From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 2

You Lost Me When You Stopped Trying by Lorik Vale

2 Returning to the Harper Family

Just two weeks earlier, while she was working in Nexopolis, Riley had unexpectedly been discovered by her biological family.
The Harpers, upon learning of her existence, had offered to bring her into the fold. But the rules of old money were rigid: if she returned, she’d have to accept their terms—relocating to Nexopolis and entering an arranged marriage after her divorce.
Back then, for Lucas’ sake, she’d refused to take on the role of the Harper family’s daughter. She’d walked away from everything that should have been hers.
But now…
He’d lied to her for five years. How could she be that foolish again?
On the other end of the line, Raymond finally exhaled. “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses. Actually, the man we’ve chosen for you has ties to Havenbrook as well. If you have time, it’s worth getting to know him. He’s got a reputation for being difficult, but his character, his ability, his family—they’re all solid.”
After they hung up, Raymond sent over a contact.
Sebastian Torres.
Riley glanced at the name, then added him on a messaging app. He accepted almost immediately.
“Mr. Torres, this is Riley Harper. I still have matters to handle in Havenbrook. Once everything is settled here, I’m prepared to return to Nexopolis and go through with the marriage.
“That said, over the next month, no matter what comes out of Havenbrook—news, rumors, whatever—I hope you won’t take it too seriously.”
A reply came quickly, clipped and direct. “Understood. Let me know if you need anything.”
Given what her brother had told her, Riley had expected pushback. His easy agreement caught her off guard, but only for a moment. She didn’t dwell on it.
Five years. She had given everything to the Ashfords—to their family, to their company.
Now that she knew the truth, she wasn’t about to just walk away quietly.
A fake marriage?
She was curious to see how Lucas and Sophia would play this out from here.
Her phone rang. Lucas. “Honey, you said you’d landed in Havenbrook. Where are you now?” His voice, warm and familiar, drifted through the speaker.
The same voice that had whispered lies for five years.
Before she could respond, a child’s voice piped up in the background.
“Daddy, don’t talk to the mean lady. Come play with Jeremy!”
Then Sophia’s voice, light and teasing, sounded. “Lucas, look at him. You visit every month, and he still acts like he hasn’t seen you in years.”
Jeremy.
The name hit Riley like a punch to the chest.
She remembered, months ago, Lucas had asked his assistant to order a custom puzzle. “Happy 4th Birthday, Jeremy,” it had read.
“A gift for a friend’s child,” he’d said.
So that was the truth. It was for his child. His and Sophia’s.
And those monthly business trips? Visits to see them.
Riley kept her voice steady, as if she hadn’t heard a thing. “Was that a kid I just heard?”
A beat of hesitation. Then Lucas said, “Yeah, Sophia’s back. Brought her son with her. Mom’s birthday is coming up, and Sophia hasn’t been to Havenbrook in years, so she wanted to visit.”
Years ago, when Sophia had been reclaimed by the Myers family, it was Caleb Ashford himself who’d quietly made sure she couldn’t return freely. Now, she was using the birthday as an excuse.
Ridiculous.
Riley feigned surprise. “Sophia’s married? And she has a kid? She’s only twenty-three now, and that child sounded pretty grown. Did the Myers family not look after her? Did someone take advantage—”
“Sophia’s not like that,” Lucas cut in, then softened his tone. “I’ll explain later. You must be tired from the flight. Want me to pick you up?”
So considerate. So attentive.
The same man who’d kept a family hidden for five years.
Sophia was twenty-three now. Jeremy was four.
Which meant less than a year after Sophia had been taken back by the Myers family, she and Lucas had had a child together.
While he was still married to Riley.
The realization turned her stomach.
“I’ll take a cab,” she said flatly, and hung up.
When she arrived at Ashford Manor, Sophia was already there.
Lucas’ mother, Anthea, was cooing over Jeremy, beaming as she turned to Lucas. “I always said it was better Riley never had a child. What kind of genes would an orphan pass on? Look at our Jeremy—sharp as a tack.”
Lucas shrugged. “When Sophia came back, we thought Riley could still have a future. But after everything she’s done for me, for this family, Sophia and I won’t treat her badly.”
He wasn’t entirely indifferent to Riley’s devotion. She was intelligent, graceful, beautiful—he wasn’t made of stone.
Anthea waved a dismissive hand. “Do what you want with her. Just don’t shortchange Jeremy and Sophia.”
Standing in the doorway, Riley felt the last warmth drain from her chest.
So Anthea had known. All along.
Of course she had. Under Havenbrook state law, anyone under twenty-one needed parental consent to marry. Anthea must have signed off on Lucas and Sophia’s ceremony back then.
And yet, for five years, Anthea had let Riley serve the Ashford family like a maid. Cooking, cleaning, learning flower arranging, studying classical piano, memorizing wine vintages—everything to please a woman who’d never seen her as a daughter-in-law.
Not because she wasn’t good enough.
But because Anthea had already chosen someone else.
Riley had been a fool. A placeholder. A joke.
“Mom, don’t worry,” Sophia said sweetly. “Lucas’ always taken care of me. My career wouldn’t be where it is without him. It’s only fair that Riley handled things here while I was away.”
“Please,” Anthea sniffed. “She’s nothing compared to you. You gave this family a grandson.”
Before she could finish, the housekeeper gasped. “Ms. Harper—you’re back?”
Riley stepped into the room.
Anthea’s face flickered—panic, then a too-bright smile. “Riley! You’re home. Why didn’t anyone announce you?”
“Just got in.” Riley’s gaze drifted past Sophia. “What were you all discussing?”
Sophia pulled Jeremy closer, a smirk playing at her lips. “Mom was just saying how much she adores having a grandson around. Speaking of which, Riley, you and Lucas have been married so long—any reason you haven’t had a child yet?”
“Not all of us move that fast, Sophia.” Riley slid her arm through Lucas’, tilting her head with a smile. “You’re already married with a kid, and we didn’t even get to send a gift. Lucas, you should’ve told me.”
At the sight of her so close to Lucas, Jeremy scowled. “We don’t want your gift, you mean lady!”