From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 148: Did You Never Leave?

Her eyes were full of indifference.

"Yes," she said. "I am leaving. Since you can't stand me—since I'm such an eyesore to you—why don't you go talk to your precious son? Convince him to divorce me."

"You—you—" Anthea's face went pale. Her finger shook as she pointed at Riley.

Could Anthea really ask Lucas to get a divorce?

The marriage between Lucas and Riley was fake from the start—just to fool Caleb.

If they actually went to a courthouse, the whole thing would fall apart.

The Ashford family would lose face. And they'd have no way to explain it to Caleb.

Riley watched Anthea's face turn red.

She knew exactly what was going on behind that angry mask.

"Don't stop me," Riley said coldly. Then she walked out the front door.

Once she was outside Ashford Manor, the temperature had dropped. It was late.

The cold night wind cut through her collar and made her shiver.

The wind was strong. It rattled the trees and whipped her loose hair across her face, blocking her view.

She stood alone at the empty intersection. Darkness stretched out in front of her.

Riley set her suitcase down and bent over to open it—looking for a scarf to wrap around herself. Then she'd call a car and get out of here.

Just then, her phone rang.

The sound cut through the howling wind, sharp and jarring.

The wind made it hard to keep her eyes open. She pushed the hair out of her face without looking at the screen, thinking it was probably Lucas.

She answered. Her voice was ice cold. "Lucas, think about what I told you—"

But the voice on the other end wasn't Lucas.

"Riley." The voice cut through the wind, clear and familiar. "Turn around."

Sebastian.

Riley's brain went blank for a second. She turned around without thinking.

She tucked the wind-blown hair behind her ears and blinked hard against the sting.

Not far away, two bright headlights cut through the heavy darkness. They lit up the figure standing in front of the car.

Sebastian stood there, tall and straight. The wind flipped the edges of his dark coat.

He was backlit, surrounded by a soft glow. She couldn't quite make out his expression—but she could feel his presence, solid and powerful.

What is he doing here?

Riley just stared. She hung up the phone, grabbed her suitcase, and walked toward him like she was on autopilot.

"Mr. Torres?" She stopped in front of him and looked up, confused. "Why are you still here? Or—did you never leave?"

It had been a long time since the banquet ended.

Something stirred in Riley's chest.

Every time I need someone, he shows up.

Sebastian didn't answer her question.

His eyes traced her face—her nose and cheeks pink from the wind. He saw her shivering in that thin dress. His gaze darkened.

That look was hot and intense, like he was memorizing her.

Then he spoke. "Riley, can I exercise my rights as your fiancé? Early?"

Riley blinked.

"What rights?" she asked, almost dazed.

Before she could say another word, Sebastian stepped forward and closed the distance between them.

Riley caught a clean, crisp scent on the wind. The next second, his coat wrapped around her.

He pulled her into his arms.

In that moment, the cold disappeared.

Her cheek pressed against his firm chest. She could hear his heartbeat—steady, strong, pounding in her ear.

*****

Back at the Ashford Manor, Lucas stood frozen for a long time. Then he blinked slowly, trying to pull himself together.

He realized that he couldn't let Riley leave and couldn't let her actually think about divorce.

If that happened, the whole lie he'd been living for years would shatter, and the fake marriage would be exposed.

His grandfather's rage, the family's reputation, the public mockery—all the things he'd cared about most suddenly felt secondary.

What scared him more—in that moment—was losing Riley for good.

The fear of losing her crushed every calculation, every hesitation.

Lucas realized he cared about her more than he'd ever admitted.

The thought of her walking out of his life forever made his chest ache—like he couldn't breathe.

Lucas stopped hesitating. He turned and ran down the stairs.