Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 69

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 69: Will You Protect My Ashes Like That?**

Riley stepped onto the plane, her heart racing as she clutched the urn tightly against her chest. This time, she had deliberately chosen business class, seeking a semblance of comfort amid the chaos of her emotions.

As she entered the cabin, her eyes scanned the space, which was almost deserted, save for a few flight attendants bustling about—and then, to her astonishment, she spotted him: Sebastian!

Her breath caught in her throat, and she hesitated at the threshold, struck dumb by the unexpected sight of him on the same flight.

“I told you we’d see each other again soon,” he remarked, his voice smooth and confident.

Riley remained mute, her mind racing with the realization that this encounter was indeed far too soon.

With a shaky breath, she settled into her seat, the urn still cradled against her. To her surprise, her seat was right next to Sebastian’s, and they were the only two passengers in the entire business cabin. The quiet felt almost oppressive, amplifying the tension between them.

After the plane ascended into the sky, Sebastian broke the silence, his tone casual yet probing. “Ms. Anderson, you’ve really surprised me today.”

Riley stiffened, her body tensing as she processed his words. “You saw what happened in the terminal?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, the memory of the chaos still fresh in her mind.

“Yes, I saw everything,” he replied, his voice low and steady. He had witnessed her stand her ground against a dozen security guards, the urn clutched protectively to her chest. Even when they had tasered her, she had refused to relinquish her grip.

“I was about to step in and help,” he continued, pausing for a moment as if weighing his words carefully. “But perhaps at that moment, the military was what you really needed.”

The thought of the military’s tribute to her fallen parents washed over Riley, a bittersweet comfort that enveloped her like a warm blanket.

Startled, she looked up at him. “You contacted them?”

“Not entirely,” he responded, shaking his head slightly. Good deeds were not typically his modus operandi, but when he did something, he owned it completely. Still, he wouldn’t claim more than his due.

“The military had already arranged a farewell ceremony for your parents. I merely called Nicholas and suggested they expedite their arrival at the airport—because a little girl might need some comfort there.”

“Little girl?” Riley felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I’m not that young…”

Quickly, she redirected the conversation. “Mr. Torres, are you traveling to Carmel for business?”

Sebastian studied her flustered expression, a quiet chuckle escaping him. “If I needed an excuse, then yes, I could say that.”

His gaze locked onto hers, deliberate and unwavering. “But the truth is, I came for you.”

Riley’s breath hitched in her throat, caught off guard by the weight of his admission.

“On the way to Carmel, your parents deserved peace—and you needed someone by your side.” He shrugged lightly, a hint of sincerity in his eyes. “As it happens, I could offer both.”

“Why?” The question slipped from her lips, barely more than a whisper, filled with curiosity and disbelief.

“Because I wanted to,” Sebastian replied simply, as if that was enough.

In the beginning, it had been mere curiosity that had drawn him to her. He had hired her as a bodyguard, expecting his interest to wane over time.

Yet, even if she had collapsed before him, lifeless and unresponsive, it should not have mattered to him. He had never cared much for life—not his own, and certainly not for anyone else’s.

That was how it was supposed to be.

But today, when they had hit her with that taser, when he had watched her body seize and nearly collapse, something within him had shattered. It was a kind of anger he had never experienced before—one he could not even begin to articulate to himself.

And then, he had watched as she charged at Bella, urn in hand, literally trampling the woman underfoot and even kicking Bryce across the room.

In that moment, her face had burned with fury, her eyes sharp and fierce. With her striking features illuminated by the chaos around her, she was so breathtakingly fierce that he found it almost impossible to look away.

Riley met his gaze, frozen in place. His eyes, though cold and unyielding, burned with a predatory intensity that made her feel like prey cornered by a hunter.

“I’m sure lots of people would protect your ashes. You don’t need me for that,” she replied, attempting to inject levity into the conversation.

“So you’re not planning to repay me?” he shot back, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Riley felt caught off guard, a rush of indignation bubbling within her.

Well… you hadn’t exactly been good to me, right?

Stuck being his bodyguard for three more months, she saw no point in complicating things further.

“Look at you—healthy as a horse. You’ll probably outlive us all. For all we know, I might be the one to go first,” she said, trying to keep the mood light.

“Smooth talker,” Sebastian replied, a brief smile flickering across his lips before his expression turned serious again. “If that happens, I’ll guard your ashes myself. No one will touch them.”

“Yeah… that’s a hard pass,” she replied, her heart racing at the thought of Sebastian protecting her ashes. That definitely wasn’t part of her future plans!

****

Meanwhile, back at the airport, Bella found herself entangled in a heated discussion with the airline executives while Bryce took off on his own, his thoughts still spinning from Riley’s words before she left.

Who actually saved my life? Riley or Bella?

When he had regained consciousness, Bella had been the one at his bedside. The hospital staff had corroborated her story about bringing him in, and yet, a nagging doubt lingered in his mind.

His chest felt heavy, as if someone had placed a boulder on it, making every breath a struggle.