The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 415

Pierce was gently playing with Alora in her stroller. Hearing the door open, he looked up with a polite smile. "Just getting off work?"

"Yeah," Riley replied coldly, bending down to take off her shoes in the entryway.

Pierce shot a sharp, warning glare at Serena, who was sitting frozen on the sofa.

Serena stared at Riley walking in and forced the words through gritted teeth. "Hey, sister-in-law."

Riley frowned in disgust. "Pierce and I are divorced. Do not call me your sister-in-law."

"You think I want to—" Serena started, but a lethal glare from Pierce instantly shut her up. She crossed her arms and looked away.

Riley ignored their little sibling telepathy. Her eyes landed on the coffee table. It was practically buried under a mountain of expensive baby supplies, luxury fruit baskets, and high-end skincare sets. She shot Pierce a harsh look. "I explicitly told you that I will not accept a single thing from you unless it is strictly for Alora."

"This is a thank-you gift for dragging me to the hospital last night. I originally wanted to buy you jewelry, but I knew you'd throw it back in my face, so I bought this instead. We are divorced. You have zero legal or moral obligation to care whether I live or die, but you saved my life anyway. I genuinely just want to thank you."

Hearing his surprisingly rational explanation, the hostility in Riley's chest dissipated slightly. It was good that he finally understood his place. "I appreciate the thought, but take it all back with you."

"If you won't accept the gifts, then let me take you out to dinner to properly thank you."

"Absolutely not."

"Are you trying to make me owe you a life debt?"

Terrified that Pierce would use this 'debt' to endlessly harass her, Riley caved. "Fine. I'll keep the gifts. We're even."

Pierce and Serena walked toward the door. Just before stepping out, Pierce turned back. "Landon Enterprises is accelerating its expansion into the Statenbury market. I'm going to be based here for the foreseeable future. If you ever run into trouble, call me. We might not be married anymore, but you are still Alora's mother. If you need help, I won't just stand by."

It was incredibly tactful. He framed it entirely around the baby, removing any creepy, stalker-like undertones. He sounded exactly like a polite, reliable acquaintance.

Riley gave a brief, dismissive nod. "Thank you, Mr. Landon."

As if suddenly remembering a minor detail, Pierce added, "Serena is going to be working here in Statenbury too. When my schedule gets chaotic, I might send her over to visit Alora. You don't mind, do you?"

While Riley completely despised Serena, dealing with her was infinitely better than dealing with Pierce. "I don't mind."

Pierce gave a satisfied nod, turned around, and left with Serena.