From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 381

5:19 pm PPP

Chapter 381 Two Unexpected Guests

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Chapter 381 Two Unexpected Guests

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But Brandon was smart enough to know that some truths were better left unsaid–for his own good.

So he played along with Riley’s story and gave himself an easy out. “Well, look on the bright side you were being responsible. There’s always later… Hey, why aren’t we eating yet? I’ve been surviving on granola bars and wild berries in the mountains for days. I’m starving.”

Sebastian barely said a word the whole time. Occasionally, when Riley laughed a little too hard, he’d casually drop some fresh broccoli onto her plate.

The next day, the three of them boarded a private jet back to Nexopolis.

When the plane touched down at Nexopolis International Airport, that familiar feeling hit–like stepping out of a secret paradise and right back into the world of money and power.

At the exit, Vincent was already waiting.

He’d pulled back from Havenbrook and taken over all of Riley’s administrative business in Nexopolis.

“Ms. Harper, Mr. Torres, Mr. Edwards.” Vincent walked up quickly and took their luggage.

Once they were settled into the spacious Rolls–Royce, Riley asked casually, “Vincent, anything special happen in Nexopolis while I was gone?”

Vincent pulled out smoothly, glanced at Riley in the rearview mirror, and gave it to her straight. “Nothing major. Everything’s running fine. But…”

He paused, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Your father and brother called me several times a day, every day. They kept asking- in not so many words–if I knew when you’d be done having fun and coming back.”

Riley pressed a hand to her forehead with a sigh, but inside, she felt warm. “Got it.

“First, drop me and Mr. Torres off at his place near Briar River. Then, if you don’t mind, take Mr. Edwards to the seven–star Skycloud Hotel in Nexopolis so he can rest. He’s had a rough week–he really needs to catch up on sleep.”

“Got it,” Vincent said.

When they got to the building, Riley and Sebastian got out.

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Brandon leaned against the car window, his handsome face twisted into a pitiful expression. He gave Riley a needy look and called out, “Riley, you’re just going to abandon me like that? Isn’t this a little quick to toss me aside? Are you leaving me behind again?”

Riley let out a short and stopped walking. Her cool eyes turned sharp. “Mr. Edwards, enough. You’ve played the poor, pitiful boy for long enough, don’t you think?”

She gave him a knowing smile. “You think I don’t know? Besides wanting to see me, you’ve already sent Raymond that letter of intent about the new energy port deal, haven’t you?”

The playful look on Brandon’s face froze instantly.

Riley continued, “Someone with your connections–if you were really in trouble, would you come all the way out here to suffer alone?”

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Chapter 381 Two Unexpected Guests

She raised an eyebrow. “You came to talk business with the Harper family, didn’t you? Then let’s get serious.”

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Caught red–handed, Brandon finally dropped his carefree act. He straightened his wrinkled shirt collar, and his eyes sharpened back to their usual shrewdness.

“Guess I can’t hide anything from you.” He waved a hand, his smile now carrying the ease of someone mecting an equal. “Fine. Get some rest. I’ll see you in the Harper Group boardroom. But fair warning–i won’t go easy on you.”

“Anytime.” Riley waved back.

As the Rolls–Royce pulled away, Riley turned around and found herself looking straight into Sebastian’s deep gaze.

“What?” she asked.

Sebastian reached out and tucked a strand of wind–blown hair behind her ear. His voice was low. “It seems Ms. Harper of Nexopolis is even more impressive than I imagined.”

“Of course I am.” Riley tilted her chin up, her smile bright and full of confidence.

She wasn’t the same Riley anymore–the one who’d swallowed every humiliation in the Ashford family without a word.

The smart lock on the residence clicked open.

The exhaustion from the long trip faded the second she stepped inside that familiar, comforting scent filled the space. Riley had just set down her luggage when she looked up and froze right there in the entryway.

Sitting bolt upright on the wide cream–colored leather sofa in the living room were two unexpected guests–Sebastian’s parents.

They looked like they’d been waiting for a while. Miranda’s face had no warmth in it at all. Her sharp eyes swept over and landed- finally–on Sebastian.

“You brat–you finally decided to come back?” Miranda snorted and said slowly, her tone flat, but there was something heavy in the air. “Do you have any idea how exhausted your father and I have been? On top of handling company business, we had to cover all the work you suddenly dumped on us. For an entire week.”

Riley immediately assumed they were upset about their last–minute trip.

Disappearing together for that long without telling anyone–for any family, that’s pretty irresponsible.

She quickly stepped forward, apology written all over her face. “Miranda, please don’t blame Sebastian–this is all my fault. I was the one who suddenly wanted to get away and clear my head. The plans were last–minute. He was just… going along with me…”

But before she could finish, the ice–cold expression on Miranda’s face melted away–just like that. “Surprise?”