Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 41

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

**Chapter 41**

“You got married just to end up like this?”

Riley’s eyelids fluttered open, her senses assaulted by a suffocating heat that clung to her skin like a second layer. She felt drained, as if every ounce of energy had been siphoned away during her sleep.

“You’re awake?” A voice, smooth yet startling, broke through her foggy thoughts, causing her to jolt upright.

Her heart raced as she squinted in the dim light, finally focusing on Sebastian, who lounged casually on the couch across the room.

“What are you doing here?” she managed to ask, her voice hoarse and laced with confusion.

“I brought you here, remember? You didn’t wake up, so I thought I’d keep you company,” he replied, his tone nonchalant, as if this was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Oh right. He drove me to the hospital. The doctors had administered a sedative, and then everything had gone black.

“How long have I been out?” she inquired, her mind racing to piece together the fragments of her memory.

“Eighteen hours,” Sebastian stated, his expression unreadable.

Eighteen hours? That felt like a lifetime.

“Wow,” she breathed, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and embarrassment. Her body still felt clammy and uncomfortable, but at least the fiery sensation in her veins had subsided. The medication must have finally worn off.

“I’ve been sitting here with you for eighteen hours straight. Don’t you think a simple ‘thank you’ would be nice?” Sebastian quirked an eyebrow, a teasing smirk dancing on his lips.

Riley was momentarily speechless. They weren’t even friends—barely acquaintances, really. Yet here he was, sacrificing his time to keep her company in a sterile hospital room.

No wonder people call Sebastian a total nutcase. He’s impossible to read, and yet he’s here.

“Well?” His eyebrow arched higher, clearly waiting for her acknowledgment.

“Um… Thanks,” she mumbled, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. The words felt awkward tumbling from her lips.

After a while, the doctors returned to run a few more tests on her. Once they confirmed that she was fit to leave, a wave of relief washed over her.

But as she reached for her phone, she realized it was dead. With a sigh, she rented a portable charger from the hospital, her heart racing as she plugged it in. The screen flickered to life, revealing a barrage of notifications—over a hundred missed calls and texts.

Lara, the police, and Bryce had all been frantically trying to reach her.

“It’s just… they’re way too expensive. I can’t keep them,” she protested, feeling a twinge of guilt.

He stared at her for a moment, the silence stretching uncomfortably between them. “Fine, but don’t ship them. Since I gave them to you face-to-face, you need to return them the same way.”

“Okay, when I get home later, I’ll—”

“I’ll let you know when to return them,” he interrupted, his tone final.

Riley blinked in disbelief.

So now I have to wait for his permission just to return some clothes?

After finishing her discharge paperwork, she quickly changed out of the formal dress she had come in, opting for a cheap T-shirt and pants from a nearby store. The casual attire felt liberating against her skin.

As she stepped outside the hospital, the fresh air hit her like a wave, invigorating and crisp. She spotted Lara waiting eagerly by the entrance, but she wasn’t alone.

Before she could even call out, Lara rushed toward her, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Rye, you got married just to end up like this?”

The warmth of the hug felt both comforting and overwhelming. Riley’s body stiffened at the unexpected question, her heart racing. That voice…