Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 8

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

“Ms. Anderson, I must retract my earlier statement. You are far more intriguing than I initially perceived,” Sebastian remarked, his tone laced with an unsettling charm.

Riley felt the sharp edges of her nails dig into her palms, a physical manifestation of her anxiety.

This man was a walking danger sign. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to maintain a safe distance from him, to build walls high enough to keep him out.

*****

Due to the recent incident, Riley and the others were summoned to the police station to provide their accounts of what had transpired.

As she stepped out of the interrogation room, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead, she caught sight of Bryce, flanked by his usual entourage, with Bella hanging around in the main lobby like a shadow.

The moment Bryce’s gaze landed on Riley, he strode over, his expression a mix of fury and disbelief. “What were you thinking? You aimed a toy gun at Sebastian’s head? Are you completely out of your mind? Remember, we’re married! When you provoke him, you drag Murphy Tech down with you!”

Riley’s heart raced at his words, a cold laugh escaping her lips. “Married?” she echoed, incredulity dripping from her voice. “If you truly regarded me as your wife, you wouldn’t have shoved me aside to protect Bella when those shots rang out.”

Bryce’s face froze, a deep flush of embarrassment creeping up his cheeks as he struggled to find a response.

Kieran, always eager to interject, sneered at her. “Bella’s delicate. Obviously, she needs protection. What? You think anyone’s going to waste their time safeguarding you? Get real.”

Riley shot back, her voice steady yet fierce. “Isn’t it amusing how you all boast about Bella being this strong, independent woman who can stand her ground against any man? Yet now, she’s suddenly fragile and in need of a bodyguard?”

Kieran fell silent, his face a vivid shade of crimson, unable to counter her point.

Bella’s eyes narrowed as she interjected, her voice laced with irritation. “Riley, Bryce was just being considerate, looking out for me. Are you really going to blow this out of proportion? This is precisely why people label women as petty.”

“Petty my ass!”

Just then, Lara emerged from giving her statement, her ears catching the tail end of the conversation. She stormed over, her fury palpable as she confronted Bella.

“A man shoves his wife aside to protect you, his mistress, and you have the audacity to tell his wife not to be petty? Bella, I’ve never encountered a homewrecker with this much audacity.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify