From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 262: A False Claim of Infertility

The quiet retreat in Riley's manner did not escape Sebastian's notice. A dull ache pricked his heart, yet he held back from pressing her further.

He loosened his hold on her frame and lowered his voice in a soft murmur. "You head out first. I'll leave a little while later."

A brief nod came from Riley. She smoothed the turbulent emotions from her features, pushed open the door, and stepped back into the private dining room.

A gentle, polished smile settled back on her face the moment she took her seat, as if none of the earlier tension had ever unfolded.

Concern laced Lucas' expression the second he laid eyes on her. "You were gone for such a long while. Are you feeling unwell with your monthly cycle?"

"I'm perfectly fine." Riley settled into her chair with calm composure and wove a casual excuse effortlessly. "A work call came through while I stepped out, and I ended up chatting longer than expected."

Satisfaction flickered across Caleb's face at the mention of work matters. He wasted no time steering the conversation to his true intention for the evening gathering. "Riley, I've seen your relationship with Lucas grow steady these days. You're both still young, and it's high time you started planning for a child."

Warm fondness shone in his eyes as he glanced between the two, his voice laced with longing. "Any child of yours would surely inherit outstanding talents from both sides. I could leave this world in peace if I live long enough to hold my great-grandchild."

The coffee cup in Lucas' hand trembled almost imperceptibly at those words, and an awkward cloud swept over his features in an instant.

Riley lifted her gaze, letting a calm, unflinching glance sweep over Lucas' embarrassed expression.

She spoke with unvarnished honesty for everyone to hear, "I'm afraid I have to disappoint you, Grandpa.

"I suffered severe internal bleeding after falling unwell some time ago. My doctor confirmed the damage is irreversible, and conceiving another child will be nearly impossible for me from now on."

The warm, benevolent smile froze rigidly on Caleb's lips.

Its shape lingered at the corners of his mouth, yet every glimmer of warmth faded from his eyes, replaced by raw shock and disbelief.

His hand remained suspended mid-air, the coffee cup forgotten entirely in his grasp.

Decades of navigating life's storms had hardened Caleb to countless ups and downs. Modern as his views might be, deep down he clung firmly to the age-old tradition of family lineage and heirs.

Securing a successor for the Ashford family stood as an unbreakable, non-negotiable rule.

Now, the granddaughter-in-law he valued most had casually revealed she could no longer bear children.

"How could this be..." It took several long seconds for Caleb to regain his voice, tone thick with stunned disbelief.

Riley held back her immediate reply. She lifted her eyes and cast a subtle, knowing glance toward Lucas beside her.

Panic flared sharply in Lucas' mind. He feared Riley would seize this moment to spill the full truth behind her bleeding and expose all his mistakes to Caleb.

Acting on a desperate impulse before Riley could speak, Lucas rushed to shoulder all blame alone, adopting a tone of deep remorse and devoted affection.

"This is all my fault." His voice carried heavy self-reproach. "I failed to look after Riley properly. Grandpa, this news must come as a great shock to you, yet I have already made peace with it. I love Riley for who she is, and I would never turn cold toward her just because she cannot have children."

His words flowed with such heartfelt sincerity that he played the part of a devoted husband flawlessly.

He reached out instinctively to take Riley's hand resting on the table, hoping to seal their performance of unshakable marital affection.

Before his fingertips could make contact, Riley drew her hand back subtly, evading his advance with the quiet wariness of a startled creature.

Awkwardness washed over Lucas' face in an instant.

Riley pretended not to notice his discomfort. She lowered her head at just the right moment, her shoulders trembling faintly as if she struggled to hold back overwhelming sorrow. "I'm truly sorry, Grandpa... I-I may never be able to give you a great-grandson. I've even spoken to Lucas about getting a divorce, so I won't hold his future back... but—"

She trailed her words off deliberately. That hesitant, unspoken pause framed her perfectly as a wronged, selfless wife who only thought of her husband and family's well-being.

"You will not get a divorce!" Caleb cut her off sharply before she could finish her sentence.

A heavy moment passed as he fully processed the explosive news. The rigid tension faded from his features, and a strained yet gentle smile returned to his lips.

"Silly girl, don't speak such nonsense." Caleb softened his tone to soothe her. "I'm not some old-fashioned fossil stuck in outdated traditions. Plenty of young couples choose to remain childless these days. This hardship has already taken enough of a toll on you, and I could never hold it against you."

He paused briefly, letting his gaze drift between Riley and Lucas, his tone growing softer and more paternal. "Besides, many skilled traditional doctors excel at internal conditioning across the country. I'll have people seek out the most reputable ones. Regular treatment and body care will surely turn things around."

Teary-eyed with feigned gratitude, Riley lifted her head and nodded obediently. "I'll follow whatever you arrange, Grandpa."

Gratefulness played perfectly across her features, yet quiet amusement lingered hidden in her heart.

She knew full well her body faced no barriers to conception at all. This was nothing more than a carefully laid decoy.

Even if Lucas chose to cover up the truth to protect himself today, Riley knew Sophia would sooner or later seize an opportunity to expose the secret to Caleb, using it as leverage to climb the social ladder for herself and Jeremy.