The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 426

At twenty-seven, he took off his uniform and returned to Riverport. Five years apart had left his longing for her festering like a disease, gnawing at him day and night. His very first priority upon returning was to track her down. But before he could even gather information, he ran straight into her in the Landon family's living room.

Pierce Landon had been holding her hand, smiling as he introduced her. "Sebastian, this is my fiancée, Riley Vance."

He had frozen, the blood in his veins turning to ice. The burning hope he had nurtured for a decade shattered instantly.

All those years of quiet adoration, the countless nights of suppressed longing, the woman he had fought so hard to reach—was now standing beside his younger brother.

He stared at their intertwined hands, his fingertips trembling, a dull ache suffocating his every breath.

Riley had looked at him with the eyes of a total stranger, politely greeting him, "Big Brother."

Big Brother.

What a brutally ironic title.

Those words were a dagger plunged straight into his heart, utterly destroying every last shred of his hope.

Sebastian abruptly opened his eyes. The sky outside was already light. The phantom ache in his chest from the dream still lingered, but as he turned and saw the gray scarf resting on his nightstand, the pain slowly dissolved, replaced by a soft curve of his lips.

His girl was finally his.

At 11:30 AM, it was time to clock out. Holly Xavier turned to Riley. "Dr. Vance, heading to the cafeteria?"

Riley packed up her desk. "You go ahead. I have plans with a friend."

"Plans again?" Holly smirked knowingly. "Dr. Vance, do you have a boyfriend? You've been busy a lot lately."

Riley averted her eyes, feeling a twinge of guilt. "No, don't be ridiculous. Who would date a divorced mom?"

Before leaving the hospital, Riley texted Sebastian: [I'm off work. Heading your way now.]

Sebastian: [Okay. I've already alerted security, they'll let you straight through. I'll have Franklin meet you in the underground garage.]

Riley had assumed they'd eat at a restaurant near St. John Global, but Sebastian had called earlier to say he was swamped and couldn't leave the building, asking her to join him in his office instead.

She drove to the headquarters and pulled into the underground garage without any hassle.

Franklin was already waiting. They met up, and he escorted her to the private executive elevator.

Watching the numbers climb, Riley felt a nervous flutter in her stomach.

Even though Sebastian assured her he had cleared the way and they wouldn't run into anyone, the secrecy of it all kept her on edge.