Chapter 444: Don't Mention Him Anymore 2

Among them, she saw a photo from the beach where her hair was so messy she looked like a ghost. She had no idea what was wrong with his eyes for him to actually say it looked good.

“Delete those photos as soon as you get back!”

“Why? They look great!”

“There’s no why. Just delete all the pictures of me!”

“I won’t!”

“Give me that phone!” Nancy Hughes snatched Riley Caldwell’s phone. Riley was quick on the draw and turned off the screen. When she turned it back on, she found it was locked.

“What’s the password?”

“Guess. We’re siblings. We should be on the same wavelength.”

“…”

‘She was starting to regret buying Riley a phone.’

Since she didn’t have to go to work for the time being, she spent her days cooped up at home or going out with Riley.

“Sis, you really quit your job!”

“What else would it be? You think I’m just skipping work to hang out with you?”

“No, I just thought you took some time off!”

“Where would I get a vacation this long? I’m not a student with summer and winter breaks!” She rolled her eyes.

“I really don’t get you!” Riley Caldwell sighed and shook his head at her.

“…”

Nancy Hughes was starting to think she never should have bought Riley Caldwell a phone. When she saw the man at the door, she was kicking herself with regret.

‘She’d never told Dylan Heston where she lived. It was possible he’d found out on his own, but he had no reason to come over.’

‘The only other possibility was the kid standing right next to her: Riley Caldwell.’

‘The little brat was happily greeting Dylan Heston, cheerfully calling him “brother-in-law.” Couldn’t he see the daggers she was shooting at him were about to pierce his heart?!’

‘It’s not the god-tier opponent you have to fear, but the useless teammate.’

‘And right now, she had both.’

On the other hand, Nancy Hughes was also surprised to see him. She never thought he’d actually show up just because of a call from Riley Caldwell.

Honestly, it’s always incredibly awkward when exes meet again.

Facing Dylan Heston, Nancy Hughes couldn’t even manage a simple greeting. She just stared at him blankly.

Dylan Heston, on the other hand, was much more natural. “So, where are we heading today?”

He was speaking to Riley Caldwell, but his eyes couldn’t help but drift over to Nancy Hughes.

She hastily looked away, pretending to be absorbed in her phone.

Riley Caldwell had called Dylan Heston out for the express purpose of getting the two of them back together.

He didn’t want Nancy to go back home; there was nothing wrong with building a life here.

In a small town, on the other hand, there were practically no career prospects.

Plus, he thought his “brother-in-law” was great to his sister. How could they just suddenly break up? There had to be more to the story.

In the past few days, Nancy Hughes had already taken him to just about every fun place in Portmire she could think of.

“Get in the car,” Dylan Heston said to them.

‘Just standing under the same sky as him made it hard to breathe. How was she supposed to survive in the cramped space of a car? This was going to kill me!’

Before she could refuse, Riley Caldwell grabbed her. “Sis, what are you spacing out for? Get in the car!”

Riley pushed her into the back seat. She glared at him as he climbed in after her. Riley just grinned. “Don’t keep my brother-in-law waiting!”

Nancy Hughes shot him a warning look that clearly said, ‘Don’t push it.’

‘She’d already told him she and Dylan Heston had broken up, but he still had the nerve to call Dylan his brother-in-law.’

‘This day was cursed.’

With nowhere else to really go, Dylan Heston took them to a riding stable in the suburbs.

Riley Caldwell was thrilled, chattering with questions the whole way.

It was giving Nancy Hughes a headache. She finally put on her headphones, tuning out their voices.

After a while, they arrived at the stables.

Neither Nancy Hughes nor Riley Caldwell had ever ridden before. In fact, Nancy had never even seen a horse up close.

After changing, she came out of the women’s locker room to find the two men already waiting for her.

“I don’t really know how to do this. You guys go on.”

“Sis, we came all this way! Come on, it’ll be no fun otherwise!” Riley Caldwell was very aware of his mission for the day. Without taking no for an answer, he started pulling Nancy Hughes outside.

First, they had to pick their horses. Nancy didn’t know anything about the different breeds. “Sorry, I’m just looking.”

The horse was too tall; she didn’t dare get on.

Of the three of them, only Dylan Heston knew how to ride.

He chose a black stallion, swung himself gracefully into the saddle, and began riding across the field.

Riley Caldwell draped an arm over her shoulder. “Sis, don’t you think my brother-in-law is ridiculously handsome?”

Nancy Hughes shot him a glare. Riley continued to fan the flames. “Seriously, if I were a girl, I’d fall for him too.”

“Riley Caldwell, I don’t want you to ever pull something like this again. If you do, I won’t consider you my brother anymore!” Nancy Hughes angrily shook off his arm and turned to leave.

He could tell from her tone that Nancy was serious. He froze for a second, realizing he’d really managed to make her angry.

He hurried after her. “Sis, why? I can tell you’re not over him, right?”

‘If you like someone, you should go after them! You shouldn’t be so timid.’

“He already has a fiancée, and they’re about to get married! Do you want me to be the other woman? Riley Caldwell, for god’s sake, use your head! How could someone like him ever be interested in someone like me?!” Even though she tried her best to suppress her fury, she could feel steam coming out of her ears.

“…Sis, I… I didn’t know!” Unaware of the whole story, Riley was stunned. He’d just assumed they were having some sort of private relationship issue.

‘If Dylan Heston was marrying another woman, then he wasn’t his brother-in-law.’

‘But… why hadn’t he ever corrected him?’

“What do you know!?” Nancy Hughes glared at him and quickened her pace.

‘In the end, she never should have gotten her hopes up about Dylan Heston.’

‘Life is unfair. She’d known that from the start, but she still couldn’t stop herself from falling so deep.’

Nancy Hughes changed back into her clothes and came out. “You two have fun. I’m not feeling well, so I’m going to head back first.”

“Sis, I…”

Riley Caldwell tried to grab Nancy, but she forcefully shook him off. “Sis, don’t go! I was wrong!”

‘No, it wasn’t anyone else’s fault. She was the one who was wrong.’

‘She never should have let herself fall for him in the first place.’

On her way out, she ran right into Dylan Heston. He stared at her, and she looked up at him, her eyes screaming, ‘Don’t you dare try to stop me.’

‘As she brushed past him, she caught his scent. It was as pleasant as ever, but sadly, it no longer belonged to her.’

Seeing Dylan Heston only made her feel worse. She kept her head down and continued walking out.

When she got to the entrance, she realized there was a huge problem.

‘This was the suburbs. Not only were there no bus stops, but there wasn’t a single taxi in sight.’

She ran a hand through her hair. ‘How did my life get so messed up?’

At the gate, she asked a security guard and learned that the nearest bus stop was several kilometers away.

She started walking, but the bus stop was even farther than she’d imagined.

Suddenly, a car horn beeped behind her. She turned to see Dylan Heston’s car following her at a leisurely pace.

Riley Caldwell poked his head out of the window. “Sis, get in the car.”

“You’ll have to walk a really long way.”

Nancy Hughes turned her head away, pretending she hadn’t seen or heard them, and kept walking.

No matter how fast she walked, she couldn’t outpace a car.

After a few dozen yards, Dylan Heston pulled the car directly in front of her, blocking her path.

She stopped in her tracks, watching as Dylan Heston got out of the car and stood before her.

“Still throwing a tantrum?” His tall frame stood before her, exuding a sense of pressure.

But his voice was as gentle as ever. “You’re a grown woman. Don’t make a scene in front of the kid.”

She remained silent, biting her lower lip as she stared hard at him. Then she released it. “Mr. Heston, I believe I made myself perfectly clear last time. I don’t want to see you again!”

“But what if I want to see you?”

“…”

‘Seeing him only brings more trouble and pain. It’s better if we don’t meet. Life would be easier for everyone that way.’

“Sis, just get in the car! There really are no buses here!” Riley Caldwell also jumped out of the car.

Nancy Hughes quickly reined in her thoughts, doing her best to push what Dylan Heston had just said out of her mind.

‘In truth, she had been on the verge of falling for it again.’

‘Nancy Hughes, you idiot. Have you already forgotten about him and Rose Everett?’

Dylan Heston drove them back to their apartment building. “Go on up.”

Without a word, Nancy Hughes opened the car door and got out. Riley Caldwell sat in the car, looking at Nancy outside, then at the man in the driver’s seat. He opened his mouth. “Thanks. We’ll… head up now!”

‘Considering Nancy was still angry, he didn’t dare let the two words “brother-in-law” escape his lips.’

He got out of the car after Nancy, waving repeatedly to the man inside.

Back in the apartment, Riley Caldwell immediately apologized. “Sis, I’m really sorry about today.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” She dropped her bag and went into the bathroom.

“Sis, I really know I was wrong. From now on, I’ll… I’ll never call him out again!” Riley stood at the door, shouting his explanation at the top of his lungs. “Sis, I really didn’t know he was engaged! I just want you to be happy and stop fighting with him!”

Who could have guessed this was the truth? Nancy hadn’t said a single word about it.

No matter what Riley said from outside, there was no sound from Nancy in the bathroom.

Riley was afraid she might be dwelling on dark thoughts in the bathroom. She’d been in there for so long without coming out, and he grew more and more frantic.

He ran up and knocked on the door. “Sis? Can you please open the door?”

Nancy was sitting on the toilet, listening to Riley’s incessant chattering outside. His voice filled her ears, making her even more agitated. “Can you please be quiet and let me calm down for a second?!”

The moment she yelled, the person outside fell silent. After a long pause, a faint “Oh” came through the door.

She sighed silently and rested her forehead in her hand.

Riley Caldwell stayed in Portmire for a few more days, then went home.