Chapter 20
Adrian stood on a street in Savannah, the sea breeze hitting his face with that salty, humid smell.
He looked out at this unfamiliar but busy city, his eyes dark and exhausted.
A whole month–he’d turned over practically every corner of Savannah and still hadn’t found a single trace of Riley.
His assistant’s lead only said she’d bought a ticket here, but this city was huge. Where the hell was she hiding?
Adrian rubbed his temples. All this running around had left his eyes bloodshot.
He checked his watch–already nine at night, and the streets were getting empty.
He wandered aimlessly, scanning every person who walked by, scared he might miss even the smallest chance.
Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks.
Not far ahead, a woman in a white dress was standing under a streetlight with her back to him.
That slim figure, the way her hair moved slightly in the breeze–everything about her looked exactly like Riley!
Adrian’s heart slammed in his chest, his blood feeling like it was boiling.
He practically lunged forward without thinking, grabbing the woman’s wrist, his voice rough and desperate:
“Riley!”
ཥ་ཤ་ཚ་ལྷ་ཇ ོ་ཐ་ཋ
The woman jumped and spun around–it was a complete stranger’s face.
“Who the hell are you?!” she said, freaking out and yanking her hand away, backing up.
Adrian just stood there frozen, the light in his eyes dying instantly.
It wasn’t her…
Adrian looked out at the endless crowds and suddenly started laughing.
The sound was rough and bitter.
He pulled out his phone and called his assistant: “Keep searching… turn this whole city upside down if you have to, but find her.”
He hung up and looked up at the night sky, his expression stubborn and kind of crazy.
Riley, where the hell are you…
Morning sunlight filtered through the white curtains as Riley opened her window. The humid sea breeze hit her face with that light salty smell,
She took a deep breath, a small smile crossing her lips.
She’d used part of that money to buy this bed and breakfast–a three–story place facing the ocean, with a yard full of roses and bell flowers she’d planted herself.
Every morning, she’d cut some fresh flowers and put them in all the guest rooms.
“Riley, breakfast smells amazing today!” A few college kids staying there for summer vacation waved at her from downstairs, laughing.
23:04
3 Years as Your Backup Wife, 1 Text to Crash Your World: ‘Guess Which Twin Left?‘
Chapter 20
Riley’s eyes crinkled up: “Glad you like it. There’s more in the kitchen if you want seconds.”
She headed downstairs, and when she got to the yard, she saw Chris walking over with a bag of fresh fish.
“Just caught this morning down at the docks. I’ll make you some soup for lunch.” He held up the bag with this warm smile.
Riley took it from him, and her fingers accidentally brushed his palm. That warm feeling went straight through her fingertips to her heart.
They both froze for a second, then looked away at the same time.
Over these past few months, Chris had become the most familiar person in her life.
He was like this ray of light shining into her dark world.
The old Riley had always lived in other people’s shadows, never had her own thoughts, just drifting through life like a zombie.
His showing up made her realize she could actually matter to someone, that she had the right to do whatever she wanted.
“Oh yeah, didn’t you say in some video you wanted to try crème brûlée?”
Riley pulled out a whole tray of cream pudding from the freezer with that thin layer of caramelized sugar on top. She’d gotten up early just to make it.
Chris’s eyes lit up with pure excitement: “I knew you’d make it for me!”
He couldn’t wait to dig in, and that first spoonful was all sweet and creamy.
Even though he usually hated desserts, he ended up eating three whole servings without getting sick of it.
“Better than anything you’d get at the Ritz,” Chris said, totally meaning it.
“Then I’ll whip it up for you whenever you want,” Riley grinned, her whole face lighting up.
Chris nodded, studying her face like he had something on his mind but couldn’t get it out.
“What’s up?” she asked.
He hesitated, then just shook his head: “Nothing, just… you seem really happy now.”
Way different from when she first rolled into Savannah, always spacing out while staring at the water.
Riley paused for a second, then let out this gentle laugh: “Yeah, Savannah’s been good to me.”
♡ (0)
⊙ (0)
23:04
