From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 316

Chapter 316 The Drugged Trap

Amid the clinking of glasses, unspoken tensions simmered just beneath the polite surface.

Throughout the dinner, Riley remained quiet beside Lucas.

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Before long, a few distant relatives made their way over. smiles plastered across their faces, raising their glasses in her direction.

Not wanting to overdo it, Riley only took light sips from the two toasts offered to her.

Surprisingly–and uncharacteristically–Lucas seemed attentive tonight. After her second drink, he quietly signaled a server. “Switch Riley’s wine for juice, please,” he murmured.

The gesture drew light, teasing remarks from the family–good–natured jokes about Lucas finally learning how to treat his wife right.

He responded with a faint smile, neither confirming nor denying.

Riley watched silently as the server removed her wineglass and replaced it with one filled with amber- colored juice. Even so, she felt nothing inside.

This late–show of care–whether genuine or performative–no longer held any meaning for her.

But not long after, once she’d drunk about half the glass, a sudden wave of lightheadedness washed over

her.

Here it comes. She thought coldly to herself. Outwardly, she only frowned slightly and brought a hand to her forehead.

Right on cue, Sophia’s gentle, concerned voice sounded beside her. *

“Riley, are you feeling alright? You look a little pale” Somehow, Sophia had slipped into the seat next to her, her face the picture of sympathy. “Why don’t I help you upstairs so you can lie down for a bit?”

Riley met her gaze with hazy eyes and didn’t object.

Sebastian’s drug was fast–acting. The dizziness crested like a wave before receding, leaving her mind perfectly clear.

7 But she didn’t let it show. Keeping up the act, she swayed unsteadily and leaned most of her weight onto

Sophia

Seeing this. Lucas stood up at once, his brow furrowed. “I’ll take you up.”

But Sophia was already guiding Riley by the arm. She turned and offered Lucas a warm, dutiful smile. “Lucas, all the elders are here tonight–you’re the host. It wouldn’t be right for you to leave so suddenly Don’t worry, Ill take good care of her.

Lucas studied her for a moment, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

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11:36 Thu, Jun 4

Chapter 316 The Drugged Trap

Tonight. Sophia seemed unusually composed… almost too proper.

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Then again, he reasoned, with the entire Ashford family present, she wouldn’t dare step out of line.

He gave a short nod. “Take care of her, then. Call me if anything comes up.”

Sophia agreed sweetly and helped the seemingly weakened Riley up the stairs.

Once inside the room, Riley gave a feeble push against Sophia’s hold.

“Sophia… why are you….” Her voice came out thin and weak. “Are you… up to something again?”

Sophia remembered all too well what happened last time at Cedar Creek–how Riley had nearly slipped away because she hadn’t been careful enough. She wasn’t about to make the same mistake tonight.

She held up her hands innocently, a sugary smile on her lips. “Riley, you’ve got me all wrong. I’m just helping you rest–what could I possibly do?”

But inwardly, she finished venomously. I’m here to watch your reputation burn and see you fall straight into hell with my own eyes.

A second later, her sweet smile still intact, the hand holding Riley suddenly shoved hard–pushing her mercilessly toward the large bed.

Riley fell like a ragdoll, limp and defenseless.

“Get some rest, Riley,” Sophia said, looking down at her. Her voice was soft, but her eyes glinted with cruelty.

Satisfied, she turned away, pulled out her phone, and dialed Harvey.

“Get up to the east guest room on the second floor–now. Use the service stairs and don’t let anyone see you.”

She hung up, a triumphant sneer playing on her face.

Everything was falling perfectly into place.

Once Harvey had done his part and left behind the evidence, Riley wouldn’t be able to talk her way out of it even with a dozen mouths.

She’d have no choice but to do exactly as Sophia told her.

But just as she was getting lost in the thrill of coming victory-

A sharp, sudden pain exploded at the back of her head!

Sophia didn’t even have time to cry out. Her vision went dark, and the room spun wildly around her.

What was happening”

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Chapter 316 The Drugged Trap

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A raw instinct for survival pushed her to use her last shred of consciousness. Before she blacked out completely, she forced herself to turn around in disbelief.

And there she saw Riley–who should have been drugged and helpless–standing calmly behind her, holding a heavy crystal ashtray.

There was no trace of dizziness or weakness in her expression.

Riley had measured the strike perfectly. Hard enough to knock Sophia out cold for a while, but not hard enough to do real damage.

Her face impassive, she glanced down at Sophia’s limp form on the floor without a flicker of emotion.

She hauled Sophia onto the bed, arranged her in a compromising pose, and casually pulled the blanket up just enough to make the suggestion unmistakable.

Then, from her bag, she retrieved a small, discreet camera and positioned it on the bookshelf facing the bed–well–hidden, with a perfect, unobstructed view

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