From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 9: The Crash and Sebastian

Riley blinked innocently, her words slow and deliberate. "Maybe Jeremy's habit of lying comes from his deadbeat father. Bad genes really do tell, don't they? Or maybe, with his father never around, the Myers family just doesn't know how to raise kids properly. Sophia can't handle it alone."

Her words landed like hammer blows—blunt, brutal, unflinching.

"That's not—Jeremy is my—" Lucas started, then caught himself, biting down hard. "I know his father. It's not a genetic thing."

Riley cut him off, her voice flat. "So you still think I'm targeting Sophia and Jeremy on purpose?"

"That's not what I meant..." Frustration bled into his voice.

Before he could say more, Riley lowered her eyes, hiding everything, and grabbed her coat.

"Figure out what you actually believe. Then come find me."

She walked out, shoulders slightly slumped. Lucas watched her go, something tightening in his chest.

It felt like something was slipping through his fingers.

Sophia appeared in the doorway. "Lucas. Jeremy's asleep now. What happened with Riley?"

Lucas' brow furrowed. "Are you sure Riley actually gave Jeremy the cake?"

"Lucas." Sophia's voice wavered, a bitter smile crossing her face. "You don't trust me? You don't trust Jeremy? We've raised him well—he wouldn't lie."

"But—"

"I know Riley didn't mean it." Sophia's voice softened, understanding flooding her features. "She probably just doesn't like how close Jeremy is to you. But Jeremy's your son. Fathers and sons bond—it's natural." She touched his arm. "Riley just needs time. I don't blame her. Neither does Jeremy. We remember everything she's done for this family."

Her words smoothed the rough edges of his doubt.

Tenderness flickered in his eyes. He pulled her close. "Sophia. You and Jeremy are everything to me. Riley... I just feel guilty. I don't want to hurt her more than I have to."

*****

The night stretched on endlessly.

Riley drove without a trace of hurt in her heart.

She cruised through the city, windows down, air cool against her skin.

She'd stopped loving Lucas long ago. Walking out alone was part of the plan.

Sometimes, guilt was a useful tool.

She glanced at the video on her phone—the secretly recorded footage from the back parlor.

I'll let Lucas come crawling back.

Then—

"Bang." Her car jolted forward, seatbelt catching her hard.

For a second, her mind blanked. Then she looked back.

A rear-end collision.

The other car had sped up. Deliberately. Like they meant to hit her.

Someone picking a fight?

She frowned, reaching for her phone to call the police. A knock at her window.

Familiar face.

"So sorry! My fault completely—" Nathan stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening. "Ms. Harper? It's you?"

Riley blinked.

Sebastian's assistant?

A deep voice cut through the night. "What happened?"

Riley looked up. Sebastian was stepping out of the car.

Tailored handmade suit. A watch worth eight figures. Cufflinks that cost more than most people's cars.

Against the distant sound of waves, the man looked carved from ice and shadow—handsome, aloof, utterly unattainable.

Something flickered in Riley's eyes. Appreciation, maybe.

Her future fiancé, in terms of looks alone, outshone every eligible bachelor in Havenbrook. Even Lucas—the so-called "most handsome man in Havenbrook"—faded in comparison.

Sebastian was striking. Rugged. Magnetic.

"Mr. Torres. I forgot to slow down. Hit Ms. Harper's car."

Sebastian glanced at the damage. "Tire's blown. Not drivable." His gaze shifted to Riley. "Where are you headed?"

"Summit Hotel."

His eyes swept over her, unhurried. "Get in. I'll take you."

Riley hesitated.

Her situation with Lucas wasn't resolved. She didn't want to drag Sebastian into it privately—not yet. Not when he was technically her future husband.

Sebastian misread her pause. "Nathan will handle the car. Don't worry."

"Ms. Harper, I'll take care of everything." Nathan smiled, though something wistful flickered behind his eyes. "We also headed to Summit Hotel."

Earlier, Sebastian had told him not to slow down. Booked Summit Hotel on purpose. Dressed like he was walking a runway. All for this "chance encounter" with Riley.

Riley didn't know any of that.

But hearing Sebastian was also headed to Summit Hotel made it harder to refuse. "Then I'll trouble you."

Nathan stayed behind to handle the aftermath. Sebastian took the wheel.

In the passenger seat, Riley couldn't help stealing glances at him through the rearview mirror.

His expression was cool, composed. He carried himself with the quiet authority of someone who'd never had to answer to anyone. Discipline. Power. Distance.

Aloof. Noble. Far out of reach.

Fascinating.

This was the man who'd played co-op game with her. Who'd sent her a doll.

As if reading her mind, his voice cut through the silence. "Did you like the doll?"

"Yes. Thank you, Mr. Torres."

She paused, thinking of the adorably ugly figurine. A small smile tugged at her lips.

Questionable taste. But the gesture was genuine.

Sebastian caught the smile in the corner of his eye. His lips curved slightly.

"This area's hard to get a cab anyway." His voice stayed level. "Nathan's fault today. I'll have him fix the car and update you."

"Thank you for handling it."

Riley smiled, grateful, and let the rear-end incident drop.

She'd preferred not to get tangled with Sebastian before returning to Nexopolis. But she didn't mind it either.

At least he was easy on the eyes.

Sebastian's gaze slid over her bright features. The curve of his lips deepened.

The car pulled up to Summit Hotel.

Riley collected her key card and headed upstairs. At the end of the hallway, Sebastian walked past her—and stopped at the door next to hers.

What a coincidence?

He was staying right next door?

He turned, catching her look. One eyebrow raised.

"If you need anything, call me." A pause. "We are engaged, after all."

Her phone rang.

Lucas.

The name on the screen caught Sebastian's eye. The warmth in his expression cooled.

He turned and disappeared into his room without another word.

Riley frowned at her phone. She almost declined.

He called again. And again. Persistent.

The video from today's luncheon was on her desk in the bedroom. He must have seen it by now.

The video showed Jeremy snatching the cake. And Sophia feeding Jeremy chestnuts.

Riley had asked a servant to record it.

Honestly? She hadn't expected Sophia to go that far. To sell the lie, Sophia had fed Jeremy extra chestnuts—even knowing they might trigger his allergy.

After a long moment, Riley answered.

Her voice was flat. Drained. Like someone who'd given up. "What do you want?"