Chapter 815

I scrolled through my contacts until I found Vivian’s number, wanting to ask her about everything–but in the end, I lost my nerve and didn’t call. After Jeffrey passed away, I wondered, just how was Vivian coping with it all?

My emotions were churning like a storm, but there was nothing I could do about it–even my concern had to stay hidden.

“Mom, I’m heading out to the mall. Is there anything we need at home? I can pick it up.” Seeing that my parents had no plans to go out themselves, I volunteered to take care of the groceries.

I noticed neither of my parents was planning to step outside, so I figured I’d handle the grocery run myself.

My mom smiled. “No need, we’re good on everything. Why don’t you meet up with some friends instead? Don’t stay home all day, okay?”

I’d made a few female friends through work, but outside our jobs, we almost never met up—especially those with families and kids. Most of their downtime was spent with their husbands and children.

Still, I decided to head out.

Just as I reached the parking lot downstairs, a black sedan suddenly drove up from ahead.

Assuming it was just another resident, I didn’t think much of it and went straight to my car, unlocking the door and getting inside.

At that moment, a man leapt out of the sedan and hurried over, knocking urgently on my window.

I rolled down the window, shooting him a wary look. “What do you want?” I asked.

“Ms. Murphy, I’m part of Mr. Jennings’s security team. Do you have a moment?” He presented his ID to me.

I looked at him in shock. “Ryan… he’s back in Braylin?”

“Yes. After Mr. Jeffrey Jennings passed away, Mr. Ryan Jennings returned three days ago and stayed with him in the hospital through his final moments.” His face was etched with grief.

“Where is he now?” My thoughts were all over the place–so Ryan had already come back to Braylin?

“He finished the funeral arrangements just yesterday. Right now he’s at the villa. Ms. Murphy, you’re his friend. He’s been staying there alone, and everyone’s worried. We all know you’re special to him–could you go comfort him?” The man’s eyes reddened as he spoke.

“Okay, I’ll go see him.” In that moment, I didn’t feel even a hint of doubt–after all, even as just a friend, it’s perfectly fine for me to show I care.

I followed their car through the rain, eventually arriving at the villa out in the suburbs.

I’d been here before. Back then, it was to say goodbye to Ryan.

‘Never thought I’d be back here again,’ I mused to myself.

The rain started pounding even harder. The wipers kept sweeping back and forth, carving out just a scrap of visibility.

Peering through the watery streaks, I caught sight of what looked like someone standing on the second–floor balcony.

I couldn’t be certain–my memory of Ryan was of a thinner guy, but this silhouette stood impossibly straight, almost as if he’d grown stronger and more composed this past two years.

The front gate of the villa was locked tight. The guy from the car behind jumped out into the rain and said, “Mr. Jennings won’t let any of us in, Ms. Murphy. Maybe you could go ahead-”

I knew what he was getting at–he wanted me to ring the bell myself.

I found an umbrella in the car, but the rain was so heavy that no matter how quick I tried to be, I was still pretty soaked after just a few moments outside.

Clutching the umbrella, I walked up to the gate and pressed the doorbell.

It took a while, but finally, the door swung open, and there he was–Ryan, standing in front of me in a crisp white shirt.

The second I saw him, I was stunned, totally unsure it was really him.

His hair was cropped close, his skin a lot darker than I remembered, and the most striking thing—a faint scar traced across his forehead, the kind that looked old and permanent, a wound that time couldn’t wash away.

Ryan obviously hadn’t expected to see me; for a split second, surprise broke through the calm in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” he blurted, suddenly turning away as if he didn’t want me to notice the scar. His voice was steadier now–deeper, more serious than I’d ever heard before.

I steadied myself and spoke gently, “I saw the news about your grandfather. I’m really sorry to hear that.”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, I made it in time to see him one last time. No regrets.”

I knew he was the type to keep his feelings buried. On the surface he looked perfectly calm, but deep down, I could tell he was hurting.

“Um… it’s pouring out here, mind if I come in and have some coffee?” Nora asked, feeling a bit awkward as she struggled to keep the umbrella upright–the rain was coming down so hard it was nearly bending it out of shape.

Ryan immediately opened the door wider and stepped aside. “Come on in.”

I closed up my umbrella and stepped inside, grateful for the wooden corridor that shielded me from the pouring rain.