From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 433

Joke

Lucas stood there in silence. Caleb’s words, the calculations, the bargaining, pressed down on his chest until he could barely

breathe.

Riley’s face from the photo flashed through his mind again.

He couldn’t back down, not this time.

“No.” His voice came out firmer than it ever had before. “Grandpa, I’m not going to screw her over again.

“Besides, you were the one who pushed me to marry Riley in the first place. You said it yourself. She’s been a huge help to my career.”

Caleb glared at him. “That was then! Back then, she had nothing. She had to lean on you, lean on the Ashford family. But now? She’s spread her wings. The more capable she gets, the harder she is to control.

“Don’t forget, you and Sophia managed to bury that mess, but only because Riley doesn’t know the whole truth. Are you absolutely sure that, with how sharp she is now, if she found out, she wouldn’t come after you? Come after this entire family? Do you think our company can survive another hit like that?”

Lucas stayed silent, the words stuck in his throat.

Caleb was right. They’d scraped through this crisis, but Ashford Group had been gutted. It would take a year, maybe more, to recover. Another scandal right now would destroy them.

Caleb saw the shift in Lucas‘ face and knew he was getting through.

He eased his tone, shifting into the voice of a wise, patient elder.

“Lucas, I’m not trying to tear you two apart. You like Riley. You want to keep seeing her on the side. I won’t stop you.

“But you have to understand–her background will always be her Achilles‘ heel. That’s why high society will never truly take her in, The Harper girl, though, is another matter entirely. She’s the family’s long–lost treasure, her position unassailable.

“Think about it. If you marry into the Harpers, if you lock in that alliance and get their full backing, then Riley can be your little secret on the side. I’ll look the other way. Men focus on their careers. A few romantic indulgences don’t matter. As long as your wife’s position is solid, no one can say a word against you.”

Lucas felt a knife twisting in his chest.

His life was a joke, chained to the family’s interests at every turn. He couldn’t live for himself even once. He hated himself for it, hated that he was about to betray Riley all over again.

But looking into Caleb’s relentless eyes, he knew fighting head–on was useless. A quiet rebellion sparked somewhere deep inside him.

He lowered his gaze. After a long pause, his voice came out defeated. “I understand, Grandpa. I’ll go.”

Caleb’s race broke into a satisfied smile.

Lucas had already made up his mind. He’d go to Nexopolis, but he’d phone it in so hard that the Harper heiress wouldn’t be able to stand the sight of him. If he made himself completely unappealing, no amount of scheming from Caleb could force that marriage

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Chapter 433 His Life Was a loke

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Monday came fast.

Riley stepped out of the car in front of the Harper Group headquarters. She looked up at the unfamiliar tower, then pulled out her phone and called Raymond.

“Raymond, I’m here.”

His voice came back bright with excitement. “Great. Wait in the lobby. I’m coming down to get you.”

“Okay.”

She hung up and walked into the gleaming marble lobby.

A few young women in sharp office wear were busy behind the reception desk.

One of them spotted Riley approaching and gave her a quick once–over. Riley carried herself well, but she wasn’t draped in obvious designer logos. Plus, no one recognized her. The receptionist mentally filed her under “job applicant.”

“Hi, do you have an appointment?” The receptionist didn’t wait for an answer. She slid a visitor sign–in sheet and a pen across the counter. “Fill this out and mark which department you’re applying to.”

Riley glanced at the form and raised an eyebrow. “I’m not here for an interview. I’m here to see Raymond Harper.”

She paused, then added, “I’m his sister.”

“Sister?” The receptionist let out a short laugh.

Everyone at Harper Group knew Raymond had exactly one sister: Elsie, the one who’d been raised in luxury her whole life.

She looked Riley up and down again. The disdain in her eyes was barely hidden.