From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 131: We Chatted for a Bit

As long as Sebastian invested in that island project, everything would fall into place.

Because the whole thing had been a trap from the start—carefully planned. Aiden had plenty of ways to make sure Torres Group's money got sucked in like water into a bottomless pit.

Then let's see how the great and powerful Sebastian will explain himself to the Torres Group board.

Aiden clenched his fists with bitter anger. Then he took a deep breath, straightened his slightly messy collar, and put his social smile back on—smooth as ever. He turned and walked toward the elevator.

On the other side of the banquet hall, Riley had just left the VIP lounge. She was looking for a quiet corner to catch her breath when Lucas appeared in front of her.

He didn't look happy. His brow was tight, and he had that obvious restless energy.

"Where did you go?" Lucas' voice had an edge of reproach. He glanced around and lowered his voice. "I heard the Harper family representative showed up, but I looked everywhere. Didn't see anyone.

"Riley, call them. Find out who came. Why aren't they showing their face?"

Riley dropped her gaze slightly—just enough to hide the sarcasm in her eyes. She nodded obediently. "Okay. Let me find somewhere quiet to ask."

She pulled out her phone and walked toward the glass door leading to the terrace off the side of the banquet hall.

Riley didn't actually go outside. She just stood in the shadows by the door, her back to the room, pretending to make a call.

She did call Vincent. But it wasn't for what Lucas wanted.

Riley told him straight, "Lucas is getting suspicious. He's started looking for the Harper family representative on his own. Vincent, you need to be careful. Don't get exposed."

A minute later, Riley hung up. She put on a slightly troubled look and walked back to Lucas.

"Well?" Lucas pressed. "Did you find out? Who came?"

Riley shook her head gently. "I asked Vincent. He said he didn't come here himself. As for whether the Harper family sent someone else, he doesn't know. No one told him."

That answer made Lucas' frown even tighter.

"How can he not know?" Lucas muttered, annoyed. "Isn't he their right-hand man?" Then something occurred to him. He turned back to Riley with fresh hope. "Can you do me a favor? Set up a meeting with Vincent. Ask him to put in a good word for the Hull family with the Harper family. The Hull family and the Ashford family go way back. And this whole thing affects our partnership, too."

"Lucas," Riley said with a sigh, "I don't think I can help with that."

She met his confused look and explained slowly, calmly, "First—Vincent and I only know each other on a professional level. We've met a few times. That's it. We're not close enough for me to ask him to break rules for me. Second—you know he's just following orders here. A big decision like turning down the Hull family? That's about core business interests. His personal feelings don't get a vote."

Lucas' frustration only grew. But he had to admit she had a point.

"You're right..." he murmured. "Vincent is just the special assistant to Raymond—the Harper family's eldest son."

Then a thought hit him like a lightning bolt. He blurted it out, "What if... Raymond himself came to Havenbrook?"

Only the real heir of the Harper family—the one everyone talked about but no one ever saw—could show up to an event like this, not even make an appearance, and still shake up the whole city.

Lucas' mind was reeling from his own guess. Then Sophia's voice cut in from the side. "Lucas, what are you two talking about? You look really stressed."

Riley and Lucas turned at the same time. Sophia was walking toward them.

She'd changed out of that magnolia jewelry—the set that had humiliated her so badly. Now she was wearing a dazzling pink diamond necklace.

And her face showed no trace of that crushed, embarrassed look from before. She actually looked glowing. Riley sneered inwardly.

Wow. I have to hand it to her. That's some mental toughness.

Lucas pushed down his frustration when he saw her. "Nothing," he said. "Just business stuff. Where were you? I couldn't find you anywhere."

Sophia didn't immediately cling to him or play the victim. Instead, she gave him a mysterious wink.

"I was looking for you. But..." She drew out the word, her voice full of barely hidden pride. "I ran into Mr. Torres from the Torres Group on the way. So we chatted for a bit."