The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 51

She didn't think she had done anything wrong tonight, as she refused to believe anyone could have maintained their composure after walking in on a scene like that.

Yet everyone else seemed to think she was the one at fault.

Even Pierce was angry.

Was she really in the wrong?

Her phone rang just then, flashing Quinn's name on the screen.

"Is the party over?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah," Riley replied, her voice flat.

"Sorry I couldn't make it tonight. I have a trial tomorrow and I've been drowning in case files."

"It's fine."

"You don't sound too happy. Did your mother-in-law give you a hard time again?"

Riley hadn't even shed a tear when Beatrice slapped her, but at Quinn's gentle question, a sudden lump formed in her throat. She sniffled, swallowing back the surge of emotion, and recounted everything that had happened that night in detail.

Quinn immediately cursed. "What the hell!"

"Do you think I was wrong?" Riley asked.

"Wrong? Who wouldn't lose their mind over something like that? If it were me, I would have torn those two apart right then and there. Slapping Pierce was letting him off easy."

"I didn't think I was wrong either, but no one seems to understand my side."

"I don't know, this whole thing tonight feels a bit fishy to me," Quinn muttered.

Riley paused. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it. You walked in on them and should have been the victim. But the second Seraphina offered her explanation, everything suddenly became a misunderstanding. You went from being the wronged wife to the unreasonable, hysterical woman. Doesn't that flip feel a little too perfectly timed?"

Riley sat up straighter. "Are you saying someone orchestrated all of this tonight?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe I've been handling too many cases lately and I'm just being paranoid, seeing conspiracies everywhere."

Riley hadn't considered it from that angle before, but Quinn's words sparked a sudden realization.

Pierce had gone to the lounge to take a call, and conveniently, someone right beside her had started gossiping about a scandalous affair happening in that very room.

Riley already knew the answer. "Who do you think?"

"You don't mean Seraphina, do you?"

"Great minds think alike."

"Drugging herself? Is she out of her mind? What does she even gain from that?"

"I don't know, but I can't think of anyone else. Maybe she blames me for being sent abroad and wanted to humiliate me. Or maybe she's still after Pierce. But if it was the latter, she should have just drugged him and slept with him. Why drug herself?"

"Wasn't the party at one of Landon Enterprises' hotels?" Quinn suggested. "Just ask the manager to pull the security footage."

Riley's eyes lit up. "You're a genius. I'm hanging up to go check the cameras right now."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, you have a trial tomorrow. Get some rest."

Riley ended the call, changed her clothes, and hurried out the door. She didn't bother waking Mr. Carter. Now that she had delivered the baby and felt more like herself again, she was perfectly capable of driving on her own.