The latest episode of "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 surely brought nostalgia to long-time fans as the series moved towards the Miss Mystic Falls pageant, an iconic event in the lives of the Salvatore brothers and the fan-favorite Elena Gilbert. However, it is already made clear that Nina Dobrev did not return to reprise her role as Elena in the said episode and it remains to been if she is returning at all. But even without the actress, the latest "The Vampire Diaries" episode was filled with memories of her character's existence.

In an interview with TVLine, Ian Somerhalder who plays as Damon Salvatore said that he is not aware of how much Dobrev would play in the remaining episodes of the series. He cannot even tell whether or not the actress is returning. But he expressed how Elena's presence in the show will remain especially in Damon's life.

"But I do know one thing: Elena never really left. She's always ever-present, and she plays a great deal into Damon's morality, his understanding of who he is especially in these last episodes," Somerhalder claimed. "Despite everything he's gotten involved with, he's still trying to make decisions Elena would approve of, because she is still the light in his life, even cast in the darkness of her absence," continued the actor.

Meanwhile, Dobrev herself cannot tell whether fans would still see her in "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 even after earlier reports claimed that she will be back. In a report by The Huffington Post, she refused to give a definite answer about her comeback. According to the actress, it's a secret she is not allowed to tell.

"The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 is confirmed to end this March and fans of the show surely want to see her appear in the finale. Reports about her comeback made the headlines even before Season 8 aired its first episode but until now, it is still unclear if she will return or not. In the meantime, check out the new episode of "TVD" in the preview below.