From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 259: Sudden Encounter

Both men turned their eyes toward Riley, waiting for her answer.

Riley had no room to refuse.

She kept her flawless faint smile and nodded gently in silent agreement.

This was just another scripted performance she was expected to play along with.

Night fell soon afterward.

Inside the luxuriously decorated private room at Royal Court Restaurant, the three sat around a round dining table.

Caleb made deliberate efforts to mend the fractured relationship between Riley and Lucas. He brought up countless casual topics, ranging from recent company projects to light social news.

Lucas responded warmly and kept the dining atmosphere harmonious and relaxed.

He even reminisced about the early days right after their marriage, when the three would often dine together and discuss work proposals.

"I still remember those days clearly. You guided me many times back then, and Riley always offered unique insights I had overlooked. Those years helped me grow rapidly in every aspect of my ability," Lucas spoke with genuine nostalgia.

He fixed his gaze intently on Riley as if reminiscing about a precious memory.

Riley listened in silence. She followed their rhythm with occasional polite nods and restrained courtesy.

Her mind had long detached from the moment, and she observed this so-called family dinner with detachment.

The stifling atmosphere made it hard for her to breathe.

Midway through the meal, she made a soft excuse. "Excuse me, I need to head to the restroom."

Relief washed over her the moment she stepped out of the private room.

Riley did not head straight for the restroom. Instead, she paused by a window at the end of the corridor and let the night breeze ease the frustration weighing on her heart.

As Riley turned to walk back moments later, a neighboring private room door swung open abruptly. A powerful hand stretched out from inside, clamped firmly around her wrist, and dragged her into the room in one swift motion.

The door slammed shut instantly, blocking out all light and plunging the space into complete darkness.

Riley's heart lurched with alarm. She tensed her body, ready to knee her attacker in self-defense—until a familiar masculine scent wrapped around her completely.

The cry rising to her throat died away the second she recognized the tall, familiar silhouette in the dimness.

"Sebastian?"

Sebastian didn't answer. In the dark room, his eyes shone like cold stars—depthless and unreadable.

Riley sensed the suppressed anger rolling off him at once. She steadied her emotions and lowered her voice cautiously. "What are you doing? You startled me so much I thought I'd run into a pervert."

Sebastian stayed silent for a long while before he spoke.

His voice sank low, strained by pent-up emotion. "Riley." He bit out her name slowly. "We already share a bed together. How can you sit here dining with Lucas and his grandfather, pretending to be a happy family?"

It turned out that Sebastian had also booked a table at the restaurant.

He had only noticed Riley's presence midway through his own meal.

He saw her sit between Lucas and Caleb, wearing that perpetual calm smile without a single flaw.

But Sebastian kept telling himself inwardly that Riley remained legally tied to Lucas and had no choice but to endure such obligatory occasions.

Yet overwhelming jealousy and heartache surged uncontrollably in his chest.

He feared Riley still harbored deeper feelings for Lucas than he had imagined.

He feared the Ashford family's false warmth would wear her down, making her abandon the unofficial engagement between them.

Riley caught the intense jealousy in his rigid tone and the tight grip around her wrist.

Her heart softened at once. She flipped her hand and patted the back of his cool wrist in gentle comfort. "I had no idea you were here, too. Rest assured, I only came out of respect for his grandfather. This dinner means nothing to me where Lucas is concerned."

She paused, tilted her head up to meet his shadowed outline in the dark, and softened her tone further. "If this upsets you... I can make it up to you somehow."

The instant she proposed making it up to him, Sebastian's gaze turned scorching.

He stepped forward, and his tall frame loomed over her completely.

"How do you plan to make it up to me?" His voice turned husky with quiet longing.

Amused by his mix of domineering temper and vulnerable grievance, Riley felt a playful whim stir in her heart out of nowhere.

She stood on her tiptoes and leaned close to his cheek. Warm breath brushed lightly against his ear.

Under his stunned gaze, she pressed a soft, feather-light kiss to his cheek.

Silence filled the private room, broken only by the rapid rhythm of their overlapping heartbeats.

Riley stepped back a little, wearing a mischievous smile. "Is this compensation enough?"

Sebastian froze entirely.

He could clearly feel the lingering soft warmth on his cheek, a trivial touch that stirred massive waves of emotion deep inside his chest.