The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 147

Chapter 147 Reconsider Our Relationship

The apologies kept coming, sounding sincere. But in the next sentence, his selfishness and cowardice slipped out with noticing

He said, “Please. Don’t leave. There are already so many rumors out there. The media is watching the Ashford family, wa us fall apart. If you leave and get photographed–what will people think?”

Riley shook her head. The sarcasm in her eyes grew sharper.

She pulled her hand back gently. “I can’t even control what you think. Why would I care what other people think?”

.ucas had no comeback for that. “Riley, what are you trying to say?”

Riley sneered, “Fine. Since you asked–explain this to me.

‘Why would the media randomly suspect Jeremy is your son? Why does he keep calling you Daddy–and no one can get him top?”

She paused. Her eyes burned into Lucas‘, as if she could see right through him.

The weight of her stare made Lucas‘ chest tighten. He wanted to look away.

‘And Sophia,” Riley went on. “The minute she came back, you pushed me out of the company. Told me to make room for her.

Your parents never treated me great before–but they were at least decent. After Sophia came back? Their attitude changed completely. Like I’d stolen something from her. They find fault with everything I do.”

With every word, Lucas‘ face lost a little more color.

‘Lucas,” Riley said, “tell me. How am I not supposed to overthink when all these coincidences pile up like this?”

Lucas opened his mouth a few times, but nothing came out.

Because every question Riley asked went straight to the heart of the matter

He could have come clean right now.

He could have told her the truth about Sophia, about Jeremy, and about his tangled history with Sophia.

But Lucas had always been like this, indecisive and weak

He did like Riley Her independence and intelligence drew him in made him want to conquer her

But he couldn’t resist Sophia either that helpless, seductive act of hers

He wanted the respectability marriage to Kiley gave him, and he wanted the comfort Sophie gave Jum

He thought he could have it all, keeping everyone happy and firmly under his control

So he didn’t have the courage to choose

Riley watched the struggle flicker behind his eyes and understood

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Chapter 147 Reconsider Our Relationship

She knew him too well.

With his personality–always wanting everything, never wanting to give anything up–there was no way he’d tell her the

After a long pause, Lucas finally spoke–same old lies. “Riley, you’ve really got it wrong. Jeremy has nothing to do with r Sophia? I’ve always thought of her as my sister. How could I have that kind of relationship with her? Don’t overthink this

Riley rolled her eyes, feeling no surprise.

She wanted to tell him to stop pretending.

Lucas thought she believed him, or at least, that his explanation had calmed her down.

Relief flickered in his eyes. He stepped forward with open arms, ready to pull her into a hug–the way he always did, his g for smoothing things over.

But before he could touch her, Riley pushed him away, cold.

She zipped up her suitcase. “Looks like you still don’t want to be honest with me.

“So, I think I need to seriously reconsider our relationship.”

Lucas‘ pupils blew wide. All the color drained from his face. “What… what do you mean?”

Riley looked at him calmly. “Divorce.”

Lucas‘ world seemed to hit mute.

The bedroom light was still bright. But all the color drained from his vision. That word echoed in his head.

Divorce? How could she-

He stood there frozen, his mind blank.

But Riley wasn’t waiting for an answer.

She turned, grabbed her suitcase handle, and walked out of the bedroom.

By the time Lucas snapped out of it- his defenses in tatters–she was already gone.

He wanted to chase after her. But his legs wouldn’t move.

Riley pulled her suitcase down the stairs

Anthea was sitting on the couch, her face still hard

She looked up when she heard the noise. Her eyes landed on Riley and the suitcase Her anger flared up again

“What do you think you’re doing?” Anthea shot to her feet “Where are you going with that suitcase! You’re getting addicted to throwing tantrums, aren’t you? It’s the middle of the night are you running away again to play the victim? Let me tell you something, Riley–don’t bring your cheap tricks into the Ashford family What do you think Ashford Manor is A public market? Come and go as you please?”

The questions came like rapid fire.

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Chapter 147 Reconsider Our Relationship

Riley stopped. She turned slowly and looked at Anthea.

“You–you-” Anthea’s face went pale. Her finger shook as she pointed at Riley.

Could Anthea really ask Lucas to get a divorce?

The marriage between Lucas and Riley was fake from the start–just to fool Caleb.

If they actually went to a courthouse, the whole thing would fall apart.

The Ashford family would lose face. And they’d have no way to explain it to Caleb.

Riley watched Anthea’s face turn red.

She knew exactly what was going on behind that angry mask.

“Don’t stop me,” Riley said coldly. Then she walked out the front door.

Once she was outside Ashford Manor, the temperature had dropped. It was late.

The cold night wind cut through her collar and made her shiver.

The wind was strong. It rattled the trees and whipped her loose hair across her face, blocking her view.

She stood alone at the empty intersection. Darkness stretched out in front of her.

Riley set her suitcase down and bent over to open it–looking for a scarf to wrap around herself. Then she d call a chod get

here.

Just then, her phone rang.

The sound cut through the howling wind, sharp and jarring.

The wind made it hard to keep her eyes open. She pushed the hair out of her face without looking at the probably Lucas

She answered Her voice was ice fuld Turus, think about what I told you

But the voice on the other end wanti

“Riley The voie cut through the wind clear and famubar

Tom around

Sebastion

Ritey brain went blank for a second She turned around without Hunkiety

She tucked the wind blowe han behind for

son? Convince him to divorce me.”

“You–you-” Anthea’s face went pale. Her finger shook as she pointed at Riley.

Could Anthea really ask Lucas to get a divorce?

The marriage between Lucas and Riley was fake from the start–just to fool Caleb.

f they actually went to a courthouse, the whole thing would fall apart.

The Ashford family would lose face. And they’d have no way to explain it to Caleb.

Riley watched Anthea’s face turn red.

She knew exactly what was going on behind that angry mask.

“Don’t stop me,” Riley said coldly. Then she walked out the front door.

Once she was outside Ashford Manor, the temperature had dropped. It was late.

The cold night wind cut through her collar and made her shiver.

The wind was strong. It rattled the trees and whipped her loose hair across her face, blocking her view.

She stood alone at the empty intersection. Darkness stretched out in front of her.

Riley set her suitcase down and bent over to open it–looking for a scarf to wrap around herself. Then she’d call a car and get ou

ere.

Just then, her phone rang.

The sound cut through the howling wind, sharp and jarring.

The wind made it hard to keep her eyes open. She pushed the hair out of her face without looking at the screen, thinking it was probably Lucas.

She answered. Her voice was ice cold. “Lucas, think about what I told you

But the voice on the other end wasn’t Lucas

“Riley.” The voice cut through the wind, clear and familiar “Turn around”

Sebastian

Riley’s brain went blank for a second. She turned around without thinking

She tucked the wind–blown hair behind her ears and blinked hard against the sting

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