Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 202

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 202: Scent**

“Is it because I was scared and ran away back then?” Wren’s voice quivered with a raw desperation that pierced through the tension in the air. “But I was just a kid! It was instinct, you know? To run! To leave you behind!”

Sebastian’s face remained impassive, a mask of indifference that betrayed nothing of the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. The coldness in his eyes was a chilling reminder that her words fell on deaf ears, that her pain meant nothing to him.

“And Riley?” Wren’s tone shifted, becoming sharp and cutting, each syllable laced with venom. “Do you truly believe she wouldn’t abandon you in a moment of danger?”

“Yes. She wouldn’t.”

At the mere mention of Riley’s name, a flicker of something softer—a fleeting tenderness—glimmered in Sebastian’s otherwise frigid gaze. It was enough to ignite a firestorm of hatred within Wren, her emotions boiling over. “You trust her that much?” she spat, incredulity lacing her voice.

“I do,” Sebastian replied, his tone now steely, the hardness in his eyes returning.

“If there’s no need for you to show your face in front of me again, then don’t. My family and I have borne the weight of your eye injury for nearly twenty years. That should suffice.”

**09:56**

*Enough? How could it ever be enough?*

Wren’s nails dug into her palms, her frustration manifesting in a tight grip as she fought to contain her rage.

*If he wants to be this heartless,* she thought, *then I have no choice but to use that trick.*

XXXXX

Riley carefully spread the photographs of Samuel across the bed, each image a window into the past, a glimpse of a boy she longed to reunite with. Quinten scrutinized each photograph, his gaze lingering on the details as Riley shared snippets of stories, her voice warm and animated.

“I’ll bring Samuel to see you as soon as I find him,” she promised, her determination unwavering.

“His father would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. He even destroyed the man his mother loved before him. He—”

“Great-grandpa!” Riley interjected swiftly, her voice sharp. “He’s not his father. Sebastian isn’t like that.”

She understood that Quinten’s warnings came from a place of concern, but she wouldn’t allow anyone to tarnish Sebastian’s name in her presence.

“You’re right,” Quinten conceded, a faint smile softening his features. “Perhaps I’m just being prejudiced.”

After all, he had witnessed how Sebastian treated her, and he knew how much Riley cared for him.

**Phfs relationship was surely different from the one inflies**

**< Chapter 202: Scent** **+21 Bonus** Riley glanced at the clock on the wall—had Sebastian grown impatient waiting in the drawing room? Just as she turned, a flurry of movement caught her eye; several servants rushed past her, their faces etched with tension. “Something’s wrong in the drawing room!” one of them shouted. “It’s Mr. Torres and Ms. Wren Anderson!” another added, panic rising in their voices. Riley’s heart plummeted. *Sebastian and Wren?* Her pace quickened as she navigated the hallways, the urgency of the situation propelling her forward until she reached the drawing room. A throng of servants had already gathered at the door, their worried whispers filling the air. Pushing her way through, she froze at the sight before her. Sebastian stood at the center of the chaos, his chest heaving as he grappled with Wren, his hands wrapped tightly around her throat. Wren was pinned against the wall, her feet flailing helplessly in the air, her mouth open in a silent gasp for breath. **09:56** All around them, several servants lay groaning on the floor, the aftermath of a struggle evident in their expressions. “Sebastian!” Riley’s voice sliced through the commotion, desperate and urgent. He didn’t respond. His grip remained unyielding. Wren’s face grew paler, her movements becoming increasingly feeble. “Sebastian! Let go of her!” Riley shouted, rushing forward in a frantic attempt to pry his hands away. But he didn’t hear her. His once-familiar amber eyes were now glassy and unfocused, lost in a haze of madness. Panic clawed at Riley’s insides. *If I don’t stop him now, Wren will die.* With a surge of determination, she forced his fingers open, and the moment Wren crumpled to the floor, Sebastian turned his wild gaze upon her. “Sebastian, what’s wrong with you?” she cried, blocking his erratic blows with her arms. But he came at her like a cornered animal, movements swift and unrestrained, fueled by an unrecognizable fury. **5/6** **09:56** She was ready to knock him out—prepared to do whatever it took to protect herself. Then, a flicker of clarity sparked in his gaze. “Ri... ley...” His voice was hoarse, strained, a whisper of the man she knew. “It’s me!” she replied quickly, her heart racing. **+21 Bonus** His eyes locked onto her face, the madness beginning to fade just enough for him to utter, “The... the scent... Tie my hands. Don’t let me hurt you...” Sebastian gasped for air, his body trembling as if fighting against an unseen force. *A spell? A drug?* Suddenly, a memory flashed in Riley’s mind—when she’d tried to pull him off Wren, she had caught a faint, unfamiliar fragrance lingering in the air, a scent that didn’t belong. Without a moment’s hesitation, she grabbed Sebastian’s tie, binding his wrists tightly.