From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 185

Chapter 185 A Lingering Suspicion

Chapter 185 A Lingering Suspicion

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Shortly after Anthea excused herself, Sophia also stood up, claiming she needed to use the restroom, and slipped out of the private dining room not long after.

Riley didn’t comment. She simply lifted her cup and let her eyes settle on Lucas, who was patiently helping Jeremy identify animals in his coloring book. His tone was gentle-he really did have a natural way with kids.

But as she watched them, Riley began to notice something odd.

She’d never studied Jeremy’s features so closely before.

Now, looking back and forth between the boy and Lucas, it struck her that… Jeremy didn’t actually resemble Lucas much at all.

No wonder the paparazzi had snapped photos of them together in public more than once, yet no one had ever seriously suggested they were related.

Riley was still turning this over in her mind when the door to the private room opened again.

Sophia walked back in, her steps a little hurried.

She kept her head slightly down, as though avoiding eye contact.

Julian was the first to pick up on it. “Sophia, are you alright? You look pale,” he said, concern edging his voice.

Sophia flinched, as if startled. When she glanced up, there was still a faint trace of unease on her face.

She managed a stiff smile. “It’s nothing, Dad. I wasn’t watching my step in the hallway-my heel caught and I nearly fell. Just gave myself a scare, that’s all.”

As she spoke, her fingers tightened subtly around her clutch, and her gaze drifted around the room without settling on anyone.

Riley didn’t miss the poorly hidden tension in Sophia’s voice.

She knew perfectly well that whatever had happened out there was more than just a stumble and a helpful stranger.

But as long as it didn’t involve her, Riley saw no reason to press the issue.

Not long after, Anthea returned as well, followed by servers carrying elegantly arranged dishes.

The food began arriving in succession, lightening the mood in the room-for a little while, at least.

The calm didn’t last.

Once Anthea was seated, her eyes lingered on Sophia for a moment, as if something had just come back to her. She remarked casually, “Oh, Sophia-when I was on my way to the restroom earlier, I thought I saw you speaking with a man down at the end of the hallway. Quite tall, wasn’t he? Someone you know?”

Sophia’s hand, which had been lifting her fork, went still.

Almost instantly, she forced another smile and replied quickly. “Mom, you must have seen it wrong. I did slip, and a gentleman passing by helped me up. I thanked him and came straight back. That must have been what you noticed.”

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Chapter 185 A Lingering Suspicion

The explanation sounded plausible enough, but the nervous edge in her demeanor only made it seem more suspect.

A flicker of doubt crossed Anthea’s eyes.

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She distinctly remembered it hadn’t looked like a simple assist-they were standing close, almost face to face, as if in conversation. Still, given her longstanding trust in Sophia, she didn’t push further. She simply nodded. “I see.”

She then gestured for Jeremy to come closer and began helping him with his food.

Sophia watched the scene, her expression shifting slightly.

Then she set down her fork, turned toward Lucas, and spoke in a carefully softened tone. “Lucas, there’s… something I wanted to ask you about.”

Lucas looked up from watching Jeremy. “What is it?”

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