Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 42

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

**Chapter 42: Get Some Food**

**Lucky Draw**

As she stood there, Riley felt a familiar rush of emotions when she spotted Vince, her steadfast ally from the military base. He was a breath of fresh air in a world that often felt suffocating.

Vince was unlike anyone else she knew. Sure, in formal settings, he would address her as Captain, but in private, he was the only one who treated her like family—like a sister. It was a bond forged in the fires of shared experiences, one that transcended titles and ranks.

Riley’s gaze traveled over his face, which had matured over the past three years. The boyish charm she remembered had given way to a more refined and composed demeanor. It was as if time had sculpted him into someone more grounded, yet that spark of youthful energy still flickered beneath the surface.

The memory of the mall explosion incident flashed through her mind like a lightning bolt. She had reached out to Vince then, and he had been the one to orchestrate the evacuation, ensuring that everyone made it out safely. That frantic call had been their first interaction in years, and she had thought it would be ages before they crossed paths again. Yet here he was, appearing out of the blue, as if fate had conspired to bring them together.

“What on earth are you doing here with Lara?” Riley asked, her surprise evident in her tone.

If she hadn’t picked up the phone yesterday and informed him she was out of the hospital, she could only imagine the lengths Vince would have gone to. He would have stormed the military base, demanding to mobilize the entire army just to rescue her.

Riley bit her lip, a wave of guilt washing over her. With so many people at the party last night, it was no surprise that Vince had caught wind of everything, despite not being there himself.

“I’m fine now, really,” she reassured him, tapping his shoulder lightly in an attempt to ease his worry. But he held on tightly, as if afraid to let go.

“I’m all sweaty and gross, Vince. I haven’t even had a chance to shower yet. You’re going to end up dirty too. Please, let me go,” she pleaded, trying to wiggle free.

“You have no idea how worried I was last night,” he confessed, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I hate myself for not realizing you wanted to marry Bryce back then. If I had just stopped you before the wedding, maybe none of this chaos would have happened, and I wouldn’t have…”

His words trailed off, the weight of unspoken regret hanging heavily between them.

Riley offered him a bittersweet smile. If she could turn back time, she would have chosen never to marry Bryce at all.

“Are you hungry?” Vince finally released her, his grip loosening just enough for her to breathe.

“Yeah, starving actually,” she admitted, suddenly aware that she hadn’t eaten since the previous afternoon.

“Alright then, since Riley’s feeling better now, let’s find a place to sit down and grab some food,” Lara chimed in, her voice brightening the mood.

The three of them climbed into the car, the engine purring to life as they slowly pulled away from the hospital.

Meanwhile, not far from where they were, Sebastian sat in his gleaming silver Maybach, his gaze fixated on the road where Riley’s vehicle had just disappeared. A tumult of emotions surged within him as he watched another man wrap his arm around her, an unsettling feeling creeping in like a thief in the night.

Lara sheepishly touched her nose, acknowledging the impossibility of those feats.

“Besides, not just anyone gets to be my sister,” he added casually, but the underlying seriousness in his tone made Lara’s body tense up.

Perhaps Vince’s easygoing demeanor around Riley had lulled her into forgetting that he was known as Washington’s little tyrant. No one dared to cross this particular ruler without facing dire consequences.

“Okay, Lara was just joking around,” Riley interjected, hoping to diffuse the tension.

**Lucky Draw**

Before long, their food arrived, and Riley wasted no time diving into her meal. The hunger that had been gnawing at her was finally being satiated, and she ate with an urgency that surprised even her.

“Slow down, you’re going to choke,” Vince cautioned, sliding a cup of water toward her and placing all her favorite dishes right in front of her.

Lara rolled her eyes at the overly sweet display, bemused by how Vince seemed to transform from a notorious tyrant into a devoted pet trying to impress its owner.

Just as Riley was nearing the end of her meal, Vince broke the comfortable silence. “So, when are you getting divorced?” he asked, his voice steady, but the question hung heavy in the air.