Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 70

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

**Chapter 70: Who Really Saved Me from That River?**

As Bryce stepped through the grand entrance of the villa, the familiar scent of polished wood and fresh flowers enveloped him. His eyes quickly found Amanda and Claire, who were nestled together on the plush couch, their expressions brightening as soon as they caught sight of him.

“Bryce! What on earth took you so long? You were only supposed to file some paperwork at the courthouse! Don’t tell me Riley had a change of heart about the divorce,” Claire exclaimed, her voice laced with concern.

In the world they lived in, Bryce was a high-profile CEO, a man of considerable standing and charm. The thought that Riley might be reconsidering her decision to leave him didn’t seem far-fetched at all.

“Honestly, is 1.53 million dollars not enough for her?” Amanda interjected, her tone sharp and filled with indignation. “If you ask me, that’s an outrageous sum to hand over!”

“Mom, can we please not do this right now?” Bryce said, rubbing his temples in exasperation. “We are divorced, plain and simple!”

“Really? It’s all finalized?” Amanda’s eyes sparkled with delight, as if she were celebrating a long-awaited victory.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Bryce replied, his voice flat, devoid of the enthusiasm she expected.

“Oh, this is just wonderful! Good riddance! A woman like Riley never deserved you anyway. You still have Bella—she’s perfect! A Sinclair family heiress and a co-pilot!” Amanda continued, her excitement bubbling over as she envisioned the envy of their relatives when they learned of her son’s impending marriage to someone so prestigious.

Claire chimed in with a wicked grin, “Riley’s going to regret leaving Bryce. Honestly, where else is she going to find a man better than him?”

With a playful glint in her eye, she turned to Bryce. “You know, when you and Bella tie the knot, you should definitely send Riley a wedding invitation. Let her watch you marry the woman you truly deserve!”

“Bella and I are just friends,” Bryce said, his frown deepening as he tried to dismiss their hopeful assumptions.

“Oh please, Bryce, don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes and Mom’s. We all know that Bella is the one you’ve always had feelings for. You only ended up marrying Riley because you were heartbroken when Bella left for her studies abroad. Now that you’re free, you can finally be with her,” Claire declared, her voice rising with each word.

“That’s right. We’re family, so let’s cut the nonsense. I get it, Bryce. Just give it a little time, and I’ll start planning your wedding to Bella,” Amanda added, her enthusiasm palpable.

A wave of exhaustion crashed over Bryce.

Without uttering another word, he ascended the staircase to his bedroom, his mind swirling with confusion and frustration.

Even Mom and Claire believe we’re just friends!

Had he truly sent them the wrong signals?

Sure, he had developed feelings for Bella long ago—she saved his life, after all, and her beauty was undeniable. Being a Sinclair, she was from a world that felt entirely out of reach for him. He had buried those emotions deep, convincing himself that their bond was merely a way of repaying a debt of gratitude.

Then Riley entered his life, and they married, a decision weighed down by expectation. Even when Bella reappeared, he had kept things strictly platonic, determined to remain loyal to Riley while still wanting to protect Bella. He labeled it “friendship” to shield himself from temptation, yet no one bought it.

Bryce recalled Riley’s accusations, how she had claimed he clung to the term “friend” as a facade to avoid feeling guilty or tarnishing his reputation.

He pulled out his divorce certificate, staring at it as a bitter taste settled in his mouth.

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