The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16 The Waterfront Project

Sophia’s eyes lit up, and just like that, all her resentment seemed to melt away.

“Really? Lucas, you’re so good to me.”

She gazed up at him, surprise written across her face.

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Then she pressed closer, kissing him hungrily. Her hands started wandering, tracing restless patterns across his chest. She whispered against his lips, breath sweet, “Lucas… don’t go back tonight. Let me take care of you.”

But Lucas‘ mind was already elsewhere–fixed on the image of Riley in the hallway, the heat in her eyes, the curve of her smile.

He caught Sophia’s wrist gently and pulled back. “Not tonight. Riley will get suspicious if I’m gone too long.”

He straightened his shirt and left.

Lucas walked back to the master bedroom with something close to anticipation humming under his skin.

On the surface, he was composed. But underneath? Riley was his wife. Beautiful, alluring Riley. Even without love between them, desire had its own logic.

He already had scenarios mapped out in his head.

But the bedroom door was closed.

He reached for the handle. Tried to turn it.

Locked.

Lucas blinked. Then knocked. “Riley? I’m back. Open up.”

Silence.

He knocked harder. “Riley? You asleep?”

Nothing.

He stood there in the hallway, staring at the door. The fantasy of holding her evaporated.

Riley slept like a log that night.

The next morning, she emerged from the bedroom looking refreshed and ran straight into Lucas walking out of the study across the hall–eyes bloodshot, jaw tight.

Riley’s hand flew to her mouth. She blinked innocently. “Honey, was calming Jeremy down that hard last night? You didn’t come back at all?”

Lucas had been nursing his frustration for hours.

Looking at her glowing face while he’d spent the night twisted up on the study sofa, his usually composed expression flickered with irritation.

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Chapter 16 The Waterfront Project

“No,” he said flatly. “I came back and the door was locked. Spent the night in the study.”

“Oh?” Riley’s surprise deepened. She frowned, pretending to think.

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Then her face cleared. She slapped her forehead lightly, all regret. “Sorry, honey. I had a headache after my shower last night. Took a couple of sleeping pills and got dizzy. I must’ve just shut the door without thinking. Why didn’t you wake me?”

What could Lucas say?

That he’d knocked like an idiot while she slept peacefully on the other side?

He swallowed his anger, nodded stiffly, and headed into the bedroom to shower.

*****

At breakfast, Julian and Anthea had heard about the sports car.

Juliar frowned, fixing Riley with a disapproving look. “There are perfectly good cars in the garage already. Why do you need a million–dollar sports car? You don’t think about saving Lucas‘ money at all. This is getting out of hand.”

Anthea, draped in her usual aristocratic disdain, gave Riley a cold once–over. “One little disagreement and it costs a fortune to make it up to you. My, how delicate.

“Someone who didn’t know better might think you weren’t an orphan at all–maybe some billionaire’s daughter playing dress–up.”

Riley didn’t flinch.

She stood calmly, pulled the car keys from her bag, and set them in the center of the table.

“You’re right. The car’s too much for me.”

She paused. “Mrs. Hayes invited me for coffee this afternoon anyway. I’ll just take something from the garage.”

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