From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 231: Fighting the Drug

What?

Sebastian froze, Riley cradled in his arms.

He glanced down, studying her pale face in disbelief.

Even drugged and trapped in what seemed like a hopeless situation, she'd still found a way to pull through.

Riley...

Her name echoed silently in his mind, another layer of her unraveling before him.

"Understood," Sebastian replied, his voice rough. He offered no further explanation, simply nodding to the officers. "Book him for questioning. My attorney will handle the rest. I'm taking her to the hospital now."

With that, he lifted Riley carefully and turned toward his car.

Inside the vehicle, warm interior lighting blended with the rhythm of their breathing.

Sebastian settled her against his chest, gently brushing strands of hair from her forehead.

"Take us to the nearest private medical center," he instructed the driver, keeping his tone low.

But as the car merged into traffic, he sensed something shift.

The woman in his arms began to stir—uneasy, restless movements that started faint but grew more urgent.

Her skin grew warmer, the heat radiating through her thin clothes and seeping into his own.

To make matters worse, one of her hands had slipped free and now slid inside his suit jacket, fumbling clumsily against his dress shirt as if searching for relief.

"Mmm..."

A pained, muffled sound escaped her lips.

Sebastian's body tightened at the unconscious touch.

He looked down. Riley's face was now flushed, her eyes shut but brows knit in clear distress.

It hit him then—this wasn't just a sedative.

Rage simmered darkly behind his eyes, sharp and cold.

A hospital wouldn't help—not like this. And having doctors and nurses see her in such a state would only fuel ugly rumors.

"Put up the partition," Sebastian told the driver without hesitation. "Change course—nearest luxury hotel, now."

"Yes, sir." The driver didn't question it. The soundproof glass slid up, and the GPS rerouted immediately.

The back seat became a sealed, intimate space.

The air seemed to thicken as Riley's condition intensified.

Sebastian pressed the back of his cool hand to her forehead, trying to offer some comfort.

"Riley?" he murmured. "Can you hear me?"

She didn't answer, only nuzzled deeper into his palm, rubbing her feverish cheek against his skin as if it were a lifeline.

In a moment of quiet, he caught a faint metallic scent.

His stomach dropped. Gently tipping her face up, he took a closer look.

Her lips were swollen and marked with bites—one spot had broken the skin, and a slow bead of blood welled up.

She'd been fighting the drug' haze this way... hurting herself to stay aware.

"Don't," he whispered, heart clenching. He tried to ease her jaw open to stop the biting.

But Riley was beyond hearing. Instinct had taken over—a raw, stubborn fight against the chemical tide pulling her under.

Her teeth stayed clamped shut, and his touch only made her struggle harder.

Seeing her about to bite down again, Sebastian acted without thinking—

He slid the fleshy part of his other hand between her lips.

A sharp sting shot through him as her teeth broke skin almost instantly.

Sebastian didn't flinch. His eyes remained locked on her tormented expression, voice softening to a steady murmur.

"If you need something to hold onto..."

He waited, all patience.

"Then bite me."

The car soon pulled up to the hotel entrance.

The driver parked and waited silently.

In the back, Sebastian's hand was now a bloody sight—deep teeth marks nearly to the bone, crimson trailing down his skin.

He barely seemed to notice.

After tenderly pushing sweat-dampened hair from Riley's forehead, he spoke to the driver, tone leaving no room for doubt. "What happened tonight stays between us."

"Understood, sir." The driver kept his eyes forward.

Ignoring his own wound, Sebastian stepped out of the car with Riley secure in his arms.

The hotel lobby glowed with polished grandeur. A uniformed doorman moved to assist but hesitated at Sebastian's imposing presence and the clearly distressed woman he carried. He stepped back instead, holding the heavy glass door open without a word.

Sebastian moved swiftly through the lobby, took a private elevator directly to the top floor, and entered the presidential suite.

Behind him, the door clicked shut, sealing them in silence.