From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143 Made Anthea Angrier

Chapter 143 Made Anthea Angrier

The giant diamond necklace caught Anthea’s eye–and held it, hard.

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She had married into the Ashford family and spent decades playing the wealthy matron. She’d seen nice things. But jewelry like this? Top–tier? She’d never owned anything close. She’d barely even seen it in person.

Her own prized collection, compared to this necklace, might as well have been broken glass.

Jealousy burned in her chest.

Anthea closed the distance in a few angry steps, got right in Riley’s face, and fired off. “Riley, where did you get that necklace? Did you bully Lucas into buying it for you?

“Do you have any idea what kind of trouble this family is in right now? Lucas has a million fires to put out, and here you are–flashing around something this expensive like it’s no big deal. Do you have any sense of how a wife should act?”

Riley had expected this.

She reached up and casually touched the necklace–let the light catch it, let it stab Anthea right in the eyes. Then she said, flatly, “Anthea, you’re overthinking it. I borrowed it from a designer for the banquet. It goes back first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Borrowed?” Anthea’s voice shot up. “Who do you think you’re fooling? You’re not some movie star. Who would rent something this valuable to you? You’re just covering your tracks–spent Lucas‘ money and don’t have the guts to admit it.”

And with that, she actually reached out–grabbed for the necklace on Riley’s neck.

She shouted, “It’s too valuable for you to wear. Give it to me. I’ll hold onto it. If family money bought it, then it belongs to the family.”

Riley’s eyes went cold. She stepped to the side and dodged Anthea’s hand. “Anthea. You’re worried about my necklace right now?

“The news out there is ripping the Ashford family apart. Everyone’s watching. Everyone’s asking whether Jeremy is Lucas‘ son or not.

“And you two… you’re not even a little concerned?”

Anthea choked. Her outrage fizzled.

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Chapter 143 Made Anthea Angrier

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She knew–Riley was right. Outside, the world was burning. And here she was, obsessing over jewelry. That was not how a real matriarch acted. It was so cheap.

But being called out like that? She couldn’t just swallow it.

Just as Anthea was stuck, speechless, Julian finally spoke.

“Riley!” He stood up and raised his voice. “Is that any way to talk to Anthea? We took you into this family out of kindness, and this is what you learned? Cynicism? Disrespect? What a total lack of manners!”

That was a heavy accusation. In the past, Riley might have just apologized to keep the peace.

But tonight, she didn’t want to put up with anyone.

She let her cold gaze slide from Anthea’s angry face to Julian’s righteous one.

“Manners?” Riley repeated the word softly–dripping with sarcasm. “Anthea came at me without even asking what was going on. She tried to rip something off my neck. And that’s your idea of manners?”

Julian’s face turned red. A younger woman had just called him out, plain and simple. His authority as head of the family was gone.

“You-” Julian’s chest heaved with anger. To save face, he pivoted hard. “How dare you! Where are Lucas and Sophia? It’s late. Why did you come home alone?”

Anthea, happy for an opening, jumped in. “Exactly! You know this is a crisis. But you don’t seem worried at all–you’re just standing here arguing with us.

“Unless… unless you were the one behind all of this at the banquet tonight.”

Riley just laughed out loud in anger at those baseless accusations.

She sneered, “I came home alone because your wonderful son left me stranded at the banquet hall. He had to take care of his dear sister, who just happened to faint.”

But Julian and Anthea’s brains worked differently from those of normal people.

Julian’s face hardened—as if he’d just cracked the case. “So that’s it. You’re jealous. Lucas paid attention to Sophia and ignored you. So you got back at him. You caused this whole mess tonight.”

They weren’t listening to her, or they didn’t want the truth.

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