock. It reminded her of their first encounter in Carmel, where the roles had been reversed—Wren had had the support of the Torres family and Sebastian, while Riley had stood alone.

Now, the tables had turned, and Wren felt the bitterness rise within her.

“Riley,” she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. “Just because Sebastian is on your side now doesn’t mean you can act all high and mighty. Do you really think you’re worthy of him? So what if you can fly a plane, have combat skills, and were in the military? The Torres family has plenty of pilots and bodyguards!”

Riley met Wren’s gaze with an icy stare, her resolve unyielding. “Is that how you see it? You think you can belittle me because of Sebastian’s past involvement with you? I stand on my own. I don’t need anyone’s validation. If you constantly measure your worth against someone else, that’s just sad.”

Wren’s face flushed with anger, her eyes narrowing at Riley’s unwavering confidence. “You’re just fooling yourself. Sooner or later, you’ll end up like me—dumped by Sebastian!”

Before Riley had a chance to retort, Sebastian’s voice sliced through the tension like a knife. “That will never happen, Wren. If you continue to speak like this in front of Riley, don’t blame me for making sure you can’t stay in Carmel.”

Wren’s face drained of color as she turned to see Sebastian standing in the corridor, Vince just behind him. A flicker of fear crossed her features, and in that moment, the power dynamics shifted yet again.