Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 79

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 79: Scars & Lucky Draw**

In the dimly lit room, Sebastian stood there, caught in the midst of a transformation. His shirt lay discarded on the floor, and he was in the process of unbuckling his belt.

Riley, who had been wandering nearby, was taken by surprise. Her instinct was to avert her gaze, but as she turned, her eyes fell upon the sight of his back—scarred and marred. A gasp escaped her lips, her breath hitching in her throat.

She was so taken aback by the sight that her body froze, her eyes fixated on the jagged lines that crisscrossed his skin, completely forgetting her intention to look away.

“Are you planning to stare all day?” Sebastian’s voice cut through her shock, cold and sharp, pulling her back to reality.

With a swift motion, Riley spun around, her cheeks burning. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” she stammered, embarrassment flooding her senses.

Sebastian calmly finished dressing, each movement deliberate, before striding over to her. “I should have mentioned this earlier,” he began, his tone more serious now. “This door connects our rooms. You’re welcome to lock your side. But mine? I won’t lock it. If anything goes awry, you can always come into my room for safety—”

He paused, a flicker of something unspoken passing between them as he looked down at her. “To protect me!” he added, a hint of humor lacing his voice.

“UR-hem.” Riley cleared her throat, feeling awkwardness settle over her like a heavy blanket. “Well, of course. I’ll let you change. I should probably head back now.”

However, as she turned to leave, Sebastian’s hand shot out, slamming against the connecting door, effectively blocking her path.

“You saw everything, didn’t you?” His gaze bore into her, unwavering and intense.

“Uh, what do you mean?” Riley replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she looked up at him, confusion swirling in her mind.

“My body,” he stated bluntly, his expression unreadable.

Strangely, under the weight of his gaze, Riley felt a rush of heat spread across her cheeks, an unexpected warmth that made her heart race.

I’ve seen countless guys without shirts back at the military base! This shouldn’t be affecting me like this.

Yet, the shock of seeing Sebastian’s back, so scarred and weathered, had completely caught her off guard.

It wasn’t something one would expect from a wealthy boy like him; it was more reminiscent of someone who had endured severe mistreatment.

Abuse?!

With a mere glance, she could tell those scars were not fresh; they were relics of a painful past.

What kind of monster would inflict such suffering upon a child?

Anger surged within her, and before she could think twice, she blurted out, “Who the hell did this to your back?!”

Sebastian sidestepped the question, his demeanor shifting slightly. “So you saw them. But why are you so angry? Getting worked up over my scars?”

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