The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 398

"Why would you need to wait for the right moment? You know I've been hoping you two would get together." Winona lightly punched Riley's arm with her small fists. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you! I can't believe you didn't tell me."

Sebastian chimed in, "Don't blame her. I was the one who didn't want to go public."

Winona could naturally tell that Sebastian was protecting Riley. But... "Are you two keeping it a secret because you're worried about the gossip? If you've decided to be together, you'll have to face it sooner or later."

Sebastian's expression turned serious. "I still have some hidden enemies to deal with. If we go public now, your Riley will be in danger. As the princess of the Spencer family, they wouldn't dare touch you."

Although Winona didn't know much about the internal power struggles of the St. John family, she had heard rumors. Plus, while pretending to be Sebastian's girlfriend, she had overheard her parents talking in their bedroom.

They had said that although Sebastian was a bit quiet and cold, he was reliable. However, the internal waters of the St. John family were too deep, and they worried she would suffer if she married into it. Her father had comforted her mother, saying that if they really liked each other, he would support them to give her peace of mind.

Combining that with what Sebastian had just said, Winona realized he was worried that if their relationship became public, Riley, who had no background to protect her, could be targeted by his enemies to threaten him.

Winona nodded. "Of course I'll help Riley. But you need to resolve those issues quickly. I don't want to keep lying to Lady Eleanor. It makes my conscience heavy."

"I will." Sebastian looked at Winona with genuine gratitude. "Thank you."

The three of them chatted for a bit longer before Riley got out of the car. Then, Franklin got in and drove Winona to her university, while Riley drove herself home.

The Grand Regency.

Inside a car parked inconspicuously near the landscaping, Pierce sat in the backseat, watching with his own eyes as Riley parked a white sedan and walked into the building.

Pierce got out and walked over to Riley's car. He looked at the logo and the model, his gaze growing increasingly dark.

It was a top-tier Volvo S60 T8 plug-in hybrid, costing nearly a hundred thousand dollars. It didn't have a flashy badge, so most people wouldn't immediately recognize it as a luxury vehicle.

He turned back to look at the upscale residential building.

He used to think Riley had used the divorce settlement to buy a house, but now he knew she had spent all that money buying the orphanage. She had no money of her own. So how could she afford to live in such an exclusive community, and how could she afford a hundred-thousand-dollar luxury car?

Scott looked at the man's dark, thunderous expression and asked quietly, "Mr. Landon, are we going up?"

"To the hotel." Pierce turned and got back into the car.

Scott quickly hopped into the driver's seat and started the engine.

Pierce's icy voice came from the backseat. "Investigate immediately. Who bought that car? And find out who owns the apartment she's living in."

Scott naturally knew 'she' meant Riley. "Yes, Mr. Landon."

A short while after Riley arrived home, Sebastian's phone call came through. "Are you home?"

"Yes. Did you drop Winona off at her university?"

"I have hours tomorrow morning."

"Dr. Vance, it's hard to get an appointment with you nowadays. As your boyfriend, do I get any special privileges?" The man's deep voice, laced with amusement, traveled through the line.

Why was he calling her Dr. Vance again?

And was this really the unapproachable, serious Sebastian St. John?

Riley's heart raced and her cheeks burned, but he wasn't wrong. She only had half a day of outpatient clinic a week, and her slots had to be booked in advance. Tomorrow's slots were already full. "I'll talk to the triage nurse tomorrow and squeeze you in. But I'll have to see the other patients first. If you come at noon, it should be about right."

"Okay. After the appointment, we'll get lunch together."

"Sounds good."

At ten o'clock that night, in a hotel suite.

Pierce sat on the sofa smoking. The ashtray on the coffee table was already overflowing with cigarette butts. Even with the window open, the room reeked heavily of nicotine.

At that moment, Scott pushed the door open and walked in.

Pierce looked up at him. "Did you find out?"