Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 371

Chapter 371 Fire in the Lounge

Riley’s hands slowly slid around Sebastian’s neck, answering the kiss instead of stopping it.

His body went rigid for a split second. Then he kissed her back -harder, deeper, like he was afraid she’d pull away at any moment, like he needed to take everything he could from this brief second.

By the time they finally broke apart, it had been a while.

Riley was breathing a little hard, her lips sore.

“Was that sympathy too?” his voice murmured by her ear.

“What?” She froze.

“Why didn’t you stop me?” Sebastian asked quietly. “Don’t you know doing that just makes me hold on to hope I shouldn’t have?”

He let out a short, bitter breath. “Riley… you’ve already taken hope away from me once. Please… don’t give me false hope again.”

“Sebastian, it’s not what you think. I just-”

“Just what?” He cut her off. “You felt sorry for me? Thought I was pathetic?”

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His gaze darkened. “Or is there something you want from me– something that makes even a forced kiss acceptable?”

“That’s not it!” Riley said at once.

He studied her for a beat, then spoke slowly, almost dangerously.

“Then… do you love me?”

She was speechless, unable to answer his question for a moment.

Something dark flickered in his eyes.

Right. Of course she didn’t love him anymore.

She’d told him once–lies and secrets were the one thing she couldn’t forgive.

Back then, one betrayal was all it took for her to walk away without looking back.

So how could she possibly still love him now?

In this whole twisted relationship, he’d always been the one chasing, the one desperate.

The one pathetically begging for her love.

“Riley, if you don’t love me, you shouldn’t have kissed me just now. You should’ve pushed me away–hard. Beat me until I couldn’t fight back, until I couldn’t even think about touching 2/6

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you. That would’ve been right!”

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He turned his back. “Don’t let me see you again–if you really want me to lose control.”

With that, he opened the lounge door and walked out without looking back.

Riley watched the door swing shut, her fingers brushing her lips.

Sebastian’s scent still clung there, and she regretted not answering his question.

She still loved him. She just didn’t have the confidence that broken trust could ever be fixed.

*****

Lara went to her car to get Riley’s change of clothes.

But just as she was about to walk back to the banquet hall, she suddenly heard the sound of a fire alarm ringing.

Lara was stunned. The sound was coming from the direction of the banquet hall.

She couldn’t help but quicken her pace, running towards the banquet hall.

When she arrived, she saw people streaming out of the hall. The banquet hall’s PA system was broadcasting a fire alarm voice

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Staff on–site were helping evacuate the crowd.

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Lara quickly dialed Riley’s phone number, but no one answered on the other end.

“Answer! Please!” She anxiously shouted.

Just then, she overheard people passing by her.

“How did a fire suddenly start? And during the group’s anniversary celebration of all the time.”

“Think someone’s out for revenge?”

“I heard the flames came from the lounge area…‘

”

Lara’s blood ran cold. The lounge? Riley was in the lounge!

She bolted toward it, but barely made it three steps before an arm locked around her waist and yanked her back.

“What are you rushing in for?” Shawn said, directly pulling Lara as he walked swiftly towards the exit of the banquet hall.

“Let go of me!” Lara desperately tried to shake off Shawn’s hand. “Riley’s in the lounge! I need to go find her!”

“And what can you do? The rescue team is handling it. Right now, your best bet is to stay somewhere safe,” Shawn said.

“But what if they don’t know Riley’s in the lounge? I have to go!

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If I run into the rescuers, I can at least tell them she’s there!” Lara said urgently.

If something happened to Riley, she would never forgive herself.

If she hadn’t asked Riley to come with her to this banquet, then Riley wouldn’t have gone to the lounge, and wouldn’t be in danger.

Even Riley going to the lounge was her suggestion.

“Riley can handle herself! You going would only be a burden,” Shawn said.

“Then why haven’t I seen her come out? I can’t even reach her on her phone!” Lara choked up.

More and more people were emerging from the banquet hall, but Riley wasn’t among them.

Her heart grew heavier and heavier.

my fault! I’m “Shawn, let go. I need to go in and find Riley. It’s the one who told her to wait for me in the lounge!” Lara wailed.

“What? Riley is in the lounge?” Zane’s voice sounded abruptly.

Lara turned to see Zane standing just a few steps away, looking at her in shock.

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