From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 268: Sophia's Calculated Advance

Riley arched a brow, a cold, sardonic glint flickering in her eyes.

Sophia had perfected the tactic of feigning fragility to get her own way, playing the demure damsel to manipulate those around her.

Though the Ashford Group's deputy president looked clearly taken aback by the sudden request, he could not refuse such a graceful woman in public. He forced a stiff smile and stood to yield his seat.

Sophia settled into the chair beside Sebastian, a faint sickly flush still lingering on her cheeks, yet her eyes blazing with barely concealed triumph. Riley stole sideways glances at Sebastian, only to spot a deep, unmistakable frown etched between his brows.

Almost imperceptibly, he shifted his body slightly away from her.

Every line of his posture radiated quiet discomfort and annoyance at her forced proximity.

Riley observed every subtle detail with perfect clarity, yet Sophia remained utterly oblivious to his clear rejection.

She smoothed the hem of her dress, lifted her wine glass, and raised it toward Sebastian amid the room's curious stares.

Her tone carried perfectly measured gratitude, her gaze fixed intently on his face; Sophia was silently hoping for a flicker of warmth in return.

"Mr. Torres, I nearly tripped in the office the other day. I'm endlessly grateful you steadied me in time, saving me from public embarrassment. I've held that kindness close ever since. Allow me to toast you in thanks."

Watching the scene unfold with lazy amusement, Aiden swirled the wine in his glass without taking a sip, stoking the delicate tension in the room with well-timed provocation. "Mr. Torres, you have always been a true gentleman. Surely you won't decline such a sincere toast from a lovely lady?"

His words hung in the air, laying subtle social pressure on Sebastian and making the lounge's atmosphere grow thick and awkward.

Sebastian did not so much as lift a hand toward the wine glass before him.

His reply was concise, direct, and unyielding. "I do not drink alcohol."

He did not stop there, cutting down her elaborate gesture without the slightest mercy. "What happened that day was a mere coincidence. I would steady anyone who stumbled before me. There is no need for you to dwell on it, nor am I the chivalrous figure you paint me to be."

Sophia's smile froze rigid on her lips in an instant.

She had never expected Sebastian to be so blunt and unsparing, dismissing her show of gratitude as meaningless triviality and bordering on public humiliation. Aiden's own smile faltered for a split second before he regained his composure, hidden amusement deepening in his eyes.

Sophia's fingers tightened around the stem of her wine glass.

Still seasoned in high-society social maneuvering, she had cultivated a thick skin over years of navigating delicate scenarios.

Drawing in a steady breath, she forced a placating smile to her face. "You are quite right, Mr. Torres. I chose my words poorly."

Though she offered a verbal apology, her resolve toward Sebastian only hardened inwardly.

The more unattainable and cold he was, the stronger her urge to conquer him became.

She raised her glass high and drained the wine in one smooth gulp. "I'll drink this as my own apology."

Quick to smooth over the awkward lull, Aiden raised his glass with a hearty laugh. "Well done, Ms. Myers! Since Mr. Torres abstains from alcohol, let us all drink freely and toast the complete success of the Cedar Creek Project!"

Led by Aiden's cheer, the dinner regained its lively buzz.

Glasses clinked together in celebration, and conversation circled back to project progress and business cooperation.

As the most powerful and influential figure present, Sebastian naturally became the focal point of endless toasts.

He merely stated he would substitute wine with juice, remaining aloof and refined amid the bustling chatter.

No guest dared press him to drink; his authority within this elite circle was absolute.

Before he could set down his glass again, Sophia ignored his earlier rebuff and stepped forward once more, picking up her wine glass. "Mr. Torres is surely driving tonight and cannot drink. Let me drink on his behalf."

With that, she emptied another glass in one swift motion.

A faint twitch tugged at Riley's brows. Glancing toward Sebastian, she caught clear, simmering impatience darkening his eyes.

For most high-ranking men in elite circles, a woman volunteering to shield them from tedious toasts was an unspoken social courtesy. Even those ungrateful for the gesture would never embarrass the woman openly.

Sebastian was nothing like the ordinary crowd.

He had no intention of letting Sophia continue her unwelcome displays of affection.

When another guest stepped forward with a wine glass to offer respectful greetings, Sophia moved faster than anyone else, snatching up her own glass before Sebastian could utter a word.

She carried herself with the presumptuous air of a close confidante, ready to shield him from trivial formalities.

But before she could finish her line, a voice colder than chilled ice cut through the air without warning. "Have you no wine at home? Must you scramble to drink off cups paid by others?"

Sebastian's gaze settled on Sophia, devoid of the slightest warmth, laced with undisguised mockery.

Sophia stared at him in utter disbelief, her fingers trembling tightly around the glass stem.

Where his earlier coldness had still maintained a veneer of polite restraint, his current disdain and desire to distance himself were laid bare for all to see, stripping her of every shred of dignity.