Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 199

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 199: Out of Favor**

**Lucky Draw**

In an instant, the fleeting fear that had gripped Wren transformed into a burning jealousy that coursed through her veins like wildfire.

What was it about Riley that made Sebastian so fiercely protective? Wren’s mind raced with indignation. Riley had never once made a sacrifice for him!

With a surge of frustration, Wren stormed toward Sebastian, her heart pounding in her chest. “Sebastian!” she exclaimed, her voice edged with desperation. “What’s so special about Riley? She’s a divorcee! What can she possibly offer you? Would she even sacrifice an eye for you? Absolutely not! I would give everything for you, Sebastian—everything!”

Sebastian’s response was a cold, humorless laugh that sent a chill down Wren’s spine. “I don’t need her to sacrifice anything for me. And so what if she’s divorced? In fact, I’m relieved she is, or I wouldn’t have this opportunity to be with her. As for you…”

His voice trailed off, and contempt flickered in his eyes, a look that pierced through Wren’s bravado. “We both know you didn’t ‘sacrifice’ that eye for me. You just lacked the strength to fight back or the courage to run away.”

Panic surged within Wren, and she scrambled to defend herself. “No! Even if I could have run, I wouldn’t have left you…”

Sebastian cut her off, his tone sharp and accusatory. “Really? I distinctly remember calling out to you, begging you not to go, but you still scrambled away like a frightened rabbit.”

Wren stood there, momentarily speechless, the weight of his words crashing over her like a tidal wave. With a pained expression etched on her face, she implored, “I was just a kid then! I didn’t know any better. But my feelings for you are genuine, Sebastian. I love you!”

In that moment, she was oblivious to Riley’s presence, her sole focus fixated on salvaging the fragile remnants of her relationship with Sebastian.

“Love me?” Sebastian scoffed, disbelief coloring his voice.

“Yes! I’ve loved you since the very first time I laid eyes on you as a child. All these years, my love has only grown! Riley can’t even hold a candle to me!” Wren declared, resentment bubbling to the surface.

Sebastian regarded her with an indifferent gaze, his expression betraying no emotion. “Even if your love is sincere, you’d still abandon me when the going gets tough. Riley is entirely different. She possesses something you never will!”

As he spoke, his gaze softened when it landed on Riley, a stark contrast to the disdain he had directed at Wren.

“Let’s head back to the private room. The food we ordered will get cold,” he suggested, his tone dismissive.

Riley, glancing at Wren’s ashen face, nodded in agreement. She turned to Vince, who was casually leaning against the wall, arms crossed. “What about you?”

“I’ll just swing by the restroom and catch up with you in the room later,” Vince drawled, his tone nonchalant.

Without another word, Riley walked away with Sebastian, leaving Wren feeling more isolated than ever.

Instead of heading to the men’s restroom as he claimed, Vince approached Wren, a predatory glint in his eyes.

“So, Wren, looks like you’ve lost Sebastian as your backer,” one of them sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“I was beginning to wonder why you’ve been hanging out with us lately. Is the Anderson Group really that free? Turns out you’re out of favor,” another chimed in, laughter lacing her words.

“No wonder you’re so eager to start a project. You were hoping to use us as stepping stones. You’ve got some serious nerve!”

The taunts continued to rain down on her, each word a dagger to her heart.

One of the women, stepping forward, looked at Wren with a hint of sympathy. “Sorry, Wren. I overheard your conversation with Sebastian while I was outside the restroom. I just had to tell the others. But honestly, you should have been upfront with us.”

Wren’s gaze fell on her best friend, Britney, who had always been her loyal follower.

“Britney, I…” Wren began, but before she could finish, Britney seized a bottle of wine from the table and poured it all over Wren’s head in a sudden, shocking move.

Wren stood there, stunned, her mind racing as she processed what had just happened. All she could hear was Britney’s voice ringing in her ears. “If you had just told us earlier, we wouldn’t have had to kiss up to you!”

“What… what did you just say?” Wren stared at her friend in disbelief, her heart sinking as the reality of her situation crashed down around her.