The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 358

Chapter 358 Leaving the Harpers

She caught that hint of physical resistance and emotional space between Melissa and Zavier.

It wasn’t just a wife irritated with her husband–it felt like years of bottled–up tension and quiet unhappiness.

A faint, knowing smile touched her lips.

So her biological parents‘ marriage wasn’t as picture–perfect as it appeared on the surface.

“Well… Dad, Raymond, we should get going now.”

Zavier snapped back to the moment. He didn’t want her to leave, but he knew pressing her to stay would be pointless.

His voice turned earnest, almost protective. “Riley, drive safe. Have a good time out there.”

Riley nodded lightly. “I will. Don’t worry about me.”

Sebastian’s car eased smoothly away from the Harpers‘ brightly lit suburban home.

Inside, he kept his eyes on the road, the passing streetlights reflecting briefly in his steady gaze before fading away.

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A comfortable quiet filled the space for a few moments before Sebastian spoke, his tone casual. “So… how did it feel? Being back here?”

Riley tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. “How about you? What did you think of my dad’s… hospitality?”

Sebastian actually took a second to consider it. “The coffee was excellent. Your dad clearly knows his way around a good blend.

But…”

He paused, choosing his words. “Your mom… didn’t exactly seem thrilled about this arrangement. And…”

He trailed off, cautious not to overstep.

Riley, however, finished the thought for him, her voice calm and clear. “And she seems closer to Elsie than to me–her actual daughter. Is that what you meant?”

Her directness caught him slightly off guard. He nodded slowly, not wanting to stir old hurts.

Without another word, he rested his free hand gently over hers, offering silent comfort through the simple warmth of his touch.

Riley felt the gesture, and some of the cool distance in her expression softened.

She even let out a soft, almost dismissive laugh.

‘It’s not really a surprise,” she said. “From the day the Harpers officially ‘welcomed me back‘, I pretty much knew where things stood.”

The whole process of the Harpers reclaiming Riley had been… complicated.

Back then, she was still heading the marketing division at Ashford Group, representing the company in negotiations with Harper Group over a major green energy partnership in Nexopolis.

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5:16 pm P PP

Chapter 358 Leaving the Harpers

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titial talks went smoothly enough, but when it came to final approval, she finally met the so–called heir to Harper Group:

Raymond.

Their first meeting was in the top floor conference room at Harper Group’s downtown headquarters.

Raymond showed up in a designer blazer and an air of casual entitlement.

He studied Riley with an odd, almost familiar curiosity–like he already knew something she didn’t.

Professionally, though, he was all over the map. His ideas shifted by the hour.

One minute he’d praise a proposal, the next he’d nitpick some minor detail and tear the whole thing apart. It drove Riley–eager to seal the deal–half crazy.

Raymond dragged the negotiations out for nearly a week, refusing to sign..

Somehow, rumors reached Zavier, twisted along the way.

The Harper heir had taken a liking to the striking marketing lead from the partner company and was delaying the deal just to keep her around.

Zavier valued his company’s reputation highly.

Worried his impulsive son might spark a scandal, he decided to step in and take over the negotiations himself.

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