After finishing the filming of "Unspoken Temptation," Lauryn wasted no time in getting Rhianna into the next crew.
The cameo role was in the previously mentioned suspense drama, where one episode involved an international case. Rhianna would play an international police officer liaising with the main characters.
During the week before joining the crew, she wanted to learn more about the police profession. Even if it was a cameo, she wanted to do her best.
However, this weekend, she had to meet Rylee's parents. In her previous life, they had treated her with great kindness.
Unfortunately, she had put all her energy into Rylee. Whenever they had conflicts, she had no energy left to visit his parents.
Rhianna woke up early and arrived at the Palmer family villa. In B City, where land was scarce and expensive, the Palmer villa, with its classical and elegant courtyard, stood hidden in the bustling city. The surroundings were covered with ivy and greenery. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer had not lived there for years but moved back after retirement. Though called an old house, it was very comfortable. In the early summer heat, the drive to the villa brought a noticeable drop in temperature and improved air quality, making it naturally warm in winter and cool in summer.
She brought artisanal chocolates from Vermont for Mr. Palmer. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer lacked nothing and were enjoying their retirement. Rhianna, always articulate, quickly had Mrs. Palmer laughing heartily.
When Rylee saw Rhianna, she was laughing brightly.
She wore a light blue chiffon dress with a pair of spring heels. Her hair was naturally curled and let down, a simple silver bracelet on her slender, fair wrist, making her look elegant and dignified yet irresistibly charming.
Rylee had contacted Rhianna the night before, planning to come together early in the morning. However, an urgent matter arose at the unit. Fortunately, he received a text from Rhianna saying she would go ahead on her own.
"Mom."
It was Rylee's voice.
"Rylee, you're finally back. If you were any later, we wouldn't have waited for you to eat. Rhianna is much better; she came early to see me." Mrs. Palmer looked at her long-absent son, her words reproachful but her heart full of joy, especially pleased that her son had finally married Rhianna.
Mr. and Mrs. Palmer had been watching Rhianna grow up since she was a child, with Mrs. Palmer especially fond of the Jefferson family's youngest daughter. She had seen Rhianna transform from a cute little girl to a graceful young woman, often wondering which lucky guy would marry her. She never expected her son to be the fortunate one, perhaps due to her frequent prayers during Christmas.
Rhianna was sitting on the sofa chatting and laughing with Mrs. Palmer, not expecting Rylee to arrive mid-conversation.
She suppressed the sudden pain in her heart. She had thought she could be calm, but there was no time for self-mockery as she forced herself to look at Rylee with composure.
He still looked as handsome as ever, with brows like distant mountains, eyes like stars, a nose perfectly sculpted, and sharp, defined features. His simple black suit accentuated his tall, straight figure, exuding a cold and stern aura. Just standing there, he made her heart almost flutter.
"You're here," she said.
"Mm." A simple response, reflecting his barren feelings for her.
Their first meeting since her rebirth felt like a lifetime apart, though it had only been three months.
"Rylee , come sit over here. Why are you standing there like a fool?" Mrs. Palmer looked at her son, annoyed by his awkward behavior." Feeling Rylee approaching, Rhianna's body tensed slightly as she sat on the wooden sofa.
She turned her head, suppressing the waves of pain in her heart.
"How many months have you been at the unit?" Mrs. Palmer asked, seemingly ready to demand an explanation for her daughter-in-law. She hadn't questioned Rhianna earlier, but the fact that they hadn't arrived together and Rhianna's reaction to seeing Rylee made her realize the young couple hadn't spent much time together.
Rhianna was surprised by Mrs. Palmer's question. Had she been that obvious?
On their wedding night, she got drunk because Rylee had left her right after getting their marriage certificate, leading her to drink. They had been apart for these three months, and Rylee probably hadn't even returned to their "home."
Mrs. Palmer's question made it seem like she had complained first.
"Mom, Ry… Rylee comes back to accompany me every weekend." Rhianna felt saying "every day" would be too much of a lie. This way, she indirectly explained to Rylee that she hadn't complained and reassured Mrs. Palmer." "Rhianna, you don't have to cover for him.
He's just like his father, losing all sense of home when he's working.""
Mr. Palmer, who had just walked over from the garden, sat down next to Mrs. Palmer, feeling unjustly accused.
"Dear, don't bring me into this when you're scolding our son. Don't you know my heart?"
Rhianna hadn't expected to witness Mr. Palmer, usually so serious, showing such affection.
She sneaked a glance at Rylee, only to meet his cold, starry gaze.
Rylee remained mostly silent, listening quietly. It took Rhianna a while to regain her composure and smile again.
Before seeing Rylee, she had thought she had let go completely. But seeing him now, she realized that loving someone for so many years took time to let go.
She wasn't fleeing the battlefield of love, considering Rylee had never liked her. She was simply letting go of her one-sided, self-deprecating affection.
