Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 3

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

Riley’s POV

Amanda sprang from her seat, her excitement palpable as she rushed to greet Bella. “Oh, Bella! Come in! It’s been ages since I’ve seen you,” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.

With a buoyant energy, she clasped Bella’s hands in hers, her face aglow with a radiant smile. “I had Judy whip up a special soup just for you. I can only imagine how tiring flying those planes must be. You need to refuel with some proper nourishment,” she added, her tone almost maternal.

The warmth of her welcome felt like a stark contrast to the chill that usually hung in the air when she interacted with me.

Bella returned the smile, her demeanor soft and gracious. “Thank you, Mrs. Murphy,” she replied, her voice smooth as silk.

But then, she cast a glance in my direction, her expression devoid of warmth, as if taking what should have been mine was as natural as breathing.

I steeled myself against their judgment. In that moment, the only thing that mattered was Bryce’s reaction.

“Sorry,” Bryce mumbled, finally noticing my gaze and shifting his attention to the urn cradled in my arms.

—

**Chapter 3: Let’s Get Divorced**

His voice lacked any semblance of genuine regret as he spoke. “I was supposed to go with you to collect your parents’ ashes, but then Bella suddenly came down with a high fever. She had no one else to look after her.”

Before he could finish his explanation, Amanda’s sharp voice sliced through the tension in the room. “What? Those are ashes?!”

She stormed toward me, her face twisted in disbelief and anger as she glared at the urn. “Riley Anderson! How dare you bring such bad luck into this house! Get them out, now!”

Her finger jabbed toward the door, her distaste for the urn unmistakable.

Bad luck?

I met her gaze head-on, my voice quaking with suppressed fury. “These are my parents’ ashes. They were heroes who gave their lives serving our country. Show them some respect.”

Amanda’s arms flailed wildly, her words laced with venom. “I don’t care who they were! The ashes of the dead are cursed! You can’t keep that here. Get out!”

“Mom.” Bryce finally interjected, but his voice was weak, lacking the conviction I desperately needed.

I tightened my grip on the urn, my resolve hardening. “This is my home too. It’s marital property, co-owned by Bryce and me. You have no right to kick me out.”

“Joint property?” Claire scoffed from the sidelines, her voice dripping with disdain. “Don’t make me laugh. Everything was bought with Bryce’s money.”

Turning her gaze sharply to Bryce, she added, “Bryce, ashes carry such negative energy. Make Riley take that… thing outside.”

Bryce looked at me, his lips moving hesitantly, as if he were struggling to find the right words. “Riley, you…”

I cut him off, my frustration boiling over. “Bryce, when you started your business, I was right there beside you, working through every grueling day.”

“When your mom had cataracts and the doctors warned she might go blind, I took her to every hospital in Washington. I pulled every string I could to get her an appointment with the top eye specialist in the city. I saved her sight!”

“I treated your family as if they were my own. But did any of you ever show respect for mine?”

As my words hung in the air, I could see their faces darkening, the tension thickening.

Claire snapped back, her anger palpable. “What do you mean you helped Mom? It was Bryce’s money that got her the best doctor!”

“And ‘worked alongside him’? Please, he was supporting you! His company went public because of his own skills. Don’t act like you deserve any credit!”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Bryce’s face as he stood caught between his family and me.

Those fleeting seconds felt like an eternity, a silent plea hanging in the air. I hoped he would defend me, say something—anything—but in the end, he averted his gaze, avoiding my desperate eyes.

“Riley, keeping your parents’ ashes at home isn’t right. You should find a proper place for them to rest in peace.”

I stared at him, my heart aching as tears threatened to spill over. “Bryce… do you also think my parents’ ashes are bad luck? That they can’t even stay here temporarily?”

“I didn’t mean that. Don’t overreact.” Bryce frowned, glancing at Bella, as if seeking her approval. “We have a guest. We can talk about this later.”

I clutched the urn to my chest, feeling a surge of defiance. “What if I insist on keeping them here?”

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