From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 155

Chapter 155 The Tide Turns Online

Chapter 155 The Tide Turns Online

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The intern’s fingers still hovered over the mouse, trembling slightly, but Riley had already shaken off her initial shock.

Her gaze remained locked on the screen.

She watched as Sophia’s statement–within just a few minutes–began steering the tide of public opinion in a completely new direction.

Down in the comments, the tone shifted rapidly.

[Oh my god, that’s what really happened? My heart breaks for Sophia… losing her first love, raising a child alone, and then having the media spin those vile rumors while that awful wife came after her.]

[I’m literally crying. What an incredible woman. She stayed quiet all this time to protect her son–she probably never would’ve spoken up if they hadn’t pushed her this far.]

[I always knew Mr. Ashford wasn’t that kind of man. Turns out he was just helping a single mom and her kid. A real class act. Everyone who dragged him earlier owes him an apology.]

The online narrative swiftly turned–from accusations of Lucas cheating and Sophia being a homewrecker, to pouring sympathy on Sophia and heaping praise on Lucas.

Even Riley, the one actually wronged in all this, was quietly cast into a different role in this carefully orchestrated PR battle.

[That Riley is just cruel. Here’s a woman who’s been through hell–widowed, raising a kid alone–and as Mrs. Ashford, you’d think she’d show some compassion. Instead, she makes a huge scene and forces Sophia to tear open old wounds in public. That’s cold.]

[Seriously. She knew exactly what Sophia had endured and still made her put her pain on display. What kind of person does that?]

Some had even started openly shipping them.

[Honestly, Lucas and Sophia make way more sense. They’ve known each other forever, there’s history there. He’s not in a love match, she’s single–yeah, she has a kid, but it’s like something straight out of a second–chance romance.]

[Right? Sophia’s stunning, an award–winning actress with her own career. They fit. That Riley, who came out of nowhere to become his wife… she kinda feels like the third wheel here.l

Comment after comment, twisting the truth, scrolled down the screen.

‘Riley, don’t… don’t read this,” the intern said, her voice wavering She took in Riley’s icy expression and hurriedly reached to close the browser “People online don’t know anything. They’re just talking. Please don’t let it get to you”

But to her surprise, Riley only smiled–a faint, curious reaction.

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08:27 Sat, May 90

Chapter 155 The Tide Turns Online

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“I’m not about to lose sleep over a few keyboard warriors.” Riley gently stilled the intern’s hand on the mouse. “Only people who can’t do anything better waste energy getting mad. I don’t have time for that

She paused, glancing away from the screen toward the anxious intern. Her tone softened just a touch. “It’s alright. Just focus on your work. Take anything said online with a grain of salt. If you internalize it, you ve already lost.”

With that, she returned to her desk.

But her mind was already racing.

Sophia’s statement might have looked like a cornered woman fighting to protect herself–but in reality, it was a ruthless maneuver. A brilliantly executed backstab.

Just then, her phone screen lit up with a notification.

A message from Sebastian.

“You seeing this online?”

Riley picked up her phone and typed back, “Just saw it.

“But let’s be real–Sophia isn’t clever enough to pull this off alone. Lucas is behind this.”

The moment she sent it, a cold clarity settled deep within her.

Lucas… this was a low blow.

By putting that statement out through Sophia, he was killing several birds with one stone.

First, the most obvious effect: it completely cleared his name in the cheating scandal. Not only did it rehab his image almost instantly–it even earned him a wave of sympathy and public praise.

Second, it was meant for his grandfather to see.

This way, even if his grandfather returned from overseas later and noticed how close Lucas had grown to Sophia and her son, there was a perfect cover story: he was simply helping a widow and her child, upholding the Ashford family’s reputation.

No one could reasonably fault him for that.

And the nastiest cut of all was aimed squarely at her.

With that statement circulating, it essentially handed down a public verdict on her marriage to Lucas.

From now on, if she made any dramatic move–filed for divorce, tried to expose the truth–they could weaponize the public’s outrage against her. Paint her as the jealous, petty, vicious wife.

Then she’d have no ground to stand on. Everyone would point the finger at her.

Given the sheer scale of the online shift, Riley didn’t believe for a second that Sophia hadn’t hired a PR

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Ishow worth

Chapter 16 DDizing Deeper

Chapter 1360 Digging Deeper

A cold smirk nigered den Raley’s hips.

She had never been on to just sit back and let life happen to her.

If Sophia was willing to audiow her pride and publicly label herself a single inc flimsy statement and protote de Lucas–then it told Riley one thing. Jeremy’s truc

spot.

Digging deeper into who je tereny really was would definitely turn up something’s

Now things were getting interesesing.

She wanted to see what other sesecrets were hiding behind that name.

Just as Riley was turning these thohoughts over her phone buzzed again.

Sebastian’s second message popped dip right after the first. “You’re not in this alon help?”

Looking at those brief but solid wordsds on the screen. Riley didn’t hesitate. She type

“Can you find me a completely cordidendal DNA testing facility? It has to be totally the Ashford family would never catch wad of

Without asking for details, Sebastian repérick diast. Consider it done. Ill send you the info soon. I can handle the testing process and everything afterward. You won’t need

Riley had just finished texting Sebastian whom her desk phone rang

it was Lucas‘ assistant. “Riley, Mr. Ashford woud de to see you in his office

Got it,” Riley replied calmly betore hanging ap

it didn’t take long for Riley to reach the execTIVE INC

she pushed the door open and saw that Nopina w is acticAON CHELS

14 was seated behind his large desk. his expressam u toreadable

Oppitia stood off to the side, wearing carefully crafter 10aka af viistress

Wheb hophia noticed Riley enter, she hurried over wah guquk K. snad steps, her eves alre

My Sophie’s voice cracked perfectly, layered with gutt. Teu sorry. Because of me cond facing and then all that awful stutt happened ordnett termible for ever

3.8

Aval syspoke, Sophia reached out as it to take Riley’s hand. but pruted a low hairway–lak