From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 13: A Used Car for Sophia

For years, Riley had driven that Audi worth fifty thousand as her daily car—mostly because she didn't want her colleagues to think she was putting on airs just because she was married to Lucas.

Hell, the thing had been breaking down constantly lately, but she'd held off on replacing it. Didn't want people whispering behind Lucas' back.

She'd held back on everything for the sake of his reputation.

And in his mind? She was still only worth a fifty-thousand-dollar Audi.

Lucas' choice didn't go unnoticed by Sophia. She hid her satisfaction behind a sweet smile. "This model really suits Riley—low-key, understated."

But her eyes kept drifting toward the limited-edition sports cars in the neighboring showroom.

Riley kept her face neutral while the sales consultant walked them through the new A4's features.

Sleek lines. LED matrix headlights. She heard every word. Absorbed none of it.

When the guy finally paused, waiting for a response, Riley furrowed her brow slightly. "Sounds good. But... do you have any used models?"

"Used?" The salesman's professional smile flickered. His expression shifted into something awkward.

He'd recognized Lucas the second they walked in—everyone in town knew the Ashford name.

But the woman with him, dressed like she'd stepped out of a magazine, was asking about a used car?

Tacky.

He kept the thought off his face, but his eyes darted to Lucas, checking for a reaction.

Lucas looked thrown too.

He'd thought this gesture was generous enough. Never expected Riley to be this... frugal.

The salesman, not about to offend Lucas, forced a smile and waved over a colleague to escort them to the pre-owned lot next door.

Compared to the bright, glossy showroom, this place was dimmer. Dingier.

But Riley moved with purpose.

She walked in, scanned the rows of cars, and headed straight for a black A4. Pointed. "This one."

Same model. Same specs. Same color as the wrecked car.

Lucas' chest tightened again.

He reached for her hand, voice thick with emotion. "Riley. You're still the same woman I married. Simple. Grounded. Never trying to impress anyone."

He added, softer now, "We could get a new one, you know. You don't have to save me money."

Riley gave a faint smile, then turned to Sophia. "What do you think?"

Sophia caught on fast. She put on a show, pressing a hand to her chest. "Riley, you're so practical! No wonder Lucas always tells me I should take notes."

"Really?" Riley nodded, looking pleased. "Then this one's settled."

She looped her arm through Lucas'—warm, familiar—and brightened. "Alright, that's done. Lucas, let's check out the sports cars now."

Lucas and Sophia exchanged a glance. They both assumed Riley was helping Sophia pick out a car now, returning the favor. They followed happily.

The sports car section was all limited editions. Every model hovered around a million, some more.

Sophia's eyes practically lit up.

But she played it cool—had to maintain that image. She waved a hand, pretending to be overwhelmed. "Wow, these are gorgeous. I don't know the first thing about cars, though. Maybe you two should decide. You've got better taste than me anyway."

Riley wandered slowly, then stopped in front of a display.

She pointed at a red McLaren in the center. "What about this one?"

Lucas glanced at the sleek, aggressive lines and nodded. "Perfect. I trust your judgment."

"Good." Riley's tone was casual, effortless. "Mind if I take it for a test drive?"

Neither of them suspected a thing. "Go ahead."

Riley slid into the driver's seat, started the engine, felt the subtle vibration through the steering wheel. Smooth.

She stepped out, walked back to Lucas, and hesitated just slightly. "This isn't too much, is it? Almost two million dollars."

Lucas waved it off.

In his mind, this was for Sophia. Money wasn't the point.

He pulled out his black card. "If you picked it, it's worth it. I'll cover it."

He handed the card to the salesman. "Ring up the used A4 and this McLaren together."