e really her boyfriend?”

I swallowed hard.

“Sorry. Must be a mistake,” I mumbled and hurried out.

This was getting stranger by the minute. My gut told me something was wrong.

Her father had lied about her leaving. But why? Where was Rachel?

I stayed hidden in the hotel lobby, watching Andrew.

He stood behind the reception desk, flipping through paperwork, occasionally glancing at the entrance.

He was waiting for something—or someone. I forced myself to stay calm. I had to be smart.

Minutes passed.

Then, finally, he stepped away, disappearing into the back office. My chance.

Heart pounding, I rushed behind the desk and clicked through the security footage.

I scanned the past few days, searching for any sign of Rachel. Nothing.

No checkouts. No exits.

Then I saw it. Andrew, carrying Rachel in his arms.

She looked limp. Unconscious.

My stomach twisted. He took her into a room.

I zoomed in on the door number. 113.

A chill ran through me. I turned to the key wall.

The key to Room 113 was missing. Suddenly, I heard footsteps. Andrew’s voice.

Too close.

I backed away and slipped into the elevator, pressing the button for Rachel’s floor. My hands shook.

The doors opened. I stepped out, my eyes locking onto the door labeled Room 113.

A sign hung on it: Closed for renovation.

Lies.

I tried the handle. Locked. My mind raced.

She was inside. She needed me.

So, I did what any man in love would do when his girlfriend was in danger. I kicked the door open.

The sight inside made my blood run cold.

Rachel lay on the bed, unmoving. Her skin was pale. A pile of medicine bottles sat on the nightstand.

A machine beside her tracked her pulse, beeping steadily.

I rushed to her, gripping her hand.

“Rachel!” I shook her gently. “Wake up!”

She didn’t move.

“Edwin, I warned you to stay out of this,” Andrew’s voice came from behind me. His tone was sharp, firm.

I turned, my hands shaking.

“What did you do to her?!” My voice broke. “She won’t wake up!”

Andrew took a slow step forward. “What did I do?” His expression didn’t change.

“I love my daughter more than anything in the world. Edwin… Rachel is sick.”

“Then why is she like this?” I demanded. “Why isn’t she in the hospital?!”

Andrew exhaled sharply.

“Because there’s nothing more they can do,” he said. “The doctors can’t help her. She wanted to come home.”

I clenched my fists.

“Then why didn’t she tell me? Why did she push me away?”

Andrew rubbed his forehead. His face looked tired.

“I warned her,” he said. “I told her not to be with you. It would only end in pain.”

I swallowed hard.

“I thought you just didn’t like me.”

Andrew’s shoulders dropped slightly. “I was trying to protect her,” he said. “But she didn’t listen.

She loved you. And in her last conscious days… she cried for you.”

A lump formed in my throat. “What can I do?”

Andrew looked at me for a long moment.

Then he shook his head. “There’s nothing you can do.”

He reached into his pocket, hesitated, then pulled out a small envelope.

“This is a letter Rachel asked me to give you… after…” He stopped, unable to finish. “I think you should have it now.”

I took it with trembling hands.

My name was written on the front in her handwriting. My vision blurred.

“Can I stay with her?” I asked. My voice barely came out.

Andrew let out a long sigh, then gave a slow nod.

Without another word, he turned and left the room.

I sat next to Rachel, gripping her cold hand in mine. Her fingers didn’t move.

Her breathing was faint, barely noticeable. I swallowed the lump in my throat, my chest aching.

With trembling hands, I opened the letter.

My name was on the front, written in her handwriting. I traced the letters with my thumb before unfolding the paper.

Ed, my love. If you’re reading this, it means I’m gone.

I know I hurt you when I told you we couldn’t talk anymore, but if you had to watch me fade away, it would’ve been even worse for both of us.

I’m sorry for lying to you and keeping this from you. But the time I spent with you was the only time I felt normal. Healthy.

I love you more than anything in this world. Until my last breath. Forever yours, Rachel.

Tears blurred my vision.

I clutched her hand, pressing it to my forehead, my body shaking.

My Rachel.

Source: amomama