The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 423

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It was obvious Zavier wanted to soak up as much time with Riley as he could while Melissa was still stuck at the hospital. A few hours to patch up all those lost years.

But one meal was all Riley could give him right now.

“Dad, I’ll see you at the office. I have stuff to deal with tomorrow, so I should head out.” She stood up as soon as the meal wrapped up.

Zavier’s eyes flickered with disappointment, but he nodded anyway. “Alright. Drive safe”

Raymond offered to walk her out.

They headed down the garden path side by side, the afternoon sun stretching their shadows long across the stones.

After a beat of silence, Raymond dropped his voice. “Riley, have you noticed? Dad’s been off. Like he’s carrying something.”

Riley stopped and turned to look at him.

“I can’t pin it down. Just a feeling. Lately, he just zones out in his study. Sits there staring at nothing. Sometimes I ask him a question and it takes him forever to even hear me.” Raymond paused. “If you get a chance, talk to him. Poke around a little. You’re sharper about this kind of thing than I am. Maybe you’ll catch something I missed.”

Riley had felt it at the table too.

Zavier had smiled the whole time and kept piling food onto her plate. But under all that, something heavy and dark sat coiled inside him. Something he couldn’t shake.

“Yeah. I’ll keep an eye out,” she said.

The car was right there. She paused, her hand on the door, and asked Raymond as casually as she could–something she’d been wondering about for a while. “Hey… Melissa and Dad. Are they good together? As a couple?”

Raymond let out a short, scornful sound. His expression twisted.

“They’re whatever.” He leaned against the car door, his voice dripping with disdain. “All these years, Dad’s bent over backwards trying to keep her happy. Whatever she wants, he gives in. And her? She’s been cold the whole time. Never really warmed up to him.”

He stopped, then corrected himself, the edge in his voice getting sharper. “Actually, no. Not always. Whenever she wants something for Elsie, suddenly she’s the most doting wife on the planet. ‘Honey‘ this, ‘sweetheart‘ that. Lays it on thick.”

Riley’s chest went heavy.

So that’s how it is.

“What’s with the question?” Raymond’s voice pulled her back. He was studying her face, confused by whatever he saw there. “Nothing.” She looked away and pulled the car door open, her voice settling back into its usual calm. “Just curious.”

She didn’t want to dump her heavy thoughts on him. The ugly emotional mess between adults wasn’t worth adding to his burden.

1/2

10:54 pm P P P P

Chapter 423 Are They Good Tugether?

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She said into the driver’s seat and started the engine but didn’t pull away. She rolled down the window and looked at Raymond, still leaning against the car “Raymond, keep an eye on Dad. His health comes first. Once I get my stuff sorted, I’ll come by more!

“Don’t worry.” He straightened up. The mocking edge fell off his face, and something more serious took its place. He lifted a hand in a wave. “He’s our dad. I know what to do.”

Riley nodded, rolled the window up, and drove off.

The scenery outside shifted. The tree–lined streets of the wealthy district slowly gave way to narrower roads and more crowded blocks. More life. More noise.

She wasn’t heading home. She was following her GPS toward an address that felt strange and familiar all at once.

Grace had called last night with the contact info and left it up to Riley whether to reach out.

Riley had saved the number the second she saw it.

When she dialed, a woman’s voice came on the line–bright but hesitant. The moment Riley spoke her name, the person on the other end nearly tripped over herself with excitement.

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