From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167 An Unspoken Chill

Chapter 167 An Unspoken Chill

Were things really great between them?

Sebastian held back a quiet scoff, the corner of his mouth tilting into a faint, sardonic curve.

What a joke–this guy wasn’t just clueless, he was downright fake.

Lucas remained oblivious to Sebastian’s thoughts.

But Aiden, standing beside him, didn’t miss a single flicker of reaction.

He knew they’d already gotten everything they came for today. Now was the time to wrap things up smoothly.

Stepping forward, Aiden casually clapped a hand on Lucas‘ shoulder.

“Don’t sweat it, Mr. Ashford. Women have their off days–it happens. The real move is to help them shake it off.”

His tone was just right–like a buddy handing out seasoned advice.

Then he reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a sleek, textured card, offering it to Lucas.

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“My buddy’s hosting a private charity auction–just some cool, low–key items. Day after tomorrow, evening, at the Havenbrook

ention Center.”

meaningful look, the kind that said you know what’s up. “Consider this an invite, Mr. Ashford. Bring Ms. Riley wind, take her mind off things.”

w tightened almost imperceptibly. He managed a stiff smile.

king the card, he stuffed it into his pants pocket without glancing at it.

“Thanks, Mr. Quinn. We’ll… make sure to be there.”

And like that, their thinly veiled back–and–forth came to a close.

Pulling themselves together, Lucas and Sophia walked Sebastian and Aiden all the way to the elevator lobby.

The four of them moved in silence.

Inside, Sophia was fuming.

She was beyond frustrated.

This should’ve been her moment–her chance to shine–but Aiden had flipped the script with a few well–placed remarks, leaving

hing, to claw back a bit of pride… to make Sebastian remember she was there

and she hurried forward, stepping ahead of the group to press the “down”

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Chapter 167 An Unspoken Chill

An admin assistant was stepping out, carrying a tray of coffee and pastries–and they collided.

“Oh-!”

The assistant gasped. Cups and plates rattled loudly on the tray, threatening to topple.

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The impact threw Sophia off balance. She stumbled, her heels slipping, and for a second it looked like she was going down face- first.

In panic, she instinctively grabbed the person closest to her–Sebastian.

Time seemed to slow.

Sebastian had never been one for touch, especially not from women he didn’t care for.

The moment Sophia’s fingers brushed his sleeve, a wave of pure revulsion shot through him.

His eyes turned to ice.

His brow furrowed sharply, jaw tensing, and his gaze dropped like a blade to the hand now clinging to his arm.

But just before he could coldly shake her off, Sophia caught her balance.

She quickly let go, face pale, already stammering an apology. “Mr. Torres–I’m so sorry! I… I lost my footing. It was an accident.”

Her voice quivered–whether from shock or from the thrill of being so close to him, it was hard to tell.

Sebastian didn’t even look at her.

He glanced down, then–with a clean, almost compulsive motion–brushed off the spot on his sleeve where she’d touched him.

“Watch your step next time.”

The words came out clipped, cold. Without another glance, he strode straight into the elevator.

The whole scene lasted only seconds.

Aiden, visibly amused, followed him in at a leisurely pace.

As the doors began to close, he turned and caught Sophia’s still–frozen expression. He shot her a playful, knowing look. I see what you did there.

“Ms. Myers,” he said, voice lowered but dripping with suggestion. “Now that’s rare. He didn’t shove you off right away.”

A slow smirk formed. “Looks like you might be… a little special to him.”

Sophia rushed to deny it. “Mr. Quinn, please–it wasn’t like that. Mr. Torres was just being decent… He didn’t want me to fall.”

But even as she said it, something stirred inside her.

She began twisting Sebastian’s coldness into something else—maybe he just wasn’t good with words.

And that “watch your step“, to her ears, it sounded almost like a gruff kind of concern.

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9:20 am P P P P

Chapter 167 An Unspoken Chill

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So maybe… Sebastian wasn’t completely closed off to every woman.

Maybe he treated her differently.

That thought washed away the shame and embarrassment from earlier. A quiet, sweet sense of victory began blooming in her

chest

She got lost in it–that fragile, hopeful daydream.

Until the elevator doors shut completely, and Lucas‘ cold voice cut through from behind her.

“You happy now?”

Sophia’s heart lurched. The smile hadn’t even faded from her lips when she whipped around.

That pretty little fantasy Aiden’s words had spun for her popped like a soap bubble.

Her obvious eagerness to please Sebastian today–that flustered, girlish act she’d put on–had been way too obvious. So obvious that even Lucas couldn’t pretend not to notice.

Chapter 168 Crae Graving What She Can’t Have

ost important man in Sophia’s

1. le.

to this. I’m just relieved we managed gard him, didn’t you?”

xcuse. D

figured you were just thrilled to bed to

fter him..

ne Sebastian–not ten or a hundredundred

ursue me. Some had more moneymoney, is time without any realny real

sture.

then pressed hard for fingers against his

an massaging sing his head gently.

you realtypoally planning to take Riley to

Morimurtag Riley to such an exclusive

Sophia’s bara’s sands stilled

“Why“Hervo Her voice shot up, sharp with bitterness, Lucas, you’ve now you want to parade her around at a place like that and throw

“What’tan specq special about Riley anyway? Why does everyone act like met her at ind and he’s demanding her by name!”

To Sopło 6ophia, Riley was an unbreakable barrier–an insurmountable me

She’d alwild atways believed that with enough patience, understanding, and she deser deserved.

But to But today, Riley’s absence had somehow made her the center of

Hercomer complaints, though, hit Lucas right where it hurt.

He waHe was already frustrated beyond words trying to track Bitey down to ch Woundwound.

“Ehou “Enough!”

Lucas Lucas brushed her hands away impatiently and cut her off sharply.

If you “If you had half her capability—if you could bring in the kind of bestu Alston Aiden be making these unreasonable demands today? Would be staroeg

Sophia’s face went stiff.

She stared at him, completely thrown.

In that moment, his words cut deeper than any direct result-

Resentment burned hot in Sophia’s chest.

Why, after all these years of patience and sacritics, did cerea none of it seem to

She bit down hard on her lower lip, fighting back tears.

“But…” Her voice trembled with self–pity. “‘But Lucas Vakes you promised to let m

Lucas let out a cold, humorless laugh at the sight of her

“I said you could lead it…

“But only if you could actually close the deall wasn’t itasatt var would definitely be there?

“And now? We don’t even have a signed contractin protect your pride?”

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