Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 67

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

**Chapter 67: The Ashes of a Fallen Soldier**

The soldiers moved in flawless synchronization, their expressions a blend of solemnity and deep respect. Each step they took echoed in the terminal, a rhythmic tribute to the fallen.

As if a spell had been cast, the terminal fell into an immediate hush. Eyes widened, and whispers faded into silence as the crowd took in the sight of the uniformed soldiers.

Riley felt a wave of emotion crashing over her, her eyes brimming with tears that threatened to spill. She had held back her tears when those guards had tormented her, not even flinching when the tasers had sparked to life. Yet, at this moment, surrounded by the weight of grief and honor, she felt the dam inside her begin to crack.

She understood all too well why Nicolas and the soldiers from the base were here: to pay their respects to Dominic and Bianca, to honor their sacrifices with a final farewell.

The security guards, who had previously brandished their tasers with reckless abandon, lowered their weapons, suddenly aware of the gravity of the situation.

Riley’s gaze fell on the military uniforms, a stark reminder of her own past as a soldier. She had vowed to uphold the law, to never cross that line.

With a deep breath, she forced herself to suppress the anger bubbling within her, lifting her foot off Bella, who lay on the floor.

She could have easily broken something, could have unleashed all her pent-up fury, but the thought of being locked away for an incident involving someone like Bella wasn’t worth it.

Bella, struggling to regain her footing, spat venomous words, “Riley, I’m going to sue you!”

“Not if I take you to court first!” Lara interjected, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “You are the reason Riley was assaulted by security and beaten with those tasers!”

“Tasers?” Nicolas’s voice darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes as he caught sight of the guards still holding the weapons. “You… you actually had the audacity to use tasers on her? Her parents died as heroes! They sacrificed everything for this country, and she too has put her life on the line! You think you can do this in broad daylight and get away with it?”

His voice reverberated through the airport, causing staff members to exchange anxious glances, the atmosphere thick with tension.

Riley was the child of fallen heroes? The ashes contained within that urn were indeed those of a war hero?

And here she stood, a veteran herself, who had risked everything for her country?

The security guards who had manhandled Riley exchanged bewildered looks, completely at a loss for what to do next.

Bella, frozen in disbelief, felt her mind race with confusion.

How could this be true? Riley’s parents were war heroes? But Bryce had never breathed a word about this!

“Bryce…” Bella turned to him, hoping for some clarity, only to find him lost in a trance, his eyes glued to Riley.

In that moment, it was as if Riley was the only person in his universe. He didn’t even register Bella calling his name.

Jealousy and resentment flared within Bella, her heart twisted with anger.

“I can’t believe you would even consider that!” Nicolas shot back, his voice laced with disbelief.

The soldiers standing behind Nicolas mirrored his outrage, their expressions fierce.

“I was only thinking of everyone’s safety on the plane! What if it wasn’t ashes but something dangerous? The entire flight could have been at risk!” Bella attempted to defend her actions, her voice rising in desperation.

“But I had already submitted the necessary paperwork, Ms. Sinclair. You could have checked the records instead of demanding a search of the urn. You didn’t even bother to look it up!” Riley’s glare was icy, her anger palpable.

“I just wanted to be sure, just to be safe,” Bella insisted, scrambling for excuses.

“So, you’re saying that whenever you feel the urge to inspect something, even a soldier’s urn is fair game? And if someone refuses, you think it’s acceptable to take it by force?” Nicolas’s tone was stern, unyielding.

“I had no idea it was a martyr’s ashes!” Bella protested, her desperation evident.

Lara, pushing past the security guards who attempted to block her, shouted, “I warned you! Those are the ashes of a fallen soldier! But what did you do? You sent someone to grab that urn!”

Bella’s face drained of color, the realization of her actions hitting her like a punch to the gut. The soldiers who heard Lara’s words glared at Bella, their fury intensifying.

The executives from Cloud Airlines were seething, their frustration boiling over. How could someone who always acted so composed and in control make such a colossal mistake?

The vice president quickly made a call. “Ms. Sinclair is clearly unfit to fly. We need another co-pilot here immediately!”