Chapter 19
Meanwhile, Riley stood by the ocean, the salty sea breeze brushing her face and lifting her hair gently.
In the distance, the sunset was turning the water this gorgeous orange–red color. Waves kept rolling up onto the sand and then pulling back out.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and just soaked in the peace she hadn’t felt in for a long time.
“Miss Wells?”
This warm guy’s voice came from behind her.
Riley turned around and saw this tall guy standing nearby, holding a bag of fresh seafood.
He was wearing a simple white shirt and casual pants, had really nice features, and this gentle smile.
“I’m Chris Parker, I live next door to you.” He walked a little closer, his voice all smooth and friendly. “Heard you just moved in today, so’l brought some seafood over–kind of a welcome–to–the–neighborhood thing.”
Riley blinked, then gave him this polite smile: “Thanks, but you really don’t need to…”
“Don’t worry about it.” Chris held out the bag, his tone casual and natural. “Savannah’s got the freshest seafood around. Since you just got here, figured you should try the local stuff.”
He wasn’t being pushy or standoffish–just the right amount of friendly that made it hard to say no.
Riley hesitated for a second, then took the bag: “Well… thanks.”
Chris smiled and glanced at her suitcases behind her: “Need any help with those?”
“Nah, I’ve got most of it sorted out already.”
“Cool, just holler if you need anything.” He nodded and walked away, his posture relaxed and easy.
Riley watched him go, kind of spacing out for a moment.
He was the first person who’d actually talked to her since she got to Savannah.
Over the next few days, Riley slowly got used to life in the small town.
MIL
She opened up this tiny flower shop by the ocean–trimming stems, wrapping bouquets, living a quiet but full life.
Sometimes she’d sit outside her shop just staring at the water, her mind drifting off and then coming back.
Chris would drop by occasionally to buy flowers–sometimes sunflowers, sometimes some bell flowers.
He never tried to chat her up, just said hello, paid, and left.
Until this one evening when a storm hit out of nowhere.
Riley was about to close up shop when the rain started hammering down. She stood under the awning watching it get worse and worse, frowning a
little.
“Forget your umbrella?”
That familiar voice came from behind her.
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3 Years as Your Backup Wife, 1 Text to Crash Your World: ‘Guess Which Twin Left?”
H
Chapter 19
She turned around and saw Chris standing in the rain with this big black umbrella.
“I’ll walk you home,” he said.
Riley was about to say no, but the rain was coming down too hard, so she finally nodded: “Thanks.”
They walked side by side in the rain. The umbrella wasn’t huge, but Chris deliberately tilted it toward her, getting his own shoulder soaked.
Riley noticed and moved closer to his side: “You don’t have to do that…”
“It’s fine.” He smiled. “It’s just a little rain.”
The rain kept pattering and neither of them said anything else.
When they got to her door, Riley hesitated, then spoke up: “Want to come in for some coffee?”
Chris looked at her for a second, then nodded: “Sure.”
After that night, they seemed to get a little closer.
་་་ ་ ག་、 ༤S
Chris would sometimes stop by the flower shop to help her move heavy stuff, and Riley would bring him dinner when he was working late.
He never asked about her past, and she never brought it up.
Until one day, Riley was arranging flowers when she accidentally got cut by a rose thorn on her finger.
The second she saw the blood, she froze completely.
She flashed back to that day when Adrian threw her in the lake and gave her that ice–cold stare.
Her finger started shaking.
“What’s wrong?” Chris’s voice suddenly broke through.
She snapped back to reality and shook her head: “It’s nothing, just a little cut.”
Chris frowned and grabbed her hand, looking at it closely: “That’s pretty deep. We need to clean it up.”
His palm was warm and dry, his touch gentle but firm.
Riley just stared at him and suddenly felt her eyes getting watery.
This weird ache started building up in her chest.
It had been so long since anyone had actually cared about her like this…
They were standing really close together, and both of them were feeling something different stirring inside.
Night fell and the bonfire got lit. People were dancing and singing on the beach, laughter mixing with the sound of the waves.
Riley sat on the sand, quietly watching the crowd having fun.
“Not gonna join in?” Chris sat down beside her and handed her a cup of hot cocoa.
She took it and smiled: “I’d rather just watch.”
Chris didn’t say anything, just sat there with her.
After a while, he suddenly spoke up: “Riley.”
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3 Years as Your Backup Wife, 1 Text to Crash Your World: ‘Guess Which Twin Left?‘
T
Chapter 19
“Yeah?” She turned her head, looking curious.
“You deserve better.” He looked at her, his expression serious. “Don’t let the past trap you.”
Riley went totally still.
The sea breeze swept over them, and the firelight flickered across his face, gentle but determined.
She looked down and quietly said “Yeah.”
Maybe she really could try moving forward.
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