Chapter 430: Dylan Heston, You Still Have Me (Part 2)

Chapter 430: Chapter 403: Dylan Heston, You Still Have Me (Part 2)

“Georgia, how can you tease me? I thought we were best friends!” Nancy’s face flushed.

“Yeah, right. ‘Best friends.’ Who was it that ditched her ‘best friend’ the second she saw Dylan Heston last night and ran off without a trace?” Georgia Thorne wasn’t buying it. “I bet you had a good time last night, huh? Did you forget all about me?”

“…Of course not.” Nancy could tell Georgia was genuinely annoyed, so she scrambled to placate her. “I wouldn’t dare.”

‘I only left on purpose so I could help them get back together.’

Afraid of making Georgia angry, Nancy headed back right after breakfast.

Dylan Heston drove her to her apartment building. Ever since Georgia had returned, Nancy’s attention toward him had waned significantly.

Just like right now. Dylan was quite displeased with Georgia. “In such a hurry?”

He grabbed Nancy as she was about to get out of the car, his gaze filled with discontent.

Nancy cupped Dylan’s face and planted a kiss on his forehead. “There, now. Be careful on your way back.”

With that, she pulled his hand away, pushed open the car door, and hurried out, disappearing into the apartment building without a backward glance.

Dylan sat quietly in the car, staring at the entrance for a long time. After a lengthy silence, he took out his phone and called Elliot Sheridan.

Originally, he had little interest in the messy business between Elliot and Georgia. But now that it was affecting Nancy, he couldn’t let it be.

Elliot Sheridan knew Dylan was dating Georgia’s roommate. After all, with Dylan’s car showing up downstairs from his company every day, it was hard not to know.

Georgia had found a new job and was now even busier than Nancy.

Nancy felt that watching Georgia now was like looking at a reflection of her former self—pushing herself to the brink, yet desperately trying to hold on.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, graduation had arrived.

She and Dylan had been together for almost three months now.

Her plan was to continue working at Elliot Sheridan’s company after graduation. Once she graduated, she could become a full-time employee and earn a higher salary.

Nancy felt that life was pretty good. The only exception was Zoey Zane’s passing.

Even while in the hospital, Zoey Zane’s condition had worsened day by day, and ultimately, there was nothing anyone could do.

Zoey Zane passed away at six in the morning. The caregiver went to wake her as usual but found that she couldn’t be roused.

The caregiver immediately notified the doctor, who then called Dylan Heston.

When Dylan called her, she was still asleep.

When she heard the news, Nancy felt her whole world go numb in an instant.

‘She was fine when I called her last night. How could she suddenly be gone?’

By the time Dylan arrived, Nancy was still sitting on her bed, completely dazed and at a loss.

Dylan pushed open the door and saw her sitting there woodenly. After a long moment, she finally looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot.

He sat down and pulled her into his arms. “I’m here. It’s okay to cry.”

Nancy rarely cried in front of others, but with Dylan, she couldn’t control her emotions. She clung to him and sobbed her heart out.

“Just yesterday, Mom was telling me stories about my childhood. How could she just be gone all of a sudden!” Nancy sobbed, barely able to believe it was real.

‘Right, I have to go back.’

“I have to go back.”

“Okay, I’ll take you.”

Nancy was in a terrible state. She threw on her clothes in a rush, urging Dylan to hurry.

But Dylan pointed at her clothes. “Is your shirt on backward?”

She looked down and saw that it was indeed on backward.

Too distraught to feel embarrassed, she quickly fixed her shirt. “We can go now.”

The five or six-hour drive from Portmire to Homeward felt like an entire day had passed.

She was completely out of it the whole time. Dylan felt that if he hadn’t been by her side, something bad would have happened to her.

She was just so fragile at that moment.

By the time they arrived in Homeward, it was already afternoon.

Zoey Zane had been taken to the morgue. The moment Nancy saw her mother, the tears came instantly.

The funeral was held at the old family home in the countryside, and many people came.

Philip Hughes and his family came as well.

“Uncle,” Nancy said to Philip Hughes. He nodded. “My condolences.”

Dylan handled almost all of the funeral arrangements.

Philip Hughes was curious about Dylan. “Nancy, who is that?”

“His name is Dylan Heston. He’s my boyfriend.”

“Dylan Heston? Did your mother ever meet him?” Philip Hughes frowned, his eyes on the distinguished man in the crowd. Nancy nodded. “Mom met him.”

“I see.”

Nancy followed her uncle’s gaze, just as Dylan happened to look over at them.

The moment their eyes met, Dylan excused himself to the people around him and walked over.

“Hello, my name is Dylan Heston.” Dylan extended his hand to Philip Hughes.

“Hello. I’m Nancy’s uncle.”

They exchanged greetings and some pleasantries.

Zoey Zane had, after all, once been a daughter-in-law of the Hughes Family, so it was only right for Philip Hughes to come and pay his respects.

However, with Julian Caldwell and his family still there, the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Philip Hughes paid his respects to Zoey Zane and then left.

Before leaving, he pulled Nancy aside to speak with her privately.

“Nancy, come back for a visit when you have time. I have something to give you,” Philip Hughes said softly. “Your father entrusted it to me to give to you.”

Nancy asked, confused, “What is it?”

“I don’t know what it is either. You’ll know when you see it!”

“Okay, I’ll come back in a couple of days.”

“Good. Well, your uncle is heading out then.”

“Be careful on the road, Uncle.”

The exhausting funeral didn’t conclude until late at night.

The two of them stayed at Jason Caldwell’s house for the night. Dylan was to share a room with Riley Caldwell.

Riley Caldwell, tactfully avoiding being a third wheel, went off to talk to Lana Caldwell.

In the room, Nancy was making the bed for him. “You’ll have to make do for tonight.”

“Nancy!” Dylan turned her around to face him. He gazed down at her face before pulling her head into his chest.

Nancy rested her cheek against Dylan’s chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m okay now. I’m not as weak as you think.”

“Then who was it that cried their eyes out yesterday?” he retorted, and Nancy had no comeback.

“Alright, you should get some sleep. I’ll go get Riley!” she said.

Riley was in the living room watching TV. When he saw Nancy come out of the room with Dylan right behind her, he called out cheerfully, “Sis! Brother-in-law!”

The kid was getting addicted to calling him that. Nancy shot him a fierce glare, but Riley pretended not to see it.

Lana Caldwell, who was nearby, snorted coldly. ‘People get divorced even after they’re married, let alone a couple that’s just dating. Who knows, they could break up any day.’

‘It’s too soon to be calling him ‘brother-in-law.’ I’m not going to do it.’

“Go to bed. You’ve had a long day!” Nancy turned to find Dylan behind her and pushed him back into the room.

“It’s fine, I’m not tired yet.” Dylan smoothly took her hand. “You guys go ahead and sleep. Nancy and I are going for a walk.”

“Brother-in-law, where are you guys going?” Riley asked, his eyes wide with curiosity as he blinked at them.

“This is grown-up business. Mind your own and get to bed!” Nancy scolded. Riley just grinned cheekily. “Alright, I’m going to bed then!”

Lana Caldwell gave them a cool look. “Be back soon. Otherwise, I’m not opening the door.”

Nancy and Dylan didn’t go far, just for a stroll nearby.

There was a small river next to the house. At this hour, nearly every household was asleep.

Dylan took off his suit jacket, spread it on the ground, and sat down first. He beckoned to Nancy. “Come sit with me for a bit.”

‘This man really doesn’t care about the little things,’ Nancy thought. ‘His jacket is so expensive, and he just threw it on the ground like that.’

She sat down beside him, leaning against his shoulder. “Don’t you think people will see us and think we’re crazy, sitting out here late at night instead of being at home?”

“Who do you think is going to be passing by at this hour?” He glanced around. Everyone was basically asleep.

She puffed out her cheeks. He had a point.

The people who lived here were used to sleeping early and waking early, unlike in the city.

“Thank you so much for today. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what I would have done.”

Nancy leaned against his shoulder, only saying this after a long moment.

“If you want to thank me, you need to show me. I don’t accept verbal thanks.”

Dylan lowered his head to look at her, just as Nancy was looking up.

She huffed. She knew he was going to take advantage of the situation. “What kind of thank-you gift do you want?”

Dylan cupped her chin, leaned in, and kissed her lips.

‘He’s kissing me just like that, out in the open? Isn’t he afraid…’

She glanced to her left and right. ‘Oh, well. No one’s passing by right now anyway.’

Though she felt a bit shy, she kissed him back, her crescent-shaped eyes sparkling with a smile.

“This thank-you gift is enough.”

“…”

A single kiss could dissolve his fatigue from the entire day.

The next day, Nancy and Dylan went to the Hughes Family home.

Philip Hughes happened to be home. He asked his wife to entertain Dylan while he called Nancy into his room.

He took a small box from a cabinet and placed it in Nancy’s hands.

“Uncle, what is this?”

“I don’t know. It’s something your father left for me to give to you. Before he passed away, he specifically told me to give it to you when you grew up. You’re not a child anymore, so it’s time.”

The box was a medium size, carved with auspicious dragons and phoenixes. It looked quite old.

The box felt very light; there was barely any weight to it when she shook it. Philip told her to wait until she got home to open it.

Dylan and Nancy left in the afternoon, arriving back in Portmire late at night.

“Take me home first. I’m afraid Georgia will worry.”

Dylan shot a look at Kyle Kerr in the front seat, and the car turned around, heading in a different direction.

The car stopped in front of Nancy’s apartment building. “I’m heading up. Good night.”

“Don’t think about anything. Just get a good night’s sleep.”

Georgia hadn’t gone to bed yet. Hearing a noise at the door, she came out of her bedroom.

She hugged Nancy. “You’re back!”

The comfort of a friend was important, too. Nancy hugged her back. “It’s so good to have you guys.”

After the long journey, Nancy was exhausted.