The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 140

pter 140 One Word From Him

Chapter 140 One Word From Him

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“Riley… I’m sorry.” Those were his first words. “Sophia just… collapsed. I panicked. I wasn’t thinking about you. Where are you? Are you home yet?”

Riley laughed coldly to herself.

You weren’t thinking about me?

In his mind. Sophia’s pathetic little faint is a million times more important than anything about me.

She stirred her clam chowder, face blank. “No. Getting something to eat with Lydia. I’ll be home later.”

Then she asked, flat and cold, “How’s Sophia? Is it serious?”

Lucas didn’t seem to catch the sarcasm at all. If anything, he sounded relieved that she was being so understanding.

He said, “She’s still unconscious. The doctor said she has a weak constitution to begin with, and tonight was too much for her. She needs rest.”

Lucas kept explaining, rambling on, completely unaware that every word hurt Riley deeply.

Then Lucas shifted gears. He started talking to her like a concerned husband.

He said, “Riley, it’s late. You should come home. There are already rumors flying around. If the paparazzi catch you out at this hour, they’ll twist it into something ugly. That wouldn’t be good

for us.”

But before he could get to the part where he offered to send a driver, Riley cut him off, ice cold, “Lucas. So what those reporters said today–is it true? Is Jeremy your son?”

There was dead silence on the line for several long seconds.

Then Lucas‘ voice shot up. “Of course not! Riley, what are you thinking? I’ve only ever had all these years. How could I have a child with another woman?

you

“Don’t overthink this. And don’t believe what those reporters say just to sell papers. Don’t go getting a paternity test and hurt the family.”

He denied it. Then he tried to guilt–trip her with “family.”

But there was no “if” anymore.

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Chapter 140 One Word From Him

Riley was quiet for a few seconds. Then she said, calmly, “Okay.

“You say it’s not true. I believe you. That’s it.”

She then hung up without waiting for another word.

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Riley tossed her phone aside, face expressionless, and went back to eating her clam chowder like nothing had happened.

Then she noticed Sebastian watching her.

“What?” she asked. “You want to ask me something?”

“Just curious.” His voice was lower than before. “You’ve known about Lucas and Sophia for a while. So why didn’t you use tonight to blow it all up? In front of every reporter? Make a scene and walk away clean?”

From what Sebastian knew of Riley, she wasn’t the type to just take it lying down.

She had pride and teeth.

But her reaction on the phone just now was way too calm.

Riley let out a bitter laugh at the question.

“You think,” she said, “after all these years of giving and being betrayed, just walking away is enough?

“Why would I let them off that easily?”

She raised an eyebrow. Her smile turned sharper. “Make a scene? Expose everything? Sure- that would hurt the Ashford family’s reputation for a little while. Lucas and Sophia would be a joke. For about five minutes. Then what? To everyone else, I’d just look like some bitter wife throwing a tantrum. And them? They’d wait for the heat to die down and go back to their cozy life. They’d probably blame me for not protecting the family name.

“So here’s the thing: I hold grudges.

“Anyone who owes me–whether it’s love or anything else—I’ll make sure they pay me back. With interest.”

Sebastian looked at her.

She emerged strong amid ruin and turmoil, striking in appearance yet sharp and unyielding to

others.

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