Chapter 127
As she walked toward the front door, it opened before she could knock.
Mr. Hanes stood there, tall, calm and kind-faced as always.
But today, his eyes softened in a way that made her stomach sink.
“Miss Rachel he said quietly, his voice filled with something like regret. Get full chapters from
She swallowed. “Good afternoon, Mr. Hanes p>
He stepped outside and gently pulled the door closed behind him, like he didn’t want her to see inside.
And that made Rachel stiffened. That definitely wasn’t a good sign.
“What are you doing here? I heard from Miss Sandra. I’m sorry,” Mr. Hanes said, his face solemn.
“It’s fine. I’m just here to see Mr Camden. How’s he? I… I tried calling him,” she said, her voice trembling. “He didn’t answer. I just need a minute. One minute to see him. Then I’ll leave, I promise p>
Mr. Hanes looked down, his hands clasping in front of him. He exhaled slowly, as if the words hurt him.
“I’m sorry, Miss Rachel,” he said softly. “But I can’t let you in p>
The air rushed out of her lungs. She blinked at him.
“W-What? Why? I’m not coming to cause trouble. I just want to see him p>
“I know,” Hanes said, still not meeting her eyes. “But I have my orders p>
“Orders?” Her voice cracked. “From Sandra p>
Hanes shook his head slowly. “No. It’s from Mr. Camden p>
The world stopped at that moment.
Rachel felt her knees weaken, and she reached for the wall to steady herself.
“H-Henry?” she whispered. “He… he said that?” she asked, and Hanes nodded once.
Her heart broke a little more with the simple motion. She never would’ve thought Henry would stop her this way.
“He doesn’t want to see me?” she asked, her voice small and shaking.
Hanes looked pained. “It isn’t that he doesn’t want to see you p>
“Then why?” Her throat tightened. “I just need to make sure he’s okay p>
Hanes raised his eyes, his gaze full of empathy. Should he tell her what Henry had told him last night? At least, that would make Rachel understand why Henry was doing all of these.
Deciding to do just that, Mr. Hanes cleared his throat. “Mr. Camden… he told me not to let you in because… he’s not well. Emotionally. Physically. He didn’t want you to see him like that p>
Rachel blinked fast, trying to process it.
Hanes continued gently, “Miss Rachel, when he woke up and realized you had been fired, he… he didn’t take it well p>
Her breath stilled. “What do you mean p>
Hanes hesitated, then spoke quietly, almost whispering.
“He hasn’t eaten much since. He barely talks. He sits at the piano for hours but doesn’t play. Just stares at the keys. Like he’s waiting for something that’s not coming back p>
Rachel’s hands flew to her mouth as her eyes filled with tears.
Hanes’s voice softened as he continued. “It’s as if a part of him left that day. I’ve known him for twenty years, and I’ve never seen him like this p>
Hearing that, a tear slipped down Rachel’s cheek.
“But if he’s feeling like that,” she whispered, “why won’t he let me in? Why won’t he let me see him, even if it’s just once p>
“Because,” Hanes said gently, “he said he didn’t deserve to have you looking after him anymore. He said he had already caused you too much trouble. He said he needed to let you go p>
He knew telling her all these would make Mr Camden angry when he learns if it but he still needed to tell her. Rachel deserved to know. She needed to know Henry wasn’t doing this because he hated her but because he wanted to protect her from him.
Rachel pressed her hand to her chest as if she could physically hold her heart together as her tears fell harder.
“He doesn’t want to burden you,” Hanes added softly.
“I don’t care about any of that,” she choked out. “I don’t care if he’s sick or tired or hurt. I just want him safe. Why would he think I’d want to walk away p>
Hanes shook his head sadly. “He thinks keeping you away will protect you p>
Rachel let out a broken, shaking breath. “But he’s hurting,” she whispered. “Why would he choose to be alone p>
Hanes’s voice gentled even more. “Because he loves you, Miss Rachel. And in his mind, loving someone means not becoming a burden. Especially in his state p>
The words punched the air out of her lungs. Her tears spilled faster, silently, painfully. So he loved her too? She wiped her cheeks with trembling fingers.
“Mr. Hanes,” she whispered, “please… please just let me see him p>
Hanes’s face softened with deep sympathy. “I can’t,” he said quietly. “He made me promise p>
Something inside Rachel shattered. Her shoulders trembled, and before she could stop it, a sob escaped her lips.
Hanes looked away, the guilt heavy on his face. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “Truly p>
Rachel covered her mouth, trying not to break down right there on his doorstep.
But it didn’t work. The tears came anyway, aching, painful, unstoppable.
She turned away, unable to stand there another second. Her legs carried her down the stairs, out the gate, past the hedges… until she was outside the property.
Only then did she cry openly, a raw, painful sound escaping her chest. She couldn’t believe it.
Henry, the man who protected her, defended her, and trusted her, was now the one keeping her away all in the name of protecting her. She didn’t want to be protected from him!
No matter how hard she tried to understand him, it hurt more than she knew hurt could exist.
By the time she got home, Bella was already back.
Rachel barely made it through the door before Bella looked up from the kitchen counter, frowning.
“Rachel? Where have you been? I’ve been calling—” Bella, started but Rachel didn’t answer, neither did she pause.
She just ran straight down the hallway, straight to her room and straight behind her door. She slammed it shut and locked it.
Then slid down to the floor as the sobs tore through her, exhausting, heartbreaking, amd unstoppable.
Bella knocked frantically from outside.
“Rachel! Rach, open the door! What’s wrong p>
But Rachel couldn’t speak. She buried her face in her hands and cried harder.
Because Henry didn’t want her to see him. Because he thought she’d be better off without him. Because she loved him so much it hurt. Because she didn’t know how to stop and because she had never felt so close to someone, while being kept so far away.