From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 144: Letting Her Guard Down

"Call the police?" Anthea's eyes shot daggers at her. "You'd love that, wouldn't you? Make a big scene so all of Havenbrook can laugh at the Ashford family. That's exactly what you want, isn't it?"

Anthea paced in circles, fuming. Yelling didn't seem like enough anymore.

She stopped and screamed at a maid nearby. "Go get the whip!"

Even Julian's expression shifted slightly at that.

But Anthea looked like she'd finally found a release. "This woman married into the Ashford family—and instead of being a good wife, she talks back to me over and over. No manners at all! Today, I'm going to teach her some respect. Let her learn what the Ashford family rules really mean."

Soon, an older servant came over carrying a wooden box.

Inside was a coiled leather whip.

A younger maid—pushed by Anthea's glare—picked up the whip from the box and walked toward Riley. Her face said she didn't want to do this.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Before the whip could fall, Riley's eyes flashed cold.

She grabbed the end of the whip mid-swing and yanked it hard.

The maid gasped. The whip was out of her hands.

Riley flipped her wrist. The leather strap cut through the air with a sharp crack—and came down hard on the expensive table in the middle of the living room.

The coffee set Julian had just placed there was shattered. Pieces flew everywhere. Hot coffee splashed across the floor.

The crash froze everyone in place.

They all stared at Riley, whip in hand.

She stood amid the chaos, her eyes sharp and her presence overwhelming.

"You have real problems to deal with outside," Riley said. "But instead of figuring out how to fix things and save face, you come home and take it out on me? And now you want to use a family whip on me?"

"Fine." She tossed the whip on the floor. "If you're that unhappy with me—if you want me out—just say so. I won't stay a minute longer than I have to. Someone else can have this stupid 'Mrs. Ashford' title. I don't care."

Riley's total refusal to back down scared Anthea.

She stumbled backward and fell into Julian's arms, sobbing and wailing.

"This is mutiny! Complete mutiny!" Anthea shrieked. "Someone get in here! Hold her down! Tear that necklace off her neck! Make her kneel!"

At her screams, the guards and male servants who'd been hanging back exchanged looks. Then they reluctantly lunged at Riley.

The whole of Ashford Manor descended into chaos.

Riley wasn't about to just let them grab her. She sidestepped one guard and smashed a crystal decoration at another man's feet.

Glass shattered, mixed with screams and shouts.

Riley kept dodging. She grabbed anything within reach and used it as a weapon.

The living room had turned into a chaotic battlefield.

Amid the chaos, a roar of suppressed anger rang out. "Everyone, stop!"

Lucas stood at the entrance. His face was dark as he took in the scene.

The guards and servants, grabbing at Riley, froze mid-motion. They looked at the door, terrified.

Anthea, still crying in Julian's arms, cut off her wailing. She switched to hiccupping sobs. "Oh, I'm so miserable," she whimpered.

Riley stood in the center of the circle. Her chest was heaving.

She was still clutching a whiskey glass she hadn't had time to throw—she showed no sign of letting her guard down.

Sophia followed close behind Lucas, one hand resting weakly on his arm.

When she saw the state of the living room, she put on a look of disbelief.

"Oh, God..." She took a few steps forward. "Riley... how could you lose your temper like this? Destroy the whole house?"

Riley just watched her twist the truth.

Sophia—seeing that Riley wouldn't respond—played innocent and wronged to perfection.

She bit her lip, her eyes red. "Are you... Are you angry because Lucas left you alone at the banquet?

"If that's it—it's my fault. Riley, don't blame Lucas. Don't be mad at our parents either. Take it out on me if you want. Whatever makes you feel better—I'll take it..."

Lucas' expression darkened even more.

He opened his mouth to demand if that was really what happened, but rapid footsteps came from the upstairs staircase.

Jeremy ran out of his bedroom. Tears were still wet on his face.

He ran straight to Lucas and hugged his leg tight.

"Daddy," he said, "Jeremy was so scared."

That word—Daddy—loud and clear in the quiet room—tightened the already tense atmosphere even further.