Chapter 818

Later that evening, my mom asked me to tag along to the mall. Summer was coming up, and she wanted to grab some new clothes for my dad.

I trailed behind her, responding to everything she said on autopilot, but honestly, my mind was miles away, still tangled up in everything that had happened.

Ryan’s figure kept appearing in my mind—sometimes blurry, sometimes almost painfully vivid.

I remembered the very first time I met him. He looked so clean, so unguarded, and those eyes were just pure honesty.

But now, seeing him again, he felt so unfamiliar—like he’d become someone I barely recognized, nothing like the Edward from my memories.

“Victoria!” Suddenly, a clear, cheerful voice pulled me right out of my thoughts.

I turned around and saw Nora—she’d sprouted up and was now just about as tall as I was.

“It really is you! I almost thought I’d mistaken someone else for you,” Nora grinned as she walked over.

My mom was a little ways off, busy looking at clothes, so she didn’t notice us.

I smiled politely at Nora and said, “Did you come back to Braylin because of what happened to your grandpa?”

Nora nodded. “Yeah, it all happened so fast. I really miss him. Victoria, it’s been two years since I last saw you. Did you and my dad… break up for good?”

The sudden mention of Edward left me feeling awkward—I just nodded, not quite sure how to react.

Nora lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “My mom fell ill about a year ago. Now I’m living in the UK with my dad.”

I blinked in surprise. “Oh no—what happened to your mom?”

Nora gave a little shrug. “It’s pretty serious. My dad’s doing everything he can to get her treated.”

For a moment, I just stood there, speechless, not knowing how to respond.

“Victoria, my classmates are waiting for me. Let’s talk again sometime, okay?” Nora tossed out, not really sticking around for more. With a quick wave, she spun on her heel and headed off.

I just stood there, frozen, not sure what to think.

Jane was sick, and Edward was searching for ways to get her treated. Honestly, it all seemed perfectly reasonable.

“Victoria, are you daydreaming again? Come over here and help me choose—out of these two, which do you think suits your dad?” Mom called out, a hint of frustration in her voice because I’d been zoning out for ages.

I just pointed to one at random and took it to the cashier.

By the time we stepped out of the mall, night had already fallen. I saw my mom safely home, then slipped away by myself to my old apartment, wanting nothing more than to hide from the world for a while.

The windows were lit up with the glow of countless homes, but none of it could chase away my mood—tonight, I just wanted to drink until I couldn’t feel anything.

Maybe if I got drunk enough, I could quiet down the chaos in my head.

I downed a whole bottle of red wine, and as the buzz hit, my thoughts blurred and my mind grew fuzzy and heavy.

The past flickered through my mind—snatches of memory drifting by like fireworks: dazzling for a moment, then gone before I could hold on.

Some people, I was better off forgetting. Others… they were the kind who kept coming back in my memories.

Stumbling over to the window, I stared out at the Riverside. Out there, someone was setting off fireworks—no clue who it was.

After all that brilliance, everything just faded back into quiet.

Curled up on the couch, half-drunk and lost in a haze, I drifted off without even knowing it.

Out of nowhere, the doorbell started ringing. For a second, I thought maybe I was just hearing things.

But no—it really was ringing, sharp and real.

I stumbled over to the door and yanked it open, but no one was out there. Just as I turned to go back inside, a blurry white shape zipped past me—so fast I almost wondered if I imagined it.

I blinked, thinking maybe I was just seeing things. My heart started racing as I spun around, searching every corner, worried that something strange or even supernatural might’ve slipped in.

Suddenly, I heard a low male voice at the door. “Snowy, mind your manners.”

Right then, that fluffy white blur zipped around my couch one last time before hopping up onto the sofa, tucking in its four stubby legs, and settling down with perfect, innocent poise.

That’s when I finally got a good look—it was a white Pomeranian.

I glanced up at the doorway and saw Ryan stroll in, dressed in a plain black T-shirt.