Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 398

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Chapter 398 At Least Six Months

Sebastian looked past Riley and met Samuel's gaze. "When you were stranded in Russia, you came to me for help. I didn't help you. So now I'll donate stem cells to the person who saved your life. Consider it repayment."

Samuel froze. He didn't remember any of it.

Back when he'd been stranded in Russia, he'd spent weeks dazed and disoriented.

Had he crossed paths with Sebastian back then?

Riley grabbed Sebastian's arm sharply. "Enough. I told you before—you didn't know who Samuel was at the time. You had no obligation to help him. Sebastian, you don't owe Samuel anything. And you definitely don't owe me."

"But in the end, you still broke up with me because of it, didn't you?" Sebastian said quietly.

"I— that wasn't—"

"I know. It was because I lied to you," he murmured. "But for me, it all ended the same way."

His eyes settled on her face, filled with a bitterness he couldn't hide.

He sighed, "When we were together, I was nervous every single day. I kept worrying you would find out. "I was scared that once you knew I didn't save Samuel, you'd leave me. And the thing you fear the most always ends up happening. You found out, and you left."

In the days after, he'd regretted it over and over again.

He regretted walking away when Samuel had needed help.

And that regret had stayed lodged in him like a thorn. He needed that thorn gone—needed some way to free himself from the guilt as soon as possible.

"I—" Riley started.

But Sebastian cut her off. "You don't have to say anything. I just want to get the donation over with. I'm tired of waking up from nightmares."

"Nightmares? What do you mean?" Riley froze.

Sebastian didn't answer her. He turned to Samuel instead. "I'll tell the doctors to schedule the transplant as soon as possible. You don't owe me anything."

He didn't wait for Samuel to respond. He simply walked away.

Riley immediately turned to Samuel, anxious. "He can't do the surgery right now. I'll talk to him. I'll make sure he drops this idea. Just give me time. At least six months. You—"