Chapter5: The letter i never wanted to write.

Then one afternoon, Vivian spilled a tray of plates near the VIP dining hall and blamed me. I tried to defend myself, but she shouted louder. Guests turned. Staff watched in silence. I stood there, humiliated. Eyes welled up with tears.

That's when I reached my breaking point.That night, I sat in the tiny room I shared with my stepsiblings, held the cleaning cloth in my lap, and stared at the wall.“I can’t do this anymore,” I whispered to myself. The job, the insults, the pain, and the feelings I couldn’t explain.I decided I’d write a resignation letter and leave quietly. Maybe find a new city. And a new beginning. Because love wasn’t supposed to hurt like this, and maybe walking away was the only way to heal.

That morning sun rose gently, but it brought no warmth to my chest. My heart was heavy, dragging like a stone in my chest as I folded my simple uniform for the last time. I ran my fingers over the badge, Silver Palm Hotel*. A place that had become my pain and my peace. I dropped my resignation letter on top of her table, tears welled in my eyes, not because of the job I was walking away from, but because I wouldn’t get to see Dylan one last time. Just one more glance of his voice, his gentle teasing, his protective gaze I craved them like air. But I had no choice. For my peace, I had to leave. I walked quietly to the front of the hotel, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might ask questions. My steps were slow, almost hesitant, as if my heart was begging me to turn back. But I didn’t. The moment I stepped out of those glass doors, a sharp breeze kissed my skin, almost as if the universe was trying to hug me goodbye. I stood for a second, took a deep breath, and whispered to myself, "You're doing the right thing right?” And then, I walked away heartbroken, and hoping I could forget a place that gave me both nightmares and the only dream I ever wanted, Dylan.

My heart trembled with every word I typed into the resignation letter. Each line felt like I was saying goodbye to a small part of myself.

I went home that day. Vivian, unsurprisingly, returned from work with pride painted all over her face. She finally got the message, she announced to the living room, throwing her bag onto the couch. I honestly think work feels peaceful now, she said. At least I don’t have to look at that pathetic face anymore.

Ruthie laughed along with her, while my dad was silent as usual’s pretending to focus on his news app. But I wasn’t sad. Not really. Somewhere inside, I felt relieved. Free. Though I missed the tall, quiet man with deep eyes and that unreadable expression that lingered too long on my face. Dylan. At the hotel, the air was different. On the day of my absence, his office was dusty. The vase hadn’t been polished, the carpet had crumbs near the edge, and for the first time in months, his tea wasn’t hot when he entered his office

“Where’s Riley? Dylan asked, holding the cold cup in his hand. Vivian put on her usual calm face. “She quit, sir. No reason. Just left a note and disappeared. He nodded slowly. “Okay, but the ‘okay’ didn’t settle well.

All day, he felt odd. He tried reading reports, but the letters were blurred. At lunch, his food tasted bitter. Even the view from his window which was his favorite spot to breathe felt empty. He kept seeing her. The way she laughed softly when a coworker joked. The way she nervously avoided his eyes after he complimented her shoes one morning. The day she touched his hand by mistake, and how warm it felt.