From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 284: She Lied to Me

Breathing heavily, Sebastian met Riley's startled gaze, his eyes churning with molten, long-suppressed emotion.

Meeting Riley's startled gaze—her eyes still shimmering with unshed tears—he let his voice drop to a ragged whisper. "I don't want you to go."

At that moment, Riley felt it with absolute clarity—Sebastian's feelings for her.

This was no tease, no joke, but something as real and scorching as the kiss they'd just shared.

Her mind went blank, her heart pounding violently against her ribs.

Staring at him, she heard herself ask the question she'd never dared to examine closely, "Sebastian... do you like me?"

His gaze grew even more intense. "If I said yes... would you stay tonight?"

His eyes held hers, unwavering. "I don't want you going back to Ashford Manor alone. Not to face all that by yourself."

His embrace was warm, his focus entirely on her, and his answer was unequivocal.

Slowly, Riley's hands, which had hung limp at her sides, rose and tentatively circled his waist.

She felt his heartbeat instantly quicken against her.

"Okay."

Why should I keep holding back for a relationship that's already dead and buried?

*****

Meanwhile, at the upscale restaurant, a valet held the door open with practiced courtesy for Lucas and Sophia.

The entire meal had passed in a distracted haze for Lucas, his thoughts tethered to Riley's brief, evasive phone call.

Noticing his preoccupation, Sophia slipped her arm through his and asked gently, "Lucas, what's on your mind? Something troubling you at work?"

Lucas grunted a noncommittal response, leading her toward the parking garage.

Just as their car lights flashed in the dimness, his gaze drifted across the street to another brightly lit restaurant.

There, perfectly visible through the floor-to-ceiling window, sat Lydia at a prime table. She was laughing, head thrown back in clear, unguarded delight.

Lucas froze in shock.

Riley had said she was having dinner with Lydia tonight.

But the person sitting across from Lydia wasn't Riley.

It was a handsome man who looked a few years younger than Lucas himself.

A silent detonation went off in Lucas' mind.

His expression darkened instantly.

Riley wasn't with Lydia at all.

She lied to me.

So where is she?

And more importantly, who is she with?

Sophia, her arm still linked with his, followed his stare.

The moment she recognized the man with Lydia wasn't Riley, her heart plummeted.

Aiden's words echoed in her head: Riley was the one Sebastian cared about.

She used Lydia as a cover. She's with Sebastian.

Logically, this should be good news. If Riley was truly involved with another man, Sophia's position—and Jeremy's—within the Ashford family would be secure.

Yet, seeing the storm of suspicion and fury darkening Lucas' eyes, she knew the truth couldn't come out.

She understood this man's nature—the fierce possessiveness, the pride buried deep in his bones.

If he discovered Riley was with Sebastian, a rival of this caliber? That buried obsession would surge to the surface.

He'd stop at nothing to get her back, likely discarding everything—and everyone—else in the process, including her.

The calculation flashed through Sophia's mind in an instant.

Her grip on his arm tightened slightly, and she manufactured a tone of gentle concern. "Lucas, don't jump to conclusions. Maybe Riley and Lydia finished eating, and Lydia met someone else afterward? Riley cares about you so much. Why would she lie? She's probably home by now."

Normally, he might have accepted this.

But tonight, suspicion had taken root and was spreading like wildfire.

"Cares about me?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with the bitterness of betrayal.

He pulled his arm free, irritation plain. "If she cared, would she lie about something like this?"

Far from calming him, Sophia's defense only acted like a catalyst, infinitely amplifying the panic buried deep within him. He recalled the tone in Riley's voice earlier on the phone, and his own gnawing sense of powerlessness—he had never truly held the reins where she was concerned.

Without another word to Sophia, Lucas pulled out his phone and dialed Riley's number.

Meanwhile, Riley was still in Sebastian's embrace.

She had hoped—perhaps foolishly—that this fragile warmth would linger a little longer.

But a sharp, insistent ringtone shattered the quiet.

It was like being dragged from a sunlit cloud and slammed back onto cold, hard ground.

With a subtle shift, she eased out of Sebastian's arms, picked up the phone, drew a steadying breath, and answered.

"Are you back yet?" Lucas' voice came through the receiver.