Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 59

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**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 59: Toy Boy**

**Lucky Draw**

Claire had unknowingly stepped into a minefield, and now, with Vince’s temper flaring, the stakes had never been higher.

Vince’s eyes bore into Claire’s, a storm brewing within them. He asked, his voice low and measured, “Are you truly prepared to stand by those words you just uttered?”

With a defiant stance, Claire crossed her arms tightly, her chin jutting out as she replied, “Why wouldn’t I? The photographs are crystal clear! They show you and Riley flirting without a doubt!”

A chill swept through the room as Vince’s tone shifted, becoming as icy as a winter’s night. “The law stipulates that the maximum penalty for libel is three years in prison. My uncle, Nelson Thornberry, happens to be a prominent lawyer. He was here last night to pick me up, and he can confirm that Lara was present too.”

Claire felt a knot tighten in her stomach. “Do you honestly expect him to lie for you?” she shot back, her bravado faltering under the weight of his words.

Nelson Thornberry was no ordinary lawyer; he was a titan in the legal world, known throughout Washington for his high-profile cases and unyielding reputation. Claire had only recently learned of his esteemed status when she found herself in a precarious situation a few days prior.

In her moment of desperation, she had hoped that Nelson would take up her cause, to defend her and her mother against the tide of trouble they faced. But he had turned her down flat, leaving her feeling more isolated than ever.

“You’re attempting to smear someone’s reputation over a few poorly taken photographs? Seriously? Do I look like the kind of person who would ruin a home?” Vince advanced slowly, towering over Claire, his presence daunting.

A shiver ran down Claire’s spine, and she felt every nerve in her body tingle with anxiety. The man standing before her exuded an aura of authority and intimidation that made her feel as insignificant as an ant beneath his boot.

The atmosphere in the room shifted palpably as others glanced at Vince, their expressions mirroring her own fear. A man like him, born into a legacy of privilege and influence, would never stoop to being anyone’s secret lover.