From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 269: Contrast

Awkwardness hung heavily in the air, and ever the instigator of drama, Aiden stepped in once again. "Now now, Mr. Torres, no need for such sharp words. Ms. Myers only acted out of kindness."

To everyone's surprise, Sebastian turned the tables squarely on him.

"If you find her behavior so agreeable. I shall swap places with you. She may drink on your behalf, and I'm sure you would be thoroughly pleased," he said, half rising from his seat.

Aiden's smile froze completely on his face.

He had only intended to stir up gossip and watch the spectacle, never expecting the conflict to boomerang straight back onto himself.

Caught awkwardly in the middle, Sophia felt like a trivial toy being tossed back and forth.

She bit her lower lip hard, turning to Sebastian with wide, wounded eyes. "Mr. Torres, do you truly hold such dislike for me?"

She sought to stir public sympathy with her vulnerable pretense.

However, Sebastian did not even bother with hollow polite evasion.

Holding her gaze steadily, he spoke five calm, uncompromising words, "So you know I can't stand you."

Unable to sustain her fragile facade any longer, Sophia sank back into her chair dejectedly. She hung her head, staring numbly at the plate before her, too ashamed to meet anyone's eyes.

Left thoroughly humiliated and embarrassed, Sophia faded into complete silence for the rest of the dinner, sitting like an invisible spectator and daring not to make another reckless move.

Though the dinner conversation livened up again after the awkward incident, every guest grew far more cautious in their words and demeanor.

Nearly everyone had taken their turn offering toasts to Sebastian, and Riley knew she could no longer remain seated in idle silence.

Picking up her barely touched glass of red wine, she walked over to his side.

Every gaze in the room locked onto her, curious to see how Sebastian would treat Lucas' wife after the earlier confrontation with Sophia.

"Mr. Torres, allow me to toast you. Thank you for your invaluable support of our project."

Against all expectations, the man who had remained stern and distant to every other guest merely glanced at her wine glass.

He waved over a nearby server at once. "Bring her a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice."

Only then did he meet Riley's stunned gaze. His tone remained cool and reserved, yet the sharp edge of icy detachment softened almost imperceptibly. "Wine is unnecessary. Sincere well wishes are more than enough."

The special favoritism was impossible to overlook.

Sophia's eyes widened in shock and confusion.

She was utterly unable to fathom Sebastian's obvious partiality toward Riley.

No visible connection existed between the two women, yet the contrast in his attitude was stark and undeniable.

Quiet murmurs spread among the surrounding guests.

"You see the difference in his tone? Night and day."

"Does this mean the rumors about Mr. Torres and Ms. Myers are all false?"

"I'm not convinced. Maybe he's distancing himself publicly to quiet idle gossip."

These hushed whispers drifted straight to Sebastian's ears, and his expression turned icy cold in an instant.

At that exact moment, Lucas finally finished his lengthy parent-teacher call and pushed open the lounge door.

He sensed the odd atmosphere the second he stepped inside—Sophia's seat had been changed, fragmented whispers lingered in the air, and Sebastian's face was frosty with displeasure.

Before he could ask what had transpired, Sebastian's clear, authoritative voice cut through the room. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make. I am already engaged.

"My partner and I share a stable relationship, and we shall wed in due time. I ask all of you to refrain from idle speculation regarding my relationships with other women. My fiancée is easily upset by meaningless gossip, and it takes great effort to soothe her mood."

Sebastian's resolute declaration landed like a bombshell in the room.

Riley choked violently on the orange juice she had just sipped.

A fit of coughing overtook her at once, and a server hurried forward to hand her paper napkins.

Dabbing clumsily at her mouth, she felt her face burning up rapidly with heat.

Has Sebastian lost his senses entirely?

Her heart thundered wildly in her chest, her thoughts spiraling into utter chaos.

How dare he make such a bold announcement in public, right in front of Lucas?

Riley knew better than anyone else—the fiancée he spoke of, the woman he cherished and protected fiercely, was none other than herself, trapped under the ironic title of Mrs. Ashford.

The moment felt absurd, thrilling, and laced with a secret, indescribable sweetness.

She dared not lift her eyes to meet Sebastian's gaze, hiding her flustered expression behind the napkin and using her coughing fit to mask her unraveling emotions.

Lucas, who had just entered the room, froze in momentary surprise.

Yet his focus diverged sharply from everyone else's.

He paid no heed to Riley's obvious fluster, only genuinely astonished that a towering business figure like Sebastian had settled into a committed relationship.

After a brief pause to collect himself, he regained his polished social demeanor and laughed heartily. "Congratulations, Mr. Torres! Who would have guessed a remarkable man like you would finally be tamed? I wonder which fortunate young lady has captured your heart."