From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 281: Change of Plans

Sebastian pulled his mask down, revealing his sharp, handsome features. He raised an eyebrow. "So now you need to use Lydia as an excuse just to see me?"

His gaze dropped to the masks they both wore, and he leaned closer, lowering his voice to a husky, intimate pitch. "Look at us. We could pass for a couple sneaking around."

A soft, involuntary laugh escaped Riley. "Well, not for long."

Before the words had fully left her lips, Sebastian pressed. "Not for long what?"

She hadn't intended to discuss it here, out in the open, but he wasn't letting it go.

Sebastian suddenly closed the distance, his lips nearly brushing her ear.

"Does that mean we won't have to hide it soon?"

His warm breath grazed her skin, carrying the unspoken suggestion.

The sudden closeness sent a jolt through her.

Riley could feel her heartbeat pick up, warmth rising to her ears.

Feigning annoyance, she reached out and pinched the firm muscle at his side.

"Don't talk nonsense," she scolded, shooting him a sharp look.

But the gesture and her tone held a familiar, playful intimacy that belonged only to them.

Sebastian just chuckled quietly at the pinch, the low sound echoing faintly in the empty parking garage, laced with unmistakable fondness.

*****

At that same moment, Lucas sat in the driver's seat, one hand gripping the steering wheel.

He had just ended the call with Riley, a simmering, nameless anger tightening his features.

From the passenger seat, Sophia's voice, soft and sweet, cut through the silence. "Lucas, is Riley not coming home for dinner again?"

A grunt was his only reply before he tossed his phone onto the console.

"She says she's having dinner with Lydia. She's not coming back."

Lately, it felt more and more like Riley was slipping completely from his grasp.

The once-compliant woman had grown strong-willed, independent, even coldly distant. It left him unsettled, with a nagging sense that things were shifting beneath his feet while he stood powerless.

This loss of control was a constant, prickling irritation.

Sophia listened, a brief flash of satisfaction lighting her eyes before she smoothed her expression. She shifted closer, looping her arm gently through his. "Well, if Riley isn't coming back... maybe we shouldn't go home for dinner, either? We haven't had a proper date in ages, Lucas."

His frown deepened. "No. Grandpa would be furious."

Caleb was a stickler for family rules, especially now with his health declining. Unapproved absences were strictly forbidden.

"Oh, Lucas..." Sophia cooed, pressing her soft frame against him. The contact eased some of his tension.

"Just this once? And think about it..." She drew out the pause for effect. "If we don't go back, Grandpa will probably assume you and Riley are out together. He'd be pleased, thinking your relationship is getting better!"

Her words struck a chord.

The thought of returning to the oppressive mansion, under Caleb's watchful eye, made his chest feel tight. The promise of escape, however brief, was tempting.

Finally, he yielded to her persuasive tone.

"Fine. Just this once."

A glint of triumph flickered in Sophia's eyes before she resumed her sweet, demure smile. "Thank you, Lucas!"

*****

Meanwhile, Riley and Sebastian had arrived at a large import supermarket near Louvian Port.

Sebastian pushed a shopping cart, his tall, imposing frame seeming oddly out of place yet somehow endearing amid the mundane domesticity.

Riley walked beside him, selecting various spices and condiments for her pantry and placing them in the cart.

Sebastian watched her move with quiet intensity, his gaze fixed on her.

As they entered the snack aisle, his attention was caught by the brightly colored packages lining the shelves.

He stopped, plucking a bag of potato chips. "Do you eat snacks?" he asked, turning to Riley with a slight lift of his brow.

She shook her head. "Not really."

"Alright." He made a thoughtful sound. However, instead of putting the chips back, he proceeded to grab several more items—assorted cookies, a bar of chocolate, some gelatin cups—and deposited them all into the cart.

"I noticed other carts have plenty of these. They must be good," he explained with an air of seriousness.

Following his gaze, Riley saw he had a point. The other shoppers' carts were indeed well-stocked with similar treats.

So he's... learning by example?

The sight of his usually stern and composed face, now etched with curious contemplation, made her smile.