From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 179: Cutting Losses

Lucas had half-expected Riley to shut him down cold—again—or maybe lay into him with another round of sarcasm. What he hadn't seen coming was her asking for straight-up cash instead.

But then... it actually made sense.

If the gift was supposed to be worth five million, why wouldn't she just take the money? Turning it down now would only make him look like a phony.

After a beat, he gave a weak nod and pulled out his phone. "Alright. I'll have my assistant wire it over."

With the auction wrapped up, Aiden—who'd made out pretty well—was all smiles. Feeling generous, he invited both Lucas and Riley to dinner.

Up at the hotel's rooftop rotating restaurant, Aiden was in such high spirits that he slid a contract across the table toward Lucas. "Mr. Ashford, since we're all having a good night, I brought the paperwork along. I've definitely seen your sincerity."

That "sincerity" meant the twenty mil Lucas had just dropped.

Lucas, finally thinking like a businessman again, took the contract with a neutral look. He didn't sign it right then, though. "Thanks, Mr. Quinn," he said evenly. "We'll still need to follow protocol. Legal will review it tomorrow."

Aiden didn't press it. He'd gotten what he wanted. Cheerfully, he turned to Riley and asked, almost too casually, "You were pretty quiet during the auction, Ms. Harper. Didn't see anything you liked?"

Riley glanced up from cutting into her steak. Her clear eyes met his probing stare, and a faint smile touched her lips.

"That's right," she said calmly. "I'm picky."

The dinner, layered with unspoken agendas, finally came to an end.

After saying goodbye to a smirking Aiden, Lucas and Riley walked out of the hotel together.

Under the glow of the neon signs, her profile looked sharper, more distant. Lucas seized the moment alone and softened his tone. "Riley, it's late. Let me drive you home. Back to... our place."

The last two words came out tentative, almost like a question—or a plea.

But Riley didn't skip a beat.

She walked straight to the curb and lifted a hand for a cab. "No need. Go ahead. I'll grab a taxi."

Her refusal was clean, leaving no room for him to smooth things over.

Lucas' voice tightened, frustration seeping through. "Riley, how long are you going to keep this up? Does the whole house have to be in shambles for you to be happy?"

Riley turned slowly, her back to the cab that had just pulled up. Her lips curled into a cool smile. "Lucas, did you forget? I don't recall being the one who started this. So don't take your bad moods out on me just because things aren't going your way."

With that, she stopped looking at his pale, stiff face, opened the door, and slid into the cab without a pause.

The car pulled away, leaving nothing but taillights fading down the street.

Lucas stood there for a moment, frozen, before finally getting into his own car. Irritated, he tugged at his tie. Just as he was about to start the engine, his phone rang—Aiden again.

Lucas took a deep breath and answered. "Mr. Quinn. What's up?"

Aiden sounded cheerful on the other end. "Headed home, Mr. Ashford? So, what'd you think of the auction tonight? Interested in... maybe going in on something together?"

"What did you have in mind?" Lucas asked cautiously.

Aiden chuckled. He probably assumed Riley was still with Lucas and didn't want to get into details. "Ah, never mind. Let's talk more about the next project once the current contract is signed."

The call ended.

Lucas leaned back in his seat, turning Aiden's last words over in his head.

Next project?

His mind raced. He'd blown nearly twenty million tonight. The whole thing had been frustrating, but it clearly made Aiden see him as both flush and free-spending—and now it was opening doors.

So... maybe that twenty million wasn't a total waste after all.

The thought lifted his mood just a little.

He started the car and drove back to Ashford Manor, those expensive boxes in tow—his tickets into Aiden's inner circle.

The villa was brightly lit.

Sophia, still in her nightgown, had been pacing restlessly, waiting for Lucas to return.

When she heard the familiar engine in the driveway, she practically leaped off the couch and hurried to the front door, peering through the sidelight.

Seeing Lucas step out of the car alone, loaded down with shopping bags, her heart lifted.

Riley hadn't come back with him!

An idea flickered in Sophia's eyes.

She slipped quietly behind the door and, the moment Lucas pushed it open, she sprang forward like an excited kid, wrapping her arms around him from behind and squeezing tight.

"Lucas," she cooed, her voice sweet and warm. "You're back!"