Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 28

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**

**Chapter 28: You’re Late**

“Tell me, had today not unfolded in this chaotic manner, would you have chosen to sever all ties with me?” The voice on the other end was steady, yet laced with an undercurrent of expectation.

Riley paused, the weight of the question pressing down on her. “I… I’m sorry,” she finally murmured, her heart racing.

“Apologies are unnecessary,” the voice reassured her. “I’ve made it clear before—whatever you need from me, I will provide. No questions asked.”

A sigh of relief escaped Riley as the call ended, the tension in her chest easing slightly. As long as this mysterious ally was committed to assisting her, the evacuation of the mall would proceed without a hitch. She had complete faith in their abilities; they were more than capable of handling the situation with finesse.

Now, her only focus was to ascend to the top floor and locate Sebastian.

With urgency fueling her movements, Riley dashed toward the elevator, her finger jabbing the button repeatedly in a frantic rhythm. But to her dismay, the elevator remained stubbornly still, its lights dark and unresponsive.

Damn it! Could this be yet another part of their plan?

The clock read 21:08.

She pivoted sharply, sprinting toward the emergency stairwell. She was currently on the sixth floor, while the rooftop awaited her four floors above on the tenth. The seventh, eighth, and ninth floors were occupied by the mall’s administrative offices, which meant she had a daunting climb ahead.

With each step, she felt the burn in her legs, but there was no time to dwell on fatigue. As she reached the eighth floor, her breath came in ragged gasps, and the PA system crackled to life, announcing an evacuation. The message claimed it was merely a temporary drill for an earthquake and fire safety.

Riley’s intuition screamed otherwise. She understood exactly what was happening; her ally had already begun ushering the civilians out.

The real challenge loomed ahead—she had no clue where the bomb was hidden, and the uncertainty of when it would detonate gnawed at her insides.

Finally, she burst through the door leading to the rooftop, only to be met by an unsettling void of darkness. The lights had been extinguished, casting an eerie shadow over the scene.

In the silence, she could hear the unsettling sounds of a violent struggle—the dull thuds of fists colliding with flesh and the anguished groans of those caught in the chaos.

Riley’s heart raced as she hurried toward the source of the noise.

“Sebastian, I swear I’m going to kill you!” an enraged voice pierced the darkness.

Muffled sounds of distress followed, propelling Riley to quicken her pace. “Sebastian…!”

But as she rounded the corner, the sight that met her eyes left her momentarily speechless.

Bodies lay scattered across the rooftop, some unconscious, others worse for wear. The scene was a gruesome tableau of violence.

In the center of the chaos stood a tall figure, his clothing soaked in blood. Crimson dripped from his fingers, but it was evident that the blood was not his own.

As if sensing her presence, Sebastian looked up, his eyes locking onto hers with an unsettling calm. A faint smile played on his lips. “You’re late. You missed quite the spectacle.”

He spoke of the brutality surrounding them as if she had missed the climax of an action film.

Riley rushed forward, her concern overriding her shock. “Are you hurt?”

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in his gaze. “I assumed Ms. Anderson would be more concerned about these unfortunate souls on the ground.”

Confusion knitted her brow. “Second time for what?”

“The second time you’ve put your life on the line to save me.” His gaze bore into hers, searching for answers. “Why? Is it because of your past as a soldier? Would you do this for anyone in peril?”

“Isn’t that reason enough?” Riley stood tall, relief flooding her now that the bomb’s threat was mitigated.

At that moment, Sebastian’s men stormed onto the rooftop, swiftly beginning to clean up the aftermath, removing both the explosives and the bodies of the fallen assailants.

“Mr. Torres,” one of his men said, handing him a clean, damp towel along with fresh clothes.

Sebastian accepted the towel, wiping the blood from his hands before unbuttoning his blood-stained shirt, revealing his lean, muscular torso.

Caught off guard by the sight, Riley quickly averted her gaze. “Since you’re fine, Mr. Torres, I should take my leave.”

“Ms. Anderson, you might want to change your clothes before you go. Otherwise, you’ll attract far too much attention,” Sebastian called after her, his voice laced with a teasing lilt.

She glanced down, realizing her own clothes were stained with blood from when she had tackled him earlier.

One of Sebastian’s men soon approached, offering her a set of women’s clothing.

Riley accepted without hesitation, retreating to the staff changing room to don the clean attire. After all, wandering around in blood-soaked clothing would surely invite unwanted scrutiny.

As they descended in the elevator, the atmosphere shifted. Sebastian broke the silence, his voice low and sincere. “I truly want you.”