The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 82

Chapter 82 A Gift for Sebastian

Chapter 82 A Gift for Sebastian

Lydia trailed after her, refusing to let it go. “Seriously, who’s it for? Why all the secrecy?”

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Riley held the neatly wrapped gift bag in her hand, turned, and flashed a sly smile, clearly enjoying the tease. “I’m not saying.” Just after she finished paying, her phone buzzed. It was Lucas.

No surprise there.

She raised a finger to her lips, signaling Lydia to keep quiet, then made her way toward the quiet corner of the mall near the fire exit. Calmly, she answered the call.

“What’s up? Everything okay?”

Her tone was a little too steady.

Lucas seemed thrown off. The questions he’d rehearsed got caught in his throat. He ventured cautiously, “So… did you go out today?”

Riley knew exactly where this was going. He was worried about the spending and was tiptoeing around the real issue.

She played along, as if it had just dawned on her, and let out a soft “oh.” Then, lightly, she added, “Yeah, just out at the mall with Lydia. Haven’t had a chance to unwind like this in ages.”

Before Lucas could steer the conversation elsewhere, she smoothly took the wheel. “Oh, right–I did pick up quite a few things today, all on your card… You’re not mad, are you?”

That flipped the script entirely, leaving him with little to say.

His breath hitched audibly on the other end. After a brief pause, Lucas let out an awkward chuckle. “Of course not. It’s fine. Really. Whatever makes you happy.”

“Good.” Riley sounded genuinely relieved, her voice softening into something almost sweet. “I was kind of worried you’d be upset.”

Lucas felt like he’d just punched a cloud–all that built–up tension and suspicion with nowhere to land, and now he came off looking petty and paranoid.

He quickly shifted gears, moving toward what he really wanted. “So… have you given any more thought to coming home? I could swing by and pick you up tomorrow. It can’t be all that comfortable crashing at Lydia’s place this long.”

Riley knew the timing was just right.

She paused briefly, as if genuinely considering it, then offered him an easy out. “Well… if things are okay back at the house, you can

come get me tomorrow.”

“Really?” Lucas couldn’t keep the relief out of his voice.

“Yeah.”

Hearing her agree, it was like a weight lifted off his shoulders.

Suddenly, all that money she’d spent didn’t seem to matter so much anymore.

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er 82 A Gift for Sebastian

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“Great!” he agreed right away. “I’ll come by tomorrow after I wrap things up at the office.”

The call ended, and the gentle, cheerful expression melted from Riley’s face, replaced by a cool, steady calm.

Lydia wandered over, looking a bit let down. “You’re really heading back already? I was hoping you’d stay a few more days, take it easy a little longer.”

Riley tucked her phone back into her bag, studied her friend’s concerned face, and gave Lydia’s hand a reassuring pat. A knowing smile touched her lips.

“Don’t worry. The real show is just getting started. There’ll be plenty of time to relax later.”

Over the course of that single day, Riley had dropped close to ten million at the mall.

The notifications on Lucas‘ phone had piled up to “99+.”

He stared at the staggering total, feeling a dull throb at his temples. But then he remembered–Riley had agreed to come home tomorrow, and she’d be helping out at the company again. He forced himself to see it as an investment.

As long as she came back, as long as he could keep Caleb in check, it would all be worth it.

But what he didn’t know was that Riley hadn’t just bought out half the mall. At every store, she’d asked the staff for one extra thing.

All her purchases were scheduled to be delivered together to Ashford Manor–after 4 p.m. the next day.

Back at Lydia’s apartment after the mall run, Riley set the gift bag with the game controller somewhere safe. Then she grabbed her phone, sank into the lounge chair out on the balcony, and typed out a message to Sebastian.

“Mr. Torres, are you free tonight? I’d like to take you out to dinner.”

She hit send and didn’t sit there anxiously waiting. Instead, she relaxed back and watched the sunset over Havenbrook with a quiet

ease.

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