The Billionaire's Heir I Never Knew Was Mine novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Did He Offend Someone?

For a moment, Sienna genuinely thought she had misheard him.

The words didn’t make sense at all.

Why was he dismissed through a message?

However, the look on Riley’s face told her everything.

This wasn’t a misunderstanding. And it definitely wasn’t a joke.

Silent linger around them—

Ava was the first to react.

"What the heck?!" she burst out, her composure finally breaking as her palm struck the table sharply. "How can they fire you like that? Did you even do anything wrong?"

She’s not screaming, but her voice is loud and sharp enough to attract several curious glances from nearby tables.

Mia immediately waved awkwardly toward the strangers, as if apologizing for displaying a scene of their emotional instability.

"Nothing to see here," Mia muttered, but still pretty loud. "Sorry if we interrupt your meals. Enjoy your dinner, guys..."

Under different circumstances, Riley would probably have laughed at that. Instead, he blinked slowly, as if forcing himself back into the present.

Then, unexpectedly, he smiled. Not the bright, carefree smile he usually shows them. But something close enough that makes anyone who sees it concerned.

Nevertheless, that unusual smile is enough to ease the tension slightly and to stop Ava from flipping the entire table.

He slid his phone into his pocket and leaned back in his chair.

"Alright," he said lightly, waving a hand dismissively. "Let’s eat first."

And to everyone’s disbelief, he calmly stabbed another piece of sweet and juicy melon with his fork. And then another piece. Again. And again. He ate four pieces of melon so calmly and looked so happy, as if he had not just announced his unemployment and the loss of an income to support himself.

Sienna stared at him in disbelief.

Mia looked equally horrified.

Ava looked seconds away from storming the hotel and questioning the HR Director.

"No need to panic over small things," Riley finally spoke after swallowing his last melon. "I’ll deal with it tomorrow," he continued very casually and almost nonchalantly.

’Small things?’ The phrase echoed strangely in Sienna’s mind.

Losing a job was not a small thing, especially not like this, after everything that had happened today.

But she understood what he was trying to do. He was trying to keep the atmosphere from being completely dark.

And because of that, none of them pushed further.

Mia forced a smile, though it looked fragile now.

Ava exhaled slowly, still visibly upset but choosing, for Riley’s sake, not to argue.

And for Sienna, that heaviness settled deep in her chest. While she had spent the evening being congratulated on her promotion, her best friend, Riley, had just lost his job.

The contrast felt cruel and unfair. Every congratulation she had received suddenly felt heavier than before.

Even her own happiness now carried guilt beneath it.

Still, she laughed softly when Mia and Riley started bickering again over who ate the last calamari.

Because what else could she do?

Tonight was supposed to be a celebration.

But somehow, by the end of it, none of them truly felt like celebrating anymore.

...

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