From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 251: Groundless Accusations

She knew perfectly well Devin had already been dealt with, leaving no evidence to prove the truth one way or another.

Luckily, news traveling from Cedar Creek back to Havenbrook always came with a noticeable time lag. She planned to take full advantage of this gap to tarnish Riley's reputation irreparably, leaving her public image shattered beyond repair.

Lucas let out a dull hum, muttering a flat "I know". Turning back toward the private lounge, his face had clouded over with a stormy, unreadable rage.

*****

Elsewhere, Riley and Lydia had already moved to another restaurant without hesitation.

Long after their meal ended, Lydia was still fuming, ranting nonstop about the absurd antics of the Ashford family. In stark contrast, Riley had fallen eerily calm.

After parting ways with Lydia, she drove back to her villa alone.

Headlights swept across the courtyard the moment her car pulled into the driveway, illuminating a familiar yet distant figure waiting rigidly by the main gate.

Lucas stood there, clearly growing impatient.

Cutting the engine, Riley stepped out of the car and walked straight toward the digital gate lock.

"Why aren't you answering my calls?" Lucas hurried after her, his voice tight with suppressed irritation. "And you changed the gate passcode without a word? Not even a spare key left for me. I've been waiting out here for ages, locked out entirely."

His brazen, entitled tone made Riley's hand hover faintly over the keypad.

She turned slowly, her gaze cold and detached as if staring at a complete stranger. "Lucas, this property was fully transferred into my name days ago. This is my home now. What obligation do I have to give you the passcode or a key?"

Lucas fell abruptly silent, caught off guard by her blunt retort.

Stung by her icy indifference and fresh off hearing Sophia's words earlier, he could no longer contain the rage that had been simmering inside him.

Stepping closer, he glared at her, his voice rising almost to a shout. "Answer me this! Did you go to Cedar Creek and try to seduce the village chief's simple-minded son just to secure the project deal?"

The accusation was filthy, framed with unshakable certainty.

Shock flickered across Riley's face for only a split second, replaced instantly by bitter mockery.

She needed no guesswork to know those twisted, exaggerated lies had come straight from Sophia.

That woman had teamed up with Harvey and Devin to set an elaborate trap for her in Cedar Creek. Now that their scheme had fallen apart, instead of lying low in shame, she dared to spread slanderous rumors to poison Lucas' mind against her.

Worse still, Lucas had rushed to judge her harshly without a single question or second thought.

Waste her breath on an explanation?

The very idea felt like an insult to her dignity.

No more words would she spare.

Meeting Lucas' furious glare head-on, she suddenly smiled faintly.

"Yes." She nodded plainly, admitting every word of his accusation. "I did exactly that. Every project I've landed, whether the Cedar Creek deal or past ventures with Ashford Group, I've gotten by sleeping my way to the top."

Watching Lucas' face drain of all color, she spoke each word slowly and deliberately, "Does that answer satisfy you?"

It amazed her how easily malicious rumors could erase all one's hard work and professional dedication with a single smear.

Riley's calm, self-deprecating admission hung heavy in the air.

Beneath her faint smile lay nothing but biting, heartless scorn.

Lucas stumbled back half a step, overwhelmed by her sharp, unyielding resolve.

All his rage dissolved into helpless, jittery panic.

"I know you're not that kind of person. I was only worried your stubborn pride would make you an easy target for others' schemes!" he rushed to defend himself.

The mocking curve on Riley's lips deepened.

"Oh? Worried I'd get hurt?" She tilted her head slightly, locking her eyes steadily onto his. "I've always suspected Jeremy is your illegitimate son, Lucas. Have I ever gone around digging for proof or spreading rumors about it?"

The words struck like a thunderclap, leaving Lucas utterly stunned and shaken.

"Don't!" The warning burst out before he could hold it back.

The second the words left his mouth, he realized his careless slip-up, his expression turning even more grim and flustered.

Avoiding her gaze awkwardly, he ran a hand roughly over his face and let out a long, weary sigh, trying to mask his panic behind feigned exhaustion. "Riley, Jeremy's parentage was already confirmed long ago. Why keep dwelling on this old matter?"

He forced himself to regain his composure. "As his only blood uncle, isn't it only natural for me to look after him?"

Riley spread her hands in quiet resignation. "Think about it, Lucas. When you rushed over to accuse me without a second thought, did you ever stop to think? Through it all, have I ever once tried to stop you from treating Jeremy well?"

Her mind drifted involuntarily to the real DNA test report hidden away, the clear conclusion ruling out any biological relation staring back at her in black and white.

The man standing before her had lied to her time and again, weaving endless elaborate tales to cover up Jeremy's true origins.