From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 392

How could this be?

Elsie… Elsie has feelings for Sebastian?

Melissa’s red eyes filled with tears. They fell one after another–hot drops landing on the back of her hand.

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She mumbled to herself, her voice thick with guilt, “I failed her. How could I be so blind? I didn’t even notice my own daughter’s feelings.”

In that moment, the heartbreaking words in Elsie’s diary blurred together with Melissa’s own buried memories.

She had once loved someone like that, too.

Before her family arranged for her to marry Zavier, she and her true love had made promises to each other.

But that relationship–cursed by everyone around them–couldn’t withstand the weight of reality. It fell apart.

He teft, heading north, still unable to let go of her. He got married soon after, but he never moved on. Later, she heard bits and pieces–he was always unhappy, always worrying, and his health kept getting worse.

And what about her?

She was trapped, too–in a wealthy marriage with no love.

Sure, Zavier gave her everything she wanted. From the outside, he treated her like a queen. But only Melissa knew–her heart had always belonged to someone else.

Is that same tragedy–lovers torn apart–going to happen to Elsie now?

No. Absolutely not.

As that thought took hold, the sadness and guilt in Melissa’s eyes faded. Something darker took its place–something obsessive.

Riley is already back in the Harper family.

She is the legitimate daughter. She has endless wealth waiting for her. One day, the entire Harper Group will pack her up. She already has so much. How could she… How could she take away the only person Elsie has ever loved?

Thinking about Elsie’s diary–about her suffering in silence, forcing herself to smile in front of everyone–Melissa’s heart twisted with pain.

She felt like she would risk anything, even her own life, to make sure Elsie didn’t make the same mistakes she did.

I have to give Elsie the real happiness I have never gotten.

When Riley opened her door that morning, she ran right into Melissa coming out of Elsie’s room.

Melissa’s eyes were red, and she was dabbing at them with a handkerchief.

Riley figured she was just putting on another dramatic show and couldn’t be bothered. She walked right past her without a glance and headed downstairs.

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5:20 pm

Chapter 392 Got More Persistent

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Soon after, Zavier and Raymond came down for breakfast.

The family was sitting at the table together. Raymond took a sip of milk and looked at Riley. “Got any plans today?”

Riley was eating her toast slowly. She answered, “I’m going to do some shopping. Dinner at Sebastian’s tonight–I need to get gifts for his family.”

“That’s important–take your time with it.” Zavier nodded immediately, barely hiding his smile.

He pulled a black card out of his pocket and slid it across the table to Riley. His voice was full of affection. “Use this–buy whatever you want. Doesn’t matter how expensive it is. I can afford it.”

Riley glanced at the black card, no spending limit, but she didn’t take it.

“No, thanks. I have my own money,” she said flatly. “When I run out, I’ll ask you for more.”

Zavier looked genuinely disappointed that she wouldn’t take his card.

The warm, happy scene at the table didn’t reach Melissa at all.

She sat quietly, eating her pumpkin soup in small bites, her eyes unfocused. She seemed lost in her own thoughts–completely cut off from the family around her.

After breakfast, Zavier and Raymond left for the office together.

Riley went back to her room, got ready, and was about to head out with her bag when Melissa suddenly stood up from the living room couch. She came over with an overly warm smile.

“Riley, you’re probably not very familiar with the malls and brand/stores in Nexopolis anymore, are you?” She walked up and tried to take Riley’s arm. But Riley pulled away.

Melissa’s hand froze in midair. But she didn’t let her smile drop. She acted like nothing happened and kept going, “I have top–tier VIP status at most of the luxury stores. I can get exclusive access to new collections that aren’t available to the public. Let me come with you. I can help you pick things out.”

Riley didn’t really want to be alone with her–especially after all her strange behavior last night and this morning.

She shook her head coolly. “No, thanks. I lived in Nexopolis for over ten years before I moved to Havenbrook. I’m not a stranger

here.”

The rejection was pretty clear.

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But Melissa acted like she hadn’t heard it. She just got more persistent. “That’s different. Things have changed so much in the last few years. Just let me come with you. We’ve never gone shopping together.”

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