From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 294: Unexpected Encounter

A familiar, tall silhouette stood not far away, its back to her.

Even from that angle, Riley recognized him instantly—Sebastian.

Seated across from him was a woman she didn't know.

She looked to be in her late thirties or early forties, dressed in a tailored suit that exuded professional polish and a mature, confident charm. Every gesture spoke of calm assurance.

Riley had chosen a table far across the café. Over the soft background music, she couldn't make out their conversation.

Yet she could see clearly that the usual cool indifference Sebastian showed the world was absent from his profile.

His expression was focused, and occasionally, as the woman spoke, the faintest hint of a smile would touch his lips.

Picking up the glass of ice water the waiter had just brought, Riley felt the chill of the glass seep into her fingertips, a coldness that seemed to spread straight to her heart.

A subtle, complicated feeling settled over her.

He has every right to see anyone he wants. She reminded herself, acutely aware that her own situation with Lucas was still unresolved.

Sebastian was her fiancé, but that didn't mean he'd surrendered his freedom.

Still, a stubborn question pulsed in her mind.

Who is she? Could Sebastian, like Lucas, have someone special from his past hidden away?

A tangle of emotions churned within her—a vague note of jealousy, quickly followed by self-reproach for even thinking it.

Bowing her head, Riley forced her attention onto the menu in her hands, pretending to study it intently.

The pretense didn't last long. Sebastian's voice sounded beside her table. "You're here, too. Why didn't you tell me?"

Startled, Riley looked up to find him standing next to her. His expression was calm, showing no trace of the awkwardness or panic one might expect from someone who'd been "caught."

"I saw you were busy. Didn't want to interrupt," she explained, a touch awkwardly.

Sebastian didn't comment. He simply pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.

With a slight nod toward the café entrance, he said casually, "Not busy anymore."

Following his gaze, Riley saw the woman leaving, handbag in hand.

"Free for dinner tonight?" Sebastian asked, his eyes holding a trace of inquiry.

Riley's mind was still a jumble, and part of her wanted to say no.

But as she met his steady gaze, the refusal wouldn't form. "Yeah... sure. Nothing else planned."

"A rare occurrence," he said with a light chuckle, though a wisp of what sounded almost like a gentle complaint lingered beneath.

Riley felt a stir in her chest but, unlike her usual self, didn't tease him back.

She offered a quiet smile instead, masking her inner turmoil. Over dinner, I can find a way to ask about that woman.

Just who is that woman who could draw such an expression from him?

Some plans, however, have a way of unraveling.

That evening, as Riley followed Sebastian into the private dining room of the restaurant, the woman from the café was already there, exchanging a few pleasant words with a server.

At the sight of Riley, the woman's face lit up with a warm, genuine smile after her eyes briefly swept over her. "So you're Riley. My Seb has excellent taste."

"My Seb?" Riley caught the phrase instantly.

Noting her confusion, the woman laughed and extended her hand gracefully. "Forgive the abruptness. I'm Miranda Frost. Sebastian's mother."

"Oh!" The sound escaped Riley before she could stop it.

This elegant, captivating woman is Sebastian's mother?

But as Miranda finished speaking, Riley looked more closely. The same air of innate confidence and composure was evident in both their features.

A wave of acute self-consciousness washed over her. She quickly took Miranda's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Riley Harper."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Miranda turned to Sebastian. "Seb, would you mind checking on the seafood dishes I ordered? See how the kitchen is coming along and hurry them up a bit. Riley must be hungry."

Sebastian nodded easily. "Of course. Be right back."

Riley knew perfectly well this was a deliberate move to have a moment alone with her.

As Sebastian's mother, Miranda had every right to know everything, to understand the woman who might become her daughter-in-law.

The inevitability of the coming conversation made Riley's heart beat a little faster. Knowing honesty was the only path, she took a steadying breath and broke the brief silence first.

Riley began, meeting Miranda's eyes with sincerity. "Mrs. Torres, has Sebastian mentioned it? The reason I asked to postpone the wedding... It's because my own situation is a bit complicated right now."