Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 354

Chapter 354 At the Martyrs‘ Cemetery

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“You are Samuel. You are the son of Dominic Anderson and

Bianca Anderson. You are my brother. You are a United States soldier. You are principled, and you protect your family.

If anyone insulted your parents, you would never let that person walk away unscathed. Are you truly willing to plead for someone like Cynthia?”

Each word hit him hard, slamming into Zane’s mind with such force that even his eardrums seemed to ache.

“I…” He clenched his jaw so tightly that the muscles along his neck turned rigid, as if something invisible inside him was being torn apart.

“Or is it that Cynthia has something on you? Are you defending her because you have no choice?” Riley demanded, her

fixed on him.

gaze

After a long stretch of silence, Zane spoke as if forcing the words out, “I… have someone I must save. Cynthia can save

her.”

Riley froze.

She remembered the old reports. When Samuel had been in Germany, there had been a woman who helped him, and it

and it was

B

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<Chapter 354 At the Martyrs‘ Cemetery

family at all. The woman had followed him to Russia afterward.

In the information Riley had found, the woman’s health had been described as poor. She had been living in a hospital long–term.

So the person Samuel had to save was that woman?

Her name surfaced in Riley’s mind.

“You mean Lina Jensen?” Riley asked bluntly.

Zane let out a faint, bitter breath. “Yes. I have to save her.”

He did not seem surprised that Riley knew Lina’s name. If Riley had obtained his sample for a DNA test, she would naturally have investigated everything connected to him.

“Why do you think Cynthia can save her? Cynthia is not a doctor.” Riley hesitated and then suddenly connected the pieces. Lina had been hospitalized with leukemia. Could it be-

“Cynthia’s stem cells match hers?” she asked.

“Yes,” Zane said. “Which is why I have to keep Cynthia safe. If something happens to her, Lina will die.”

Riley fell silent.

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< Chapter 354 At the Martyrs‘ Cemetery

They checked into a small roadside motel and spent the night there.

The next morning, when Riley stepped out of her room, ready to head to the Martyrs‘ Cemetery, she saw Zane standing outside, holding two bouquets of white lilies.

Surprise flickered in her eyes.

Zane said, “I thought they deserved more than me just showing up.”

Even though he had no memory of his parents, the moment Riley had spoken of them the night before, he had felt an ache in his chest so sharp it startled him.

When he learned how they had died three years ago, how their ashes had been sent home, and how Riley had gone alone to the military base to collect the urns, guilt and remorse had flooded him so intensely that he could barely breathe.

He had no memories, yet his body reacted with an instinctive grief he could not control.

Riley did not say more. She drove them to the Martyrs‘ Cemetery.

Inside the quiet grounds, Riley and Zane each held a bouquet as they stopped before Dominic and Bianca’s gravestone. 3/5

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< Chapter 354 At the Martyrs‘ Cemetery

remember everything. So please don’t worry.”

Zane stared at the black–and–white photograph on the stone.

These were his parents. They were soldiers who had died on duty overseas.

He had once believed he was a child abandoned by everyone,

someone who had never had a family.

But he had a family. His parents were people he could be proud of.

And he had a sister.

Zane’s gaze drifted to Riley.

He understood then that his heart had accepted her from the moment she took a bullet for him in Germany.

Reason, however, told him that he could not leave the Lincoln family now, nor let anything happen to Cynthia.

“Mom, Dad,” Zane murmured. “It’s me. I’m… I’m sorry.”

Riley looked at him. “Why are you sorry?”

“Because I didn’t come back sooner,” Zane said quietly. “Because I didn’t bring your ashes home with Riley.” 4/5

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<Chapter 354 At the Martyrs‘ Cemetery

hand as he stayed there in silence.

The early morning cemetery was still. His breathing sounded too loud in the open air.

“And I’m sorry for something else,” he whispered. “Someone insulted you both. And right now… I have no choice but to hold that person up. Riley, if you want to call me a disgrace, I won’t argue.”

Riley turned her head toward the gravestone and then back to him.

“Lina saved your life. I understand that you’re returning a life–debt. But I’m not gonna talk to Sebastian… We’re already broken up. He won’t listen to me anymore.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Zane’s eyes. “You really were involved with Sebastian?”

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