From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 84: The Seatbelt Moment

He returned his hands to the steering wheel, keeping his eyes on the road ahead as he remarked casually, "You forgot your seatbelt. Getting a ticket in Havenbrook will rack up points on your license real quick."

Riley glanced down and saw the seatbelt already fastened across her lap. She hadn't even noticed him buckling it.

So... he'd leaned over just to do that?

A flush of embarrassment warmed her cheeks.

Just then, Sebastian's voice came from beside her, lightly curious. "Why's your face so red?"

Riley stiffened. Without thinking, she touched her warm cheek. Her eyes darted toward the window as she scrambled for an excuse. "Oh—it's nothing. The heater in here must be cranked up too high. Feels kind of stuffy."

Sebastian heard her. A faint, unreadable smile touched the corner of his mouth.

He turned his head, his gaze lingering on the pink tint of her ears, and drawled slowly, "Yeah? Is that it..." He let the last word hang intentionally. "I was thinking maybe you assumed I had something else in mind when I leaned over."

Riley forced a dry, awkward laugh, trying to sound firm. "Don't be ridiculous! Of course I didn't think that. I trust you. Seriously, I do."

At that, Sebastian raised a brow. His eyes held a flicker of something caught between amusement and faint exasperation.

She trusted him?

Yet the way she'd tensed up earlier—like someone bracing for a threat—hadn't exactly looked trusting.

This woman always hid behind that practical, composed shell of hers. Little did she know her real thoughts were written all over her face.

Still, he didn't mind this side of her—the way she said one thing while everything else gave her away.

Sebastian chuckled softly and didn't press further. He started the engine again.

"What are you in the mood to eat?" he asked.

"Anything's fine. You choose." Riley just wanted to move past the awkward moment.

In the end, Sebastian picked an exclusive, reservation-only private kitchen tucked away from the main streets.

The car wound through a maze of narrow lanes before stopping in front of an understated wooden door. Without him leading the way, Riley would never have guessed such a serene, upscale spot existed in the middle of the bustling city.

The restaurant seated only a handful of guests each evening.

They were escorted through a courtyard, then into an intimate dining room.

Dinner unfolded in a relaxed, effortless atmosphere.

Sebastian seemed to know exactly how to steer the conversation. He didn't bring up the earlier moment in the car again. Instead, he shared some recent business updates and a few light stories about life in Havenbrook—keeping things engaging but comfortably impersonal.

After the meal concluded, they stepped out of the restaurant and returned to the car.

Night had deepened, and the glow of neon signs outside the window washed Riley's face in shifting colors.

She settled into the passenger seat and gave him Lydia's address.

But Sebastian didn't key it into the GPS right away.

He turned to look at her. The dim interior lighting made his eyes seem deeper, more intense.

"When did I say I was taking you home now?"

His voice was low, carrying a quiet warmth that felt especially clear in the stillness of the car.

Riley's heart gave another involuntary skip.

She met his gaze—dark and unreadable—and a rush of thoughts tumbled through her mind all at once.

He wasn't taking her home?

Where were they going, then? What was he planning?

Riley had to admit her imagination was starting to run wild again.

She tried to keep her voice steady. "Then... what did you have in mind?"

Sebastian leaned slightly closer. The space between them shrank once more.

This time, there was no teasing glint—just a calm, intentional tone as he said two clear words. "My place."

A wave of heat surged through Riley's chest.

This time, she was sure she wasn't overthinking it. The way he'd said it was loaded with implication, hinting at things she wasn't ready to name.

She cleared her throat, uneasy. "It's late. I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Sebastian watched her—visibly nervous but clinging to her composed act—and amusement brightened his eyes.

He turned her own words back on her, speaking slowly and evenly.

"Why wouldn't it be a good idea?" he asked, his tone deceptively innocent. "Didn't you just tell me you really trusted me?"

Riley fell silent. He had neatly trapped her with her own statement.

"What's the matter," he continued, not letting up, "afraid to come over?"

For a long moment, she was truly at a loss.

Say yes? That would be walking right into his setup.

Say no? That would mean admitting she didn't actually trust him—and worse, that she was worried about what might happen.

This man was a master at setting verbal traps.

Seeing her genuinely flustered, Sebastian decided to put her out of her misery.

He gestured toward the gift bag tossed in the back seat.

His eyes smiling, he finally revealed the real reason. "You already gave me the present. Don't you want to come back and see how it works? Otherwise, how will you know if what you picked out is any good?"