The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 481

Chapter 481 Lucas‘ Delusional Hope

Chapter 481 Lucas‘ Delusional Hope.

Discontent toward Lucas had lingered in Sebastian’s heart for years.

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Back in Havenbrook, he had watched the man squander Riley’s sincere, devoted love without a second thought. Now, with Lucas chasing her all the way to Nexopolis to pester her endlessly, long–suppressed fury threatened to boil over.

If Riley gave the word, he had countless ways to make Lucas disappear from Nexopolis for good without a single trace left behind.

A soft shake of Riley’s head stopped him. She rested her palm gently over his taut, clenched knuckles.

Clear–headed and calm, she spoke steadily, “There’s no need. He made quite a scene today. Half the company’s staff must have heard about it by now. I never planned to hide my past in Havenbrook forever. What’s meant to come will come, and I need to face these old memories on my own terms.

“Your parents know everything and chose to accept me without prejudice, but others in these elite circles will definitely dig up my past to cause trouble.”

Nexopolis‘ high–society scene was notoriously judgmental, always ready to weaponize others‘ histories for gain.

Sebastian flipped his hand instantly, locking her fingers tightly in his grasp.

A sharp, icy glint flashed across his eyes. “You’re my lawful wife now. I’d like to see who dares to voice a single objection.”

Warmth seeped from his palm into her skin.

Riley squeezed his hand back, a light, teasing smile touching her lips. “That’s exactly why I’m so confident. I’m already officially Mrs. Torres. What could I possibly have to fear?”

*****

Back in his hotel suite, Lucas was overwhelmed by a raging tide of frustration and regret.

Riley came from such an illustrious, powerful family–yet he had never suspected a thing for five whole years.

Blinded by Sophia’s shallow, fake affection, he had discarded a genuine gem for a worthless imitation.

The real, precious woman had always been right in front of him, yet her frosty, unyielding attitude left him with no room to mend what was broken.

Still, he refused to accept the truth.

The five years of shared life with Riley now felt weightless, insubstantial. It was staggering how effortlessly it was all eclipsed by the mere months she had known Sebastian.

Memories of their life together flooded his mind unbidden.

He had always taken Riley’s devotion for granted. She had tended to his daily life, managed every corner of their home, and stood firmly by his side to bolster his reputation in public.

In return, what had he given her?

When his affair with Sophia was exposed, his first instinct had been to sacrifice Riley, to compromise and abandon her just to

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Chapter 481 Lucas‘ Delusional Hope

salvage his own reputation and career.

The more Lucas thought about it, the heavier and guiltier his heart grew.

A sudden thought jolted him out of his remorseful haze.

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This doesn’t make any sense. If she really wanted to exase me from her life and start fresh, why go to the trouble of planting a fake version of herself overseas, just to throw me off the scent?

It’s a redundant, convoluted move.

Unless… the reason isn’t about misleading me at all. Unless she doesn’t have a choice!

Lucas‘ eyes lit up with rekindled hope.

He convinced himself that Riley’s relationship with Sebastian was never genuine.

She must have been forced into a business marriage by the Harper family.

This biased assumption numbed all his feelings of defeat in an instant, breathing new life into his desperate hopes.

He shot up from the sofa and paced restlessly around the suite.

Perhaps… perhaps all of this is a signal. A call for help, coded in a language only I could understand.

A firm resolve settled over him. This time, he would lay out every ounce of sincerity to prove he had changed and win Riley back for good.

His grandfather’s final order had always been to get close to the Harper heiress.

Now that he knew that the woman was Riley, pursuing her would solve two problems at once.

*****

Shortly after, Riley returned to her office and sorted through a stack of documents, the internal phone rang.

The receptionist’s cautious voice came through the line. “Ms. Harper, a flower delivery is here for you in the lobby.”

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