loving you quietly

The last wish

"Miss Elena, I heard from your father that you're a professor at the University of Seattle."

Adrian's voice broke the silence that had settled over the hospital room.

For several moments, neither of them had spoken. The steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the space between them while rain tapped softly against the window. Cameron sat comfortably against his pillows, watching the two younger people with barely concealed amusement.

Elena looked up and smiled.

Talking about her job was one thing she never struggled with. Unlike many things in her life, her career was something she understood completely. It had not come easily. Years of studying, endless examinations, and countless obstacles had shaped the woman she was today. Every achievement had been earned.

"There's not much to say about it," she replied lightly. "Especially when there's an incredibly famous artist sitting beside me."

A faint smile appeared on Adrian's face.

"I have my teacher to thank for the fame. But Miss Elena here is not only a professor. She's also a lawyer at her age. I can't say I'm not impressed."

Elena laughed softly.

Compliments about her work always made her uncomfortable.

"You flatter me."

Adrian shook his head.

"No. I don't."

His answer came so quickly that Elena found herself looking at him again.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

Then Adrian looked away.

Thank God he hadn't rejected his mentor's proposal immediately.

Sitting across from Elena now, he couldn't help thinking that Cameron had been right about her. She was composed, intelligent, accomplished, and, though he hated admitting how much he noticed it, beautiful.

She wasn't intimidating the way he had imagined. Cameron had spoken about her for years, and Adrian had expected someone severe, someone who carried her achievements like armor.

Instead, she seemed balanced.

Professional without being cold.

Confident without being arrogant.

The kind of woman who could discuss legal theory in one moment and laugh at a joke in the next.

Across the room, Cameron watched the exchange carefully.

The two young people were talking.

Technically.

In reality, they sounded more like colleagues discussing a business arrangement than two people meeting for the first time.

Everything was polite.

Everything was measured.

Everything was professional.

Why are they talking like businessmen?

The thought nearly made him laugh.

Before either of them could continue, Adrian's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and immediately stood.

"I'm sorry. I have to take this."

"It's fine," Elena replied.

Adrian nodded toward Cameron.

"I'll come by tomorrow."

Then he left.

The room felt strangely quieter after he was gone.

Cameron waited until the door closed completely before turning toward his daughter.

A knowing smile appeared on his face.

"So," he began, "what do you think?"

Elena narrowed her eyes immediately.

She already knew where this conversation was going.

"He is handsome, tall, broad-shouldered, neat, passionate, and most of all, successful."

"Dad, I'm not going on a date with him. I still have—"

Before she could finish, Cameron interrupted.

"I don't want to hear it."

The smile disappeared from his face.

For the first time that day, Elena saw something vulnerable in his expression.

Something that made her stomach tighten.

"I only have so much time left," he said quietly. "I want to see my daughter married. I want to know you have someone to keep you company when I'm gone."

Immediately, Elena's chest tightened.

"Don't say that."

Her voice came out sharper than intended.

"But Dad, I have friends. I won't be alone. And stop talking like you're dying. You're going to stay with me."

A sad smile crossed Cameron's face.

If only life worked that way.

"I have already suggested to him that he should marry you," he admitted.

"He seems fine with it."

For several seconds, Elena simply stared at him.

Then she blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Surely she had heard him incorrectly.

"You what?"

The absolute absurdity of the statement left her speechless.

Moments ago she thought her father was suggesting a date.

A date was normal.

A date made sense.

Marriage?

Marriage was insane.

"That's just absurd," she finally said. "How could I have a flash marriage with someone I just met? It's more absurd than those dramas you watch."

She stood abruptly and began pacing the room.

"I won't do it. He's only agreeing to appease you. It's not going to work."

She turned toward him.

"Dad, I'd rather go on Tinder than marry him. It's absurd."

Cameron stared at her in disbelief.

How could his daughter reject the idea so quickly?

Did she not understand what he was trying to do?

Did she not understand how much this mattered to him?

"Do you have someone you like?" he asked.

The question stopped her immediately.

"No."

"Then give him a chance."

Elena sighed heavily.

Cameron's voice softened.

"I trust him."

She remained silent.

"I don't know who you'll meet in the future after I'm gone. I don't know whether that man will treat you well. But Adrian..." His voice faltered slightly. "I've watched Adrian grow up. I know the kind of man he is."

Emotion tightened painfully in Elena's chest.

"Elena, my princess."

The familiar nickname weakened her resolve immediately.

"I believe that even if you never grow to love him, he would never betray you."

He paused.

"I would rather see you in a marriage built on respect than one built entirely on passion. Passion fades. Respect remains."

Silence settled over the room.

"This is your father's last wish," he said softly. "To see you married."

Elena didn't know what to say.

Part of her wanted to argue.

Part of her wanted to scream.

But another part—the frightened part she had been trying to ignore all day—couldn't stop hearing the words last wish.

Why did everyone insist she needed marriage?

Why couldn't people understand that she was happy?

She had spent years building a life she loved.

A successful career.

Good friends.

A routine that worked.

Why wasn't that enough?

And how could her father trust someone so completely?

No.

There had to be something she was missing.

This Adrian Hayes must have put her father under some kind of spell.

"I'll come over tomorrow," she said quietly, reaching for her bag.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The argument had exhausted her.

Not because she had changed her mind.

But because every time she looked at her father, she noticed something she wished she hadn't.

The oxygen tube beneath his nose.

The tiredness around his eyes.

The slight tremor in his hands when he adjusted the blanket.

When she had rushed into the hospital earlier, relief had been the only thing on her mind.

Now that relief had faded.

Fear had taken its place.

"Dad," she said quietly.

"What is it?"

She shook her head.

Nothing.

Everything.

The room suddenly felt too bright.

Too small.

Too full of conversations she didn't want to have.

Marriage.

Hospitals.

Last wishes.

The future.

"I don't think I can continue this conversation right now."

Cameron nodded.

"I know."

"I had a long day."

The excuse sounded weak.

Both of them knew it.

Still, Cameron smiled.

"You always say that when you're overwhelmed."

"I do not."

"You do."

"I don't."

"You absolutely do."

Despite herself, Elena almost smiled.

Almost.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll be waiting."

The words hurt more than they should have.

She turned toward the door.

"Elena."

Her father's voice stopped her immediately.

Her hand tightened around the doorknob.

For one brief moment, she considered turning around.

The urge was stronger than she expected.

Because suddenly she wasn't looking at the man who had spent the last half hour trying to arrange her marriage.

She was looking at the father who had raised her.

The father who had sat through every graduation.

The father who had stayed awake helping her study before examinations.

The father who had somehow managed to be both mother and father after her mother's death.

Her grip tightened.

"Dad, I..."

The words died in her throat.

Slowly she lowered her gaze.

"I'll think about it."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

Silence filled the room.

Then she heard Cameron release a slow breath.

Relief.

Not victory.

Relief.

And somehow that made everything worse.

Without looking back, Elena opened the door and stepped into the corridor.

The hospital hallway was quieter now.

Visiting hours were ending.

Many families had already gone home.

Elena started walking.

Fast.

As though she could somehow outrun the conversation she had just had.

She couldn't.

Her father's words followed her anyway.

Give him a chance.

She pressed the elevator button.

The doors opened moments later

When the elevator reached the ground floor, she stepped out immediately.

She was halfway past the nurses' station when she heard a familiar name.

"Mr. Hayes was here again today."

Elena slowed.

Only slightly.

Just enough to hear.

A group of nurses stood near the station, finishing their shift.

One sighed dramatically.

"Honestly, I still don't understand how someone like Adrian Hayes is single."

Another laughed.

"Maybe because every woman in Seattle wants him."

The others immediately agreed.

Elena rolled her eyes and continued walking.

Unfortunately, she could still hear them.

"Forget the looks," another nurse said. "Do you know he brought coffee for everyone last week?"

"He's always doing things like that."

"And he visits Professor Monroe almost every day."

That caught Elena's attention.

Almost every day?

"He does?"

"Of course. He's been coming for weeks."

Weeks.

Not once.

Not twice.

Weeks.

A strange feeling settled inside her chest.

She wasn't sure whether it was surprise or confusion.

Perhaps both.

Outside, rain continued falling over Seattle.

Cold air greeted her immediately.

A few minutes later, Elena sat inside her car.

Yet instead of starting the engine, she simply sat there.

Staring through the rain-covered windshield.

Thinking.

Overthinking.

Marriage.

Adrian.

Her father.

The future.

Everything felt tangled together.

That night, Elena lay awake in bed.

Sleep refused to come.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Adrian standing in the hospital room, calm and composed in his expensive suit.

Then she heard her father's voice.

Give him a chance.

She rolled onto her side and buried her face in her pillow.

This was ridiculous.

Only hours ago, she would have rejected the idea without a second thought.

Now she wasn't so sure.

Not because of Adrian.

She barely knew him.

But because of her father.

For the first time since arriving at the hospital, she found herself wondering whether Cameron was preparing her for a future he wouldn't be part of.

The thought tightened painfully around her chest.

Long after midnight, Elena remained awake, staring into the darkness.

Unable to decide which frightened her more.

The idea of marrying a stranger.

Or the possibility of losing her father.