Divorced CEO's Forgotten Wife Strikes Back (Riley and Bryce) novel Chapter 91

**TITLE: Dreams Refuse Gravity by Leo Arden Knox**
**Chapter 91: I Haven’t Eaten Yet**

Riley lifted her gaze and found Chris standing before her, his expression a mask of seriousness that sent a chill through the air. The weight of his presence felt heavy, almost suffocating.

Wren, caught in the crossfire, appeared utterly mortified, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and resentment. Among the Andersons, Chris was the one who instilled the most fear in her heart, a fact she couldn’t deny.

“Wren, you need to properly apologize to the ancestors of the Anderson family. If it weren’t for their sacrifices, you wouldn’t be enjoying the life you have today!” Chris’s voice cut through the tension like a knife, his tone unwavering and authoritative.

Wren felt the sting of his words, her heart pounding in her chest. She bit her lip, her reluctance evident. In her mind, she had already paid a steep price—losing an eye for the life she now led. She believed, with every fiber of her being, that the family’s wealth and status were largely built upon her sacrifices.

Yet here stood Chris, unwavering in his defense of Riley, seemingly ignoring her own struggles.

“Still not going to apologize?!” Chris’s voice rose, a note of frustration creeping in.

With no other choice left, Wren cast her eyes downward, the weight of her pride crumbling as she reluctantly mumbled an apology, the words barely escaping her lips.

Chris then turned his attention to Riley, his demeanor softening slightly. “Riley, just know that you’re not alone in this. The Anderson family stands by you, always.”

“Yeah, I get it,” Riley replied, her voice steady but her heart racing.

As she stepped out of the memorial hall, her phone buzzed to life, breaking the momentary silence.

It was Lara. “Where are you right now?”

“I’m in Carmel,” Riley replied, her voice flat, devoid of any excitement.

“Come on, I know you’re in Carmel. I need your exact location, not a general area,” Lara said, a hint of exasperation creeping into her tone as she rolled her eyes.

“At the entrance of the Anderson family’s memorial hall,” Riley added, her cheeks warming with a hint of embarrassment for being so vague.

“Cool, I’ll be there in thirty,” Lara replied, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.

Riley was taken aback. “Wait, what… You’re in Carmel?”

“Yeah, just landed. I’ll catch you in a bit!” Lara sounded upbeat, her energy infectious.

Riley couldn’t help but smile at the thought of reuniting with her friend soon. The memorial hall was nestled in the heart of a bustling downtown area, and nearby was a quaint little shop. She decided to find a seat there, eager to wait for Lara’s arrival.

Thirty minutes later, her eyes lit up as she spotted Lara approaching—and to her surprise, Vince was right beside her.

The moment Vince caught sight of Riley, he enveloped her in a warm embrace. “I missed you so bad!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine affection.

She answered, and it was Sebastian. “Where are you at?”

“I’m having a bite at a small diner near the memorial hall,” Riley informed him, trying to keep her tone casual.

“A diner?” Sebastian’s voice trailed off momentarily, then he asked out of nowhere, “Are you having dinner with the heir of the Brunson family?”

Riley froze, her heart racing. She looked up and, to her shock, saw Sebastian standing at the entrance of the building across from the diner, his gaze locked on her through the window!

Her hand stilled on her phone, her mind racing as she processed the coincidence. He had just stepped out of the building, ready to get into his sleek silver Maybach parked beside him.

What an unbelievable twist of fate!

“What’s going on, Rye?” Vince asked, noticing the sudden change in her demeanor. He followed her gaze and spotted Sebastian, a frown creeping onto his face, a flicker of concern in his eyes.

For some inexplicable reason, when their eyes met through the glass, Vince felt a surge of protectiveness, as if something precious he had always guarded was on the verge of being taken away.

“Yeah, Lara and Vince just arrived in Carmel, so I’m having dinner with them,” Riley managed to say, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions within her.

“Well, perfect. I haven’t eaten yet,” Sebastian replied coolly before abruptly hanging up the phone.